Converting the Door of a Wooden Shed

• 1). Install a wider and taller door to allow room for inserting a round bale; most doors on sheds will not be large enough for a forklift to move a bale into the space inside the shed. Remove the wood or metal siding from the outside of the shed around the door to a point where the opening is at least as large as a single-car garage door.
  
  
• 2). With the framing exposed, reinforce the edges where the opening will go with 2-inch-by-4-inch lumber, attaching it to the existing timbers all the way to the ceiling joists. If the existing timbers are not where they need to be for putting the door in place, insert two new 2-inch-by-4-inch pieces of lumber joined together to make the edges of the frame. Use 16-penny nails so that the frame is good and solid against the existing timbers. Run another 2-inch-by-4-inch piece across the top at the point where the top of the door will be, nailing it to each 2-inch-by-4-inch stud. There should now be a solid frame with exposed studs in between the sides of the door opening, with one piece going across the top, forming the top of the door frame.
  
  
• 3). Saw the exposed studs even with the new door frame. For reinforcement, run a 2-inch-by-4-inch piece across the bottom of the studs at the top of the new door frame. Cut the wood or metal siding to fit around the new door frame.
  
  

Floor and Sides

• 1). Make a door for the opening: Build a frame half the size of the door opening from 2-inch-by-4-inch lumber and attach a piece of 1/2-inch plywood, using 8-penny nails. Line the plywood up with the outside edges of the frame. Attach two gate hinges to one side over the plywood, one toward the top and one toward the bottom. If the door is unusually large, consider using a third hinge in the middle. Mount the other side of the hinges on the door frame of the building, lining the door up even with the door frame. Make another frame for the other side of the building door frame. The door halves should now meet in the middle of the building door frame. Fasten with a large sliding bolt latch (a type of latch often used on gates).
  
  
• 2). Make a deck if the shed has no floor. Use 2-inch-by-4-inch lumber to build a frame. Either use 5/8-inch plywood on the top, or 2-inch-by-6-inch boards. With plywood, drill holes for drainage. With 2-inch-by-6-inch boards, leave small gaps in between.
  
  
• 3). Form the areas where the cattle or horses will be sliding their heads in to eat the hay: Prepare the openings by reinforcing with 2-inch-by-4-inch lumber at the edges, top and bottom. The openings need to be wide enough for the horse or cow to fit its head in comfortably, but far enough off the ground that a horse or cow cannot get its legs in. If the existing timber is not where it needs to be to form the openings, place two 2-inch-by-4-inch pieces together at each side, top and bottom of the openings to form the frame.
  
  
• 4). Saw the openings out even with the reinforced frame. Use the sander to smooth out rough edges. If the shed is small, consider placing openings on both sides in order to feed more livestock at a time.