A misguided buy :/

[teach1rusl]

Quote:
So true!! I wish all coop marketers were required to list coop dimensions (both housing and run) in BIG, BOLD numbers/letters so folks would focus more on the dimensions and less on how many chickens they claim "will fit." I've had good dealings with MPC - but they're in this business to make money first and foremost. Factory farms give only about one sq. ft per bird (I was thinking 10 inches was allowed???), so technically these companies CAN list that a tiny coop can hold a LOT of birds - if they're going by factory farm standards.
And for someone who free ranges and lives in a year round mild climate area, this coop could work for 4 birds. But for folks who get snowy/icy weather a few months a year - won't work well. Or for folks who don't/can't free range - won't work well.
Legally - I think they are safe. However, you can always appeal to their ethical pride as a dissatisfied customer - let them know that you're sharing this info. on BYC also - other potential customers.

 

[Pickles03]

Quote:
I agree...I read the letter and grit my teeth every time I read "make sense?"

 

[Tracyree]

Would love to know how you decided ton proceed.

 

[capassar]

Hi All,

I am also a new chicken keeper and have the same problem, same coop, same number of hens. Mine are now point of lay, but not laying yet. They are sleeping in the nest boxes and not using their roost bars either. After doing some research, I realized that the roost bars are also too low (below the nest boxes) so the girls won't use them. Barred,Comet,Laced, I will contact MyPetChicken and raise the same issue. My dilemma though is more complicated: I have a large covered run built around and over the coop, so replacing the coop is not an option for me - I would have to dismantle the whole run. I am going to request an expansion kit of some sort. My husband is also going to move the roost bars up so they can have more floor space and roost above the nest boxes. I agree with you completely the whole thing victimizes new inexperienced chicken owners. Here is another twist: Martha Stewart promotes MyPetChicken.com. If we don't get some satisfaction we can also raise the issue at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. She hates to be associated with anything that isn't completely animal friendly.

 

[hydroswiftrob]

I found the letter very condescending. It had an over-usage of verbiage and never fully answered your question. I would rewrite them and ask them to explain the second half that went unanswered.

Do you have a legit gripe? I think so.

Do they have any legal obligation? No, their description and disclaimers make up for it. Heck, the way the disclaimer is written, you're lucky you didn't receive a box of 2X4's, roll of wire, and instructions telling you to use your coop creativity.

Are there many active users on BYC? Yes. That is where you reach the masses. If ethically they don't make it right, then feel free to post whatever you desire. (This is my opinion)

I am glad forums like this exist.

 

[CupOJoe42]

Two of my friends have this same coop. They had to reinforce it with wire on the bottom, and ended up enclosing the entire thing in an outside covered dog kennel on a bed of sand. Before that, the doors would swell when it rained, making it impossible to open, without having it fall apart. They have 4 pullets and it was pretty tight in there once they added food and water. Now the food and water are in the covered dog kennel, and they leave the coop door open all the time so the girls can go in whenever they want.

I had thought about buying this coop, but when I saw my friend's, I decided that my money would be better spent building my own. Good luck and I hope you get some resolution. You might want to contact the Better Business Bureau.

 

[mikecnorthwest]

It's interesting that many of the advertisers on this website sell these very same coops. I think it's easy for us to get fooled into thinking that everyone feels the same way as we do about our chickens and the care we provide them. We have to remember that these are for-profit businesses and they're willing to sell junk if it means making a buck.

 

[VelvettFog]

Remember in all transactions -- buyer beware.

I'm sorry that you are dissatisfied. But the dimensions are shown, and the 4sq ft per bird is what this website feels is appropriate. If most of this membership was from Europe, we'd be saying 2sq ft. And, both of those are simply guidelines. It matters much more about how you care for your flock than the number of square feet they have.

 

[hydroswiftrob]

Quote:
Ah yes, I forgot to add that to my post-------- Caveat Emptor!