Adding on to my coop

[smcmillan1]

I got this coop for my birthday https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-ranch-chicken-coop

being the newby I am.... coop says it holds 8 (not realizing at the time they probably meant bantams) I ordered 6 chicks and received 8 chicks! ( 1 barred rock, 1 black australorp, 2 cinnamon queens, 2 rhode island reds and 2 white austras) They will be 2 weeks old tomorrow and I couldn't be happier with all of them! My predicament is space for them once they can go out in the coop.

I had already planned to add a larger run but now I don't know if I'm going to have enough room in the hen house! any thoughts or ideas for adding on to the run or anything like that would be appreciated.

 

[PirateGirl]

You could add plywood walls and a roost to the section that is currently the run so they have more space that is protected from the elements. It already has a roof.

Then you could build a bigger run, which you are planning on anyway.

 

[rosemarythyme]

You could add plywood walls and a roost to the section that is currently the run so they have more space that is protected from the elements. It already has a roof.

Then you could build a bigger run, which you are planning on anyway.

^ This. Turn the entire thing into a coop by running a roost bar lengthwise inside and paneling up any sides facing prevailing winds. Then add an appropriate sized run (in your case, 80 sq ft+).

 

[Cryss]

First turn this into a large coop by encvlosing the run. Make sure you leave ventilation. Once it' all set up build a 10x10 dog coop around it for the run. You will still need to wrap the run in 1/2 inch hardware cloth.

 

[3riverschick]

I agree with rosemary .I was looking at this Coop too. it is too small for the chickens I want ,but turning the whole thing into a coop would work great. then add another run on to it .
Best ,
Karen

 

[smcmillan1]

that is an awesome idea!! totally never thought about that!!

 

[Cryss]

My little coop is inside my run. It's similar to your coop. I might be enclosing it too. You might like my run, 100 square feet minus the coop area and easily enlarged down the line. It's a 10x10 chain link dog run that I protected with 1/2 inch hardware cloth. There are a couple types of 10x10 dog runs out there. You could pick the kind you want and use a second one later to expand to 10x30. Of course you can build a run from wood and hardware cloth. Whatever you decide for a run just remember to research and use the best predator proofing you can. Hardware cloth is your friend.

 

[aart]

That's one of PP's newer designs, saw it at TSC.
Still too small for the birds they say, but a vast improvement over other prefab coops. Nice big metal roof and even some decent ventilation.

Might want to leave one side open for summer as hot as it is there.