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Do you think this has potential? (Rabbit hutch conversion)

post #1 of 11
Thread Starter 

I noticed this for sale, it's an outdoor rabbit hutch however i believe it could be converted.. i think the pro's are the hardware cloth and the metal roof...  It's got solid construction being they used plywood and 2x4's etc... since we have winter it couldn't be this open but i need a run anyhow.. would it be worthwhile? or better to just start from scratch. They are asking 80$ for it.. i should mention i am NOT in the US so materials and so forth cost more here. Thanks!

 

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~ Firefly Farms home of Miniature horses, 14 Muscovy ducks, 2 calls ducks ( 2 buff ducks joining this spring), 4 Ameraucana chickens(1/2 doz Silkies coming spring, darn chicken math finally got me) , Lionhead rabbits and your typical dogs, cats, fish, and parrots...

 

 

 

 

 

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~ Firefly Farms home of Miniature horses, 14 Muscovy ducks, 2 calls ducks ( 2 buff ducks joining this spring), 4 Ameraucana chickens(1/2 doz Silkies coming spring, darn chicken math finally got me) , Lionhead rabbits and your typical dogs, cats, fish, and parrots...

 

 

 

 

 

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post #2 of 11

it does look nice, and has a lot of good features, but I do see they'd need some sort of box to sleep in, and also a nesting box so it would have to be modified. I would keep looking, seems like you can get a real coop and not have to make all those changes to it. It would only hold about 3 full grown chickens 

post #3 of 11
Quote:
Originally Posted by Izzymoon View Post

it does look nice, and has a lot of good features, but I do see they'd need some sort of box to sleep in, and also a nesting box so it would have to be modified. I would keep looking, seems like you can get a real coop and not have to make all those changes to it. It would only hold about 3 full grown chickens 

I agree. You'd have to do some modifications, but pretty minor. Depending on your budget, I would purchase that hutch but keep on the look out for a better one. You might decide to get more chickens in the future, or your needs might change in some way. The number one potential problem is the predator issue: I'm not sure how rural your neighborhood is, but raccoons can rip open that wire, lift the lid of the coop (if it's detachable) and easily open the latches. A few tweaks might be necessary, but easy. 

I have a coop similar to this that I got a deal on from Craigs List. It's tiny but I used a wine case box as a make shift nesting box, replaced the latches with stronger hardware (using decanters to eliminate turning) and secured the roof. It was only used outside for a little while, to separate some of our chickens while they were 'transitioning' and worked great. Later on it was used strictly as a broody box and lots of happy chicks were hatched there! We consider it a little chicky condo...

 Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy! 

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 Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy! 

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post #4 of 11

That's exactly like mine. Other than extending the run, it works for upto three birds.
 

Suburban dweller aiming for greater self sufficiency, better nutrition and humane food.

 

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Suburban dweller aiming for greater self sufficiency, better nutrition and humane food.

 

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post #5 of 11

I would get it and modify it. the others are right it vouldnt hold many chickens but it would be a nice start and could later on be used as a brooder box

post #6 of 11
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Izzymoon View Post

it does look nice, and has a lot of good features, but I do see they'd need some sort of box to sleep in, and also a nesting box so it would have to be modified. I would keep looking, seems like you can get a real coop and not have to make all those changes to it. It would only hold about 3 full grown chickens 

 

Thanks for you input, i have 4 birds lol so that could be an issue although i could expand it, coops here are a fortune even old ones they want hundreds for, really good ones move into 1000$+

 

 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by California_chickie View Post

I agree. You'd have to do some modifications, but pretty minor. Depending on your budget, I would purchase that hutch but keep on the look out for a better one. You might decide to get more chickens in the future, or your needs might change in some way. The number one potential problem is the predator issue: I'm not sure how rural your neighborhood is, but raccoons can rip open that wire, lift the lid of the coop (if it's detachable) and easily open the latches. A few tweaks might be necessary, but easy. 

I have a coop similar to this that I got a deal on from Craigs List. It's tiny but I used a wine case box as a make shift nesting box, replaced the latches with stronger hardware (using decanters to eliminate turning) and secured the roof. It was only used outside for a little while, to separate some of our chickens while they were 'transitioning' and worked great. Later on it was used strictly as a broody box and lots of happy chicks were hatched there! We consider it a little chicky condo...

 

They have used hardware cloth but the entire front and floor would need to be modified. I just have the 4 chickens which at the moment are 2.5wks-3wks old.. no intentions of getting more, i mainly own ducks but wanted some chicken eggs.

 

I'm actually rural... so i have it all here... but we built our duck coop so i know what needs to be beefed up, i guess i kinda liked the idea of a foundation so to speak? i'd probably have to see it in person, to see exactly how sturdy and how decently it's put together.

 

 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by SouthernAlberta View Post

That's exactly like mine. Other than extending the run, it works for upto three birds.
 

 

 

Thanks i have 4! so somebody would be left in the cold lol tongue.png

Quote:
Originally Posted by Debs55 View Post

I would get it and modify it. the others are right it vouldnt hold many chickens but it would be a nice start and could later on be used as a brooder box

I don't need a brooder, no roos here and my ducks brood there own... i wish i could find something to at least give us a start but the pricing here on coops is ridiculous and most of them are asking these outrageous prices with using chicken wire..  barnie.gif

~ Firefly Farms home of Miniature horses, 14 Muscovy ducks, 2 calls ducks ( 2 buff ducks joining this spring), 4 Ameraucana chickens(1/2 doz Silkies coming spring, darn chicken math finally got me) , Lionhead rabbits and your typical dogs, cats, fish, and parrots...

 

 

 

 

 

Reply

~ Firefly Farms home of Miniature horses, 14 Muscovy ducks, 2 calls ducks ( 2 buff ducks joining this spring), 4 Ameraucana chickens(1/2 doz Silkies coming spring, darn chicken math finally got me) , Lionhead rabbits and your typical dogs, cats, fish, and parrots...

 

 

 

 

 

Reply
post #7 of 11

I think you could do some modifications for relatively inexpensive an easily. The nesting box(es) could be a hole cute in the wall with a bucket secured in it or something similar. It wouldn't take up any space in the coop and it would be easy. I use 5 gallon buckets turned on their side for nesting boxes and they work fine. You can get them for free from Wal-Mart, Brookshires, Kroger etc. bakeries. That's where I got mine. I went to the Wal-mart bakery and asked for any leftover icing buckets. They looked at me crazy and asked a couple times if I was sure I wanted them. =P I got five 5 gallon buckets and lids for free. You would have to add some sort of roost, but that should be easy as well. Remember that you can fit more bantams that standards. ;)

My sweet puppy, Maggie (1yo), 3 adorable baby pet rats, Darby, Lilah, and Faye, 3 cats, 2 bunnies, a goldfish named Ghoti (pronounced "Fish"), 1 Khaki Campbell duckling, 1 Magpie duckling, and lots and lots of chickens!

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My sweet puppy, Maggie (1yo), 3 adorable baby pet rats, Darby, Lilah, and Faye, 3 cats, 2 bunnies, a goldfish named Ghoti (pronounced "Fish"), 1 Khaki Campbell duckling, 1 Magpie duckling, and lots and lots of chickens!

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post #8 of 11

I would definitely get it! We built our own coop this year, and it was not as cheap as we had wished! We were hoping for only about $200, but it ended up being more around $500! So, I would "hop" all over it and make the minor renovations! But as stated before, it all depends on your flock size and future chicken desires!

post #9 of 11

I think that is a really good price too! I think you would need to enlarge the run for 4 chickens. You could wrap insulation around it in the winter if needed. I would get it.

3 young Silkies, 1 Brittany bird dog, 1 Chihuahua mix, a ferrel kitty and me!

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3 young Silkies, 1 Brittany bird dog, 1 Chihuahua mix, a ferrel kitty and me!

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post #10 of 11

I made plans for a chicken coop made entirely out of recycled materials if you'd be interested in seeing it/having it explained. The whole thing is made out of recycled pallets and old furniture that people get rid of (for whatever reason)... Or scrap wood.

Future veterinarian with two dogs, two rabbits and a betta... Plus many others gone over the bridge. Still working on getting those birds! Currently after Palomino meat rabbits, Orpington laying hens and Muscovy ducks!

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Future veterinarian with two dogs, two rabbits and a betta... Plus many others gone over the bridge. Still working on getting those birds! Currently after Palomino meat rabbits, Orpington laying hens and Muscovy ducks!

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