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Anyone have the TuffShed chicken coop?

post #1 of 8
6/3/12 at 8:28am
Thread Starter 

After pouring over pictures for weeks, I am accepting that husband and I, while loving our new hobby farm lifestyle, are too novice and overwhelmed to actually build our own coop.  the coop that was on the property is gross, it has nesting boxes that are too large and never used (I pick eggs out of the dog cage and tortoise housing...nested in poopbarnie.gif) the floor is dirt and compacted droppings and is no longer secure from rodents.  I'm tired of feeding the local ground squirrel population....they are overpopulated as it is!!  the door isn't very secure either and we lost one of our hens last week...so new coop....soon is a must.  Plus I have 8 weekers in my bathtub as I type!!

 

The coop is elevated, and 8x4.  I need to get more info on the nesting boxed etc, but I love that the construction is completely tight and quality.

 

How many hens do you think I could hold in 8x4 space...with internal nesting boxes??

 

Thanks for any advice.  I included the link.

 

http://www.tuffshed.com/products_specs.cfm?ModelID=SCC&TabID=Specs

 

Fraunie

 

Boxer, 2 pugs, 2 sulcata tortoises. Bourbon Red Turkey, 2 OEGB, Australorp and chicks (2-salmon favarolles, 2 Sicilian Buttercups, Buff Orp, Gold Sexlink, Buff Brahma, and one moreyippiechickie.gif)  oh....and two kids, too....

Flock - 1 Australorp, 1 Speckled OEG bantam, 1 BR turkey, 2 Sicilian Buttercups, 2 Salmon Faverolles, 1 Buff Brahma, 1 BSL, 1 Silver Hamburg, 2 Silkies, 1 Spangled Sussex, 1  GL Wyandotte, Chicks - 3 Cream Leg Bars, 1 RIR, 3 Ameracaunas

Herd - Husband, Daughter (9), Son (8), 2 pugs, 1 boxer, 2 sulcata tortoises,2 Pygora goats, 1 Angora goat, 1 crazy Nubian and 2 angora bucklings born 2/12/13

...

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Flock - 1 Australorp, 1 Speckled OEG bantam, 1 BR turkey, 2 Sicilian Buttercups, 2 Salmon Faverolles, 1 Buff Brahma, 1 BSL, 1 Silver Hamburg, 2 Silkies, 1 Spangled Sussex, 1  GL Wyandotte, Chicks - 3 Cream Leg Bars, 1 RIR, 3 Ameracaunas

Herd - Husband, Daughter (9), Son (8), 2 pugs, 1 boxer, 2 sulcata tortoises,2 Pygora goats, 1 Angora goat, 1 crazy Nubian and 2 angora bucklings born 2/12/13

...

Reply

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post #2 of 8
6/3/12 at 8:33am

the internal nesting boxes will be hard to use if you have to reach in and get eggs change bedding etc. Wonder if the other sides have vents, it seems like it doesn't have enough airflow...and the ramp is steep...it's very hard to tell from one photo..

http://lunation.reiddust.com/wordpress/

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http://lunation.reiddust.com/wordpress/

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post #3 of 8
6/3/12 at 9:46am
Thread Starter 

Good eye!

 

We plan to add some ventilation by shortening the walls a bit and putting wire screen on the top.  We are in southern CA so weather isn't too much of an issue.  I was going to do it on two sides.  The nesting boxes do have an exterior door to access, but I can't tell how many boxes there are.  I could modify the ramp, too.  Should also add that they will mostly be free range in our corral, but we will probably add a run on the bottom and side for easier care when we leave for the weekend and such. 

 

And yes, I totally want to see more pics of this!!  There isn't much around...

 

Thanks!!!

Flock - 1 Australorp, 1 Speckled OEG bantam, 1 BR turkey, 2 Sicilian Buttercups, 2 Salmon Faverolles, 1 Buff Brahma, 1 BSL, 1 Silver Hamburg, 2 Silkies, 1 Spangled Sussex, 1  GL Wyandotte, Chicks - 3 Cream Leg Bars, 1 RIR, 3 Ameracaunas

Herd - Husband, Daughter (9), Son (8), 2 pugs, 1 boxer, 2 sulcata tortoises,2 Pygora goats, 1 Angora goat, 1 crazy Nubian and 2 angora bucklings born 2/12/13

...

Reply

Flock - 1 Australorp, 1 Speckled OEG bantam, 1 BR turkey, 2 Sicilian Buttercups, 2 Salmon Faverolles, 1 Buff Brahma, 1 BSL, 1 Silver Hamburg, 2 Silkies, 1 Spangled Sussex, 1  GL Wyandotte, Chicks - 3 Cream Leg Bars, 1 RIR, 3 Ameracaunas

Herd - Husband, Daughter (9), Son (8), 2 pugs, 1 boxer, 2 sulcata tortoises,2 Pygora goats, 1 Angora goat, 1 crazy Nubian and 2 angora bucklings born 2/12/13

...

Reply
post #4 of 8
6/3/12 at 10:05am

A lot of people will buy bulk lumber and build them and sell them.  Look on craigslist - you can probably get a brand new one, well built, for a fair price.

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post #5 of 8
6/3/12 at 12:29pm

We have a modified version of the TuffShed coop, and really like it. There are separate external doors for accessing each of the three internal nesting boxes. The set-up works quite well. We added two windows and a continuous roof ridge vent.

 

I am certain one could build it less expensively oneself, but I lacked the time, energy, tools and talent to do it myself in a timely manner. Here is a photo of ours:

 

IMG_4962-1.jpg

 

Here is a photo of the nesting box doors:

 

IMG_3574.jpg

 

KJF


Edited by Kjf18 - 6/3/12 at 12:31pm

Two araucanas, two black sex links, a buff orpington, a speckled sussex, a blue cochin and silver cuckoo marans. And two rescue dogs, a rescue cat, two ponds full of goldfish and koi, and a few turtles.
 

http://www.kjf.smugmug.com

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Two araucanas, two black sex links, a buff orpington, a speckled sussex, a blue cochin and silver cuckoo marans. And two rescue dogs, a rescue cat, two ponds full of goldfish and koi, and a few turtles.
 

http://www.kjf.smugmug.com

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post #6 of 8
6/4/12 at 5:31am

Wow!  I love it!

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post #7 of 8
6/4/12 at 5:59am

I am sorry to bust your bubble, but I am a custom shed builder, and I have had to replace customers sheds that were tuff sheds. I will warn you that they are very expensive and their structures will not last longer than what a private shed builder can do. My prices are 1/4 less the cost of theirs and I know you can find a contractor a lot less than tuff sheds, and a private contractor will build a stronger and more sturdy coop. This is from my own personal experience.

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post #8 of 8
6/4/12 at 3:48pm
No bubble to burst.

As I said in an earlier post, I'm sure one could build this oneself for less cost. I concluded I did not have the time, energy, tools or skills to build a coop myself this spring. I did a lot of research and decided to go with TuffShed. While I suspect one might be able to find a local contractor to build something like this at perhaps a bit better price, we are happy with our decision and our coop.

I have no connection to TuffShed, and haven't bought anything else from them. They did a good job for us. I suggest everyone do their own research and make their own decision.

smile.png

KJF
Edited by Kjf18 - 6/4/12 at 6:51pm

Two araucanas, two black sex links, a buff orpington, a speckled sussex, a blue cochin and silver cuckoo marans. And two rescue dogs, a rescue cat, two ponds full of goldfish and koi, and a few turtles.
 

http://www.kjf.smugmug.com

Reply

Two araucanas, two black sex links, a buff orpington, a speckled sussex, a blue cochin and silver cuckoo marans. And two rescue dogs, a rescue cat, two ponds full of goldfish and koi, and a few turtles.
 

http://www.kjf.smugmug.com

Reply
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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Coop & Run - Design, Construction, & Maintenance › Anyone have the TuffShed chicken coop?