Momma LaRosa
In the Brooder
- Oct 7, 2017
- 9
- 20
- 26
I have that coop and I LOVE IT!!! though the actual coop is not high quality. the run is seriously what you are paying for. As much as I'd love the idilic free range hens, where we live smaller animals are picked off on a daily basis by owls, osprey, hawks, eagles, badgers, coyote, bobcats etc. 
I 'winterized' it, and was actually concerned there would be too much ventilation / drafts but so far everyone's just fine and it's nice and dry. I 'insulated' the roofs with bales of pine shavings, and sides with bales of hay. Honestly the sub standard building provides for enough ventilation. I deep litter, and it never smells.
In the summer I put a tarp on the top for shade, and now I have a clear tarp on one side for wind protection and a little extra green house effect as well as the tarp on top. The wind catches the tarps so to prevent a giant sail effect, I used cattle panels on top of the tarp and secured with twine.... before the snow really starts, I'll need to reinforce that system.
They love the space under the coop, I put a cedar fence panel across the threshold and filled with sand for their play bath area. (the storage space on the outside is nice too, though with a lot of rain, it is not water proof)
I have 10 happy full size (not banty's not brahmas) chickens, there's plenty of roost space, play space etc especially since 2 like to snuggle in a corner. I plan to get 10 more hens this spring, but I'll be taking down that coop (shouldn't be too hard!!) and attaching more of a utility shed with internal built in coop area. It will give me a great dry place to store the shavings, feed, garden stuff, tiller, etc.
I bought it on sale, 15% off I think and have been pleased. also my hubby is a builder and was super critical of the coop (not the run) putting it together and even said he'd be out there building an actual quality coop in the spring... it's not great quality wood, but neither are most of the cute little kits out there.
: ) Happy chickening.
I 'winterized' it, and was actually concerned there would be too much ventilation / drafts but so far everyone's just fine and it's nice and dry. I 'insulated' the roofs with bales of pine shavings, and sides with bales of hay. Honestly the sub standard building provides for enough ventilation. I deep litter, and it never smells.
In the summer I put a tarp on the top for shade, and now I have a clear tarp on one side for wind protection and a little extra green house effect as well as the tarp on top. The wind catches the tarps so to prevent a giant sail effect, I used cattle panels on top of the tarp and secured with twine.... before the snow really starts, I'll need to reinforce that system.
They love the space under the coop, I put a cedar fence panel across the threshold and filled with sand for their play bath area. (the storage space on the outside is nice too, though with a lot of rain, it is not water proof)
I have 10 happy full size (not banty's not brahmas) chickens, there's plenty of roost space, play space etc especially since 2 like to snuggle in a corner. I plan to get 10 more hens this spring, but I'll be taking down that coop (shouldn't be too hard!!) and attaching more of a utility shed with internal built in coop area. It will give me a great dry place to store the shavings, feed, garden stuff, tiller, etc.
I bought it on sale, 15% off I think and have been pleased. also my hubby is a builder and was super critical of the coop (not the run) putting it together and even said he'd be out there building an actual quality coop in the spring... it's not great quality wood, but neither are most of the cute little kits out there.
: ) Happy chickening.
