TSC Coop/run modification/design thoughts?

I know I'm not alone in buying & putting together a TSC coop/run before completing all my research, but as it is a good fit for my backyard, fit the budget, and my goal is only to have 3 chickens anyway, I've decided to keep it, with some modifications for safety and coop space, and maybe extend the run at a later date. (And it will all get a good paint job!)

Here is the coop:




I'm beefing up screen security by adding washers and screws at all corners and 12 inch intervals, and will also go back through with heavier staples:



Every door, in addition to the two barrel locks already there, will get a carabiner locking the middle. So there will be three separate locks on each door.

I'll lay down 1/2 in hardware cloth over the entire floor (that I have left over from another project), and staple to the 4x4s.

I'll install a battery operated motion detection light on each side.

I've also realized that my coop itself is a bit small. It is 9 sq feet, but that included the 3 nesting boxes (which, after reading this board, I realize I only need one box for my 3 girls). Plus I read that the roosts should be higher than the nests, and the stock roosts were only about two inches higher than the nests, wasting a lot of vertical space. (I should add, with our mild weather, my plan is to make the entire coop/run combo as bomb-proof as possible, and let them have access to the run 24/7).



So, I've taken out two of the nesting boxes, installed a partial, sloped cover over the last nesting box for more privacy, and installed a new removable roost in a sort of diagonal across the coop, about 12 inches from the floor. This gives them headroom on the roost of about 12 inches at the sides, and 22 inches from the peak in the roof. (I'll also be cutting down the board in front of the two nests I removed.)






Thoughts from experiences chicken keepers on the above modifications?

My main concern with the coop is, in this small space, will they be able to fly enough to get to the roost a foot from the ground?

TIA!

They can hop up that distance(1 ft.) w/o even using wings!

I think you did a really nice job

biophiliac said:

They can hop up that distance(1 ft.) w/o even using wings!

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Yay! That's exactly what I was wondering, thank you!!

Jiffyrocks said:

I think you did a really nice job

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Thanks! After all this, I suppose I could have built my own, lol! By the time it needs an upgrade, hopefully we'll have the mini-ranch I've been dreaming of, and I can go BIG!

See from your location it's hot where you live?? I would look to see if you will need to add some more ventilation to get good air flow. There are some excellent threads on ventilation. Agree w Jiffy rocks, you made some smart changes!

JMO of course, I think the coop is perfect size for three birds.


I have the exact same coop and since I have six birds, I elevated the coop quite a bit and attached wooden boards to the side of the TSC coop, and made the whole thing into a coop. I also added a 60 foot run for the birds to go into everyday.

I saw that coop at my TSC the other day when I went in to get feed and I really loved the style and size of it. Of course, my ten definitely would not fit but if I only had a few less I would've bought it!

I think it was very clever to remove the two nests boxes to create more space. I have seven hens and all of them like to lay in the one box even though they have many other options!

Penguino1 said:

JMO of course, I think the coop is perfect size for three birds.


I have the exact same coop and since I have six birds, I elevated the coop quite a bit and attached wooden boards to the side of the TSC coop, and made the whole thing into a coop. I also added a 60 foot run for the birds to go into everyday.

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Sorry to hijack, but I would love to see some pics of this if you don't mind. I've been thinking about doing the same thing to mine.

We are planning to do the same thing! Making one simply isn't in the picture this year- in a year or two, perhaps, if we enjoy the chickens. We only have 3 as well.

Here it's so hot much of the year our birds just sleep outside. Add some roosts to the run area.

Is it possible to remove any of the siding "strips" to be replaced wth hardware cloth? I was wanting to do that with mine near the top for airflow. 110 and no breeze gets HOT.

Thank you so much for this! I have not made the trip into town to get a good look at it, and this is really helpful.

Chands said:

Sorry to hijack, but I would love to see some pics of this if you don't mind. I've been thinking about doing the same thing to mine.

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Will do so in a week or so. I still need to paint it, as it really isn't weather-worthy atm for the rain NJ weather.