Poultry Talk Ontario (pto.ca)

The box is bigger than it looks in the photo. It is actually five feet long, four feet high at the tall end, and three feet wide. There is a carabiner clip holding shut the hasp.
I have five laying hens.

If the "coop" is built like a building, with 2x4 studs, you can stil salvage it by putting a window in one side and attach an external laying box accessible from the outside.
If you can't provide light and ventilation, you wil not get any eggs anyway, better to sell the hens and start anew in the spring.
Thank you for listening and trying to make the best of a bad situation.

I agree with OC , see if you can put a window in and something to roost on even if only a straw bale that should help. Yes it is a lot bigger than it looks but you will still need a little ventilation, I don't know if the window open a crack would work or if that would just cause a draft.

Thank you for all the advice. The coop does in fact have roosts in it, just no laying boxes. I have not yet had any luck finding a carpenter to help me but at the very least it needs a window and a vent - I was thinking over something louvered to decrease drafts. I have had huge issues with weasels and raccoons so it must be secure.

I kind of hate to give up the hens. They are just red sex link hens from a commercial hatchery but somehow they have become pets - they run up to greet me and they follow me around the yard. I can actually tell them apart and worse yet, I have named them. This will make it tough to cull them when they stop laying, but that is another issue. In the meantime, I want them housed properly, comfortably, and safely.

Ventalation but no drafts one type . New fresh dry air in bottom old stale moist air out top . Luck

Iv kept chickens in similar sized coops with an attached 4x8 covered run. However proper ventelation n light is a must.

Idea: if you are starting from scratch, you can find a high school with a woodshop and give them plans. All you pay for is materials (labour is free) and it'll get done when its done.

I am not at home so no photos to post. But as people have said add some ventilation in the little coop. Then get three 2x6 boards 8 feet long and build a box frame 8 ft x 4 ft them use some pvc electrical conduit and build a hoop frame over the 4 x 8 frame then cover the hoop frame with welded wire or hardware cloth then cover with white tarp or clear vapor barrier to keep skow out. Attach your little coop on one end and built a door on the other.

Not you have a little coop/nesting area with about 15 sq feet and a covered run with about 30 sq feet lots of space.

I keep most of my birds in these types of set ups and last winter my young birds started laying in January.

I will try and take some photos of my hoop houses tomorrow.

Barely any carpentry skills required, cheap, very predator proof if done right and easy to move if needed.

Best of luck

JimW

Just like made to order, this coop appeared on Kijiji Ottawa area
featuring the external laying boxes I thought may work and the hoop type enclosure Jim suggested.
This combo would work well with your "box" BTW the asking price is $ 2 000
I am pretty sure it can be made for less then $ 200 https://www.kijiji.ca/v-livestock/ottaw ... nFlag=true