Are any of the small coop kits actually worth it?

[Silexian]

With what it takes to make a prefab coop. Usable and safe. Will take just as much time and money as it would to build a very nice little coop from scratch. I have seen some nice little coops made from cattle panels. That would work well for a few bantams. While staying within your budget.

 

[NatJ]

Thanks for sharing your experiences ... you look like you are in a much dryer and warmer climate...... SouthWest USA?

JacinLarkwell is in "South-Eastern Montana," according to their profile.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Thanks for sharing your experiences ... you look like you are in a much dryer and warmer climate...... SouthWest USA?

Northwest US. Montana. Cold, cold winters

 

[kurby22]

As far as quality of manufacture, Eglus may well be the best of the kit coops. But they are still short on ventilation and short on floor space for the number of chickens they claim to hold.

I also think they need reinforcements with hardware cloth. Too many things can reach through their runs, in my opinion

 

[kurby22]

I live in the Sacramento Valley of CA and have yet to see how my one prefab coop will handle a real CA winter that has real rain (maybe I won’t!). Therefore so far the coop I have has worked well although it already needs new hardware cloth on a door. The wood and sturdiness has been okay and I have secured it all around from predators and they use the whole thing as a coop. This means good ventilation and roost bars they can use at night. I also bought a more solid, 4x8 ft coop a couple months back and it is by FAR a better choice. Was $1000 instead of $280…but will last forever haha. I think for the price, the prefabs will work for a few bantams if you can protect it from snow and drafts and wind and rain.