Would this work as a temporary solution?

eggfooyoung

Chirping
Mar 29, 2017
50
3
71
Raleigh, NC
I want a huge, beautiful coop with gigantic run - but it's not financially nor time-wise in the cards this year. I don't yet have chickens but I'm desperate to start, as I've been waiting years to live in a house where I could keep chickens (just moved into our new house at the end of last summer). I'd like 4 chickens to start, but this accommodates only 3 (and that's pushing it if you ask me). My thought was to get two of them and Frankenstein them together (run end to run end), and use this until NEXT spring when we could start on the big, beautiful coop/run of my dreams using lots of leftover lumber from a few different projects we have to do this summer. Do you think two of these would be large enough for 4 hens? We'd let them free range and only shut them in when not home (hubby works from home and I'm a stay at home mom, so we're pretty much home 24/7).

I'm also in Raleigh, NC so the winters are on the milder side, thinking that since this isn't insulated that might be a plus as to where I live.

Measurements of this one alone is 52.38'' H x 82.25'' W x 35.33'' D

I'm a total noob so I'm really needing your input. Being able to buy this (or two of them, actually) and not have to worry about building a coop would make life SO much easier right now, as we have other house projects going on, and I wouldn't feel rushed, nor would I have to wait another year to have my girls.

Thoughts?

 
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I don't think that is a bad idea. See you know what you really need to do it build a big coop. So then you would have these for say roosters or breeding pens or silkies or bad behavior pens so on so on so on.

Small coops are not ideal but have there own place . The one I linked to is good for 4 hens and would get you about 8-12 eggs a week. Using the right breeds maybe more.

We all cant start off big but having chicks for a year before the real coops built give more time to plan and you wont be rushed.

Scott
 
Hi Scott,

It's not, but it's pretty much the same size!

And yes, I measured out the area in my yard this afternoon for my dream coop/run and the run alone would be 16'x12'. I have enough room for an 8'x6' coop as well. I have more room if I want, but I'd never be able to sell or give away the amount of eggs I'd have left after my family was done eating them, so I have to limit myself to 8 birds lol.

I was thinking that I could use two of these smaller ones to start this year with, and then next year I could use them for 4 more chicks to add to the flock, putting the 4 existing hens in the dream coop. Thanks for your input - I'm glad I'm on the right track and can start this year :)
 
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Hi Scott,

It's not, but it's pretty much the same size!

as mentioned above you sound like you have done your research and know what you want but then again your budget. There will be more traffic tomorrow so I'd wait to see what others think but I think that you have a good idea on how to start that chick fever this year.

See I built a coop for 18 hens 12 months ago. After a coyote snacked on a couple we order 14 more so 11 months later I had to expand our coop and this time around I knew a lot more so I just went ahead and built one to hold 40 birds. had I gone your route I would be sitting better cause now I have two rooster. I am needing a structure about that size to control my breeding. So even before the last baton goes on the hen house I more than likely will be starting the rooster shack. btw I only need that for the rooster so I decide who they breed with.

Scott
 
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Hi Scott,

It's not, but it's pretty much the same size!

And yes, I measured out the area in my yard this afternoon for my dream coop/run and the run alone would be 16'x12'. I have enough room for an 8'x6' coop as well. I have more room if I want, but I'd never be able to sell or give away the amount of eggs I'd have left after my family was done eating them, so I have to limit myself to 8 birds lol.

I was thinking that I could use two of these smaller ones to start this year with, and then next year I could use them for 4 more chicks to add to the flock, putting the 4 existing hens in the dream coop. Thanks for your input - I'm glad I'm on the right track and can start this year :)

I know that other will disagree but sometimes when egg sales drop I feed them right back to the birds or lgd dog. We usually cook them before the dogs get them. But knock on wood we don't have a single egg eater in the flock. That is unless we give them one. The love them and eat all of them.

Scott
 
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So here's what I personally would do (and just for background I'm in a similar situation to yours, I moved to a new house to finally have chickens, and we did a small prefab coop for now with plans to build a bigger one later, and we currently have 4 chickens):

Buy *1* of the coop you're looking at, the reason being that chickens from one flock will prefer to all roost together, so they're not going to want to split 2 and 2. Then do the following: see if the existing coop can be partially removed (basically hollowed out, so you're left with the outside walls, the roof, and maybe the nest box if you'd like to keep it), board up whatever sides of the run you might get a lot of wind or rain from, and run a roost bar lengthwise across the coop. The entire thing would then be big enough for 4 birds. Because you said you can let them free range most of the time, that would take care of the lack of run, and overall this should save you some money as well.
 
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So here's what I personally would do (and just for background I'm in a similar situation to yours, I moved to a new house to finally have chickens, and we did a small prefab coop for now with plans to build a bigger one later, and we currently have 4 chickens):

Buy *1* of the coop you're looking at, the reason being that chickens from one flock will prefer to all roost together, so they're not going to want to split 2 and 2. Then do the following: see if the existing coop can be partially removed (basically hollowed out, so you're left with the outside walls, the roof, and maybe the nest box if you'd like to keep it), board up whatever sides of the run you might get a lot of wind or rain from, and run a roost bar lengthwise across the coop. The entire thing would then be big enough for 4 birds. Because you said you can let them free range most of the time, that would take care of the lack of run, and overall this should save you some money as well.

x2 I total agree with this save your money for that bigger coop and only get 1.

Scott
 
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