Anyone have experience with this coop?

[jhmoore]

I have a little polish hen that I had to separate from the rest of my flock- they were pecking at her, even after she healed & I slowly reintroduced. So, I really don't want her to live in my basement in an enormous dog crate forever. Plus, I think she needs some chicken interaction, so she's not lonely. Only, this time of year is not great for construction in Michigan.

My Pet Chicken has a small A-frame shaped coop/tractor that they sell for about $99. It states it would be good for a pair or for a broody. I was thinking this might be a good option for her until spring- at least I can place her near the others, where she can hear & see them, but they can't get to her. I would obviously let her out to stretch/scratch with supervision. Does anyone have experience with this coop, or have any comments/ suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

 

[#1California Chick]

Welcome to BYC!!

I do NOT have experience with this set up!! However, it sounds like it is something that you could use with this hen, until you can get a companion.

It seems to me that it would also be useful in the future as a "broody coop" or a "quarantine coop" or for chicks before they go into your "big chick" yard!!

Cindy

 

[vermontgal]

Look around for price, because other places sell that same coop.

 

[orcasislandchickens]

I have that one. Actually I have 2. How good it is depends. I use mine mostly in the sun room to confine a hen if she needs to be seperated and watched, or out in the garden in the afternoon on a nice day for two hens to pick around and dig dirt. For those uses it is great. Super great even. But for regular quarters, well if you were in California I'd tell you it was perfect but in Michigan I'm afraid she'd freeze. It is smaller than you would guess from the pictures, it is realy about the same as putting her outside in a dog crate. It is way too small to heat.

There is a little slatted floor in the house part, but no door to close to the run, and the run is just wire-completely open. No floor in the run, it is made to dig in the dirt. You would have to add wire just to keep animals from digging in. It doesn't weigh much. I can carry it myself no problem, and a dog or coon could probably tip it over. It is about 2 ft wide x 4 ft long and about 20 inches tall. If you can use it as a coop within a coop so that it separates her, giving her her own little room with the big coop providing shelter, then it would work great.

You could also put it, and her, in the laundry room or something and move the whole thing outside when it is nice enough out. (Maybe March

)

 

[jaybme]

I Have this one too. I used it for my button quail, first. They are tiny, so I stapled and hog-ringed on 1/4" hardware cloth over the outside and 2" cloth on the bottom, so they could still be in the grass but nothing can dig in.

Later I put chicks in, but at night I moved them into my house. Having the bottom closed really was nice.

Now I use it to acclimatize chicks to outdoors, and the integrate them into the coop. I put them in the ark, and then put it next to the coop.

Everyone watches each other for a couple days, and then I put the ark INSIDE the coop for a day or two. I've done that twice now- works well.

It has been handy to have! But I agree- to small to heat, and unsafe for long term unless you make some changes to it.

 

[TreeFever]

If it says it would fit a pair, I think it would be nice for her to have a pal in there with her. Either a sweety from your flock or a new sweet banty.

 

[jhmoore]

Hey everyone! Thank you for the wonderful feedback. That's just what I was looking for. That's interesting to hear there is no door on the run side of the coop- do you think it would be easy enough to make one to go onto it?

I would only buy this knowing full well that I would build something larger and more permanent in the spring. But, I liked that this was still small enough that I should be able to pick it up and put it in my barn at night, which would keep her out of the elements too.

I love that I could keep it handy for a broody or another sick/injured of the flock later on.

I was hoping to try to put my other polish hen in with her as a buddy. If that doesn't work- I'll be getting a banty/polish cross from my friend once hers hatch and are big enough. I don't want her to be lonely.

Thank you again! And, i will check other sites to compare prices- thanks for the tip.

 

[orcasislandchickens]

There is an OPENING but it doesn't close. You could not shut it to heat. (even if it was big enough) That is what I meant. They can go in and out of the little house at will. There is room for a buddy for sure. I have had a pair in there- no problem. They are always happier with a freind. With a freind and in a barn it might work. I caution you though, it just isn't an outdoor winter thing. But you would definitley find it useful after your coop was finished for all sorts of things. It is a great pen to have for a broody with chicks, or a sickie, or a newbie. the floor slats come out and the side opens to the house so I find it pretty easy to wash off and sterilize between uses.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Might it be better and cheaper to buy a used rabbit hutch on craigslist and then cut the legs down short so it would be closer to the ground? Just a thought.

 

[AtRendeAcres]

i think i saw this @ http://www.meyerhatchery.com/get_list_166.htm for $70