Are there any good pre-fab coops?

[briansol]

I just got my first 5 chicks, about 3 weeks old now inside and growing fast. I need to get going on the outdoor plans.
I am not very handy and don't have time to build, so i'm looking for a pre-fab unit.

They all seem to have very poor reviews.

Does anyone know of a GOOD brand? i'm not looking to spend a ton, but i don't want to waste $200 on crap either. Appreciate any brand names or suggestions.

We do have a lot of predadtors here (coyotes, fox, hawks, bears? etc) so it needs to be pretty secure.

 

[aimee750]

Most of the pre-fab kits are crap!

We have a couple of coops from Over EZ that are wonderful.
https://overezchickencoop.com/
They are very sturdy and easy to assemble. The hardest part was unloading it from the semi.

 

[briansol]

Those are beautiful, but it would take me about 15 years to break even on cost vs buying eggs. Trying to stay in the 3-5 hundred range

 

[Logar]

I just got my first 5 chicks, about 3 weeks old now inside and growing fast. I need to get going on the outdoor plans.
I am not very handy and don't have time to build, so i'm looking for a pre-fab unit.

They all seem to have very poor reviews.

Does anyone know of a GOOD brand? i'm not looking to spend a ton, but i don't want to waste $200 on crap either. Appreciate any brand names or suggestions.

We do have a lot of predadtors here (coyotes, fox, hawks, bears? etc) so it needs to be pretty secure.

You can build a hoop coop very easily with minimal tools/experience and should only cost you $2-300. there are not really any good prefab coops. I have an OverEZ and for the cost it is absolutely horrible. And it required a lot of modification. A shed conversion would be another option but you will have to do a decent amount of modifications and most sheds won't work great

 

[Logar]

You can build a hoop coop very easily with minimal tools/experience and should only cost you $2-300. there are not really any good prefab coops. I have an OverEZ and for the cost it is absolutely horrible. And it required a lot of modification. A shed conversion would be another option but you will have to do a decent amount of modifications and most sheds won't work great

the biggest cost for a hoop coop would be all the hardware cloth

 

[briansol]

Let me add one more requirement : It must pass the wife's req: "it needs to looks nice". I think that rules out every hoop & fabric type option out there.

 

[Logar]

Let me add one more requirement : It must pass the wife's req: "it needs to looks nice". I think that rules out every hoop & fabric type option out there.

yeah I ran into that problem with my mom lol... made it a lot more difficult.
would something like this work? it would need a ton of ventilation added plus preferably a fan but it is way better than a lot of the prefab coops out there (I hope you dont mind me stealing this picture @Squawkers )

 

[CraziChknLady]

Most prefabs are crap, I agree. And most of what you get online is too small.

I winded up getting ,similar to Aituvian, a rabbit hutch. It was about $150. Watch out for Amazon delivery fees. Worked out perfect for a mama and babies, or some growing chicks for few weeks. Not for standard adult birds! I then surround whole thing with a dog panel (4-5ft ones on Amazon, $50.) I used the plastic fence stakes (used for temp fencing) and zip ties and made an area. Of course this isn't permanent, but gave a safe, albeit little bit larger space. And got them out of the previous area they were in.
Although I went into that knowing that it wasn't super great and it's not their final permanent home. And I will need to modify and eventually paint it. Now these double as a med coup area / separation/ or for growing chicks.

One of the coops I have is the Producers Pride Defender Coop with run, at the time got it for $300 as a family was moving out of state. I do recommend ( if applicable) use barn or outdoor paint as well as lining the bottom with metal or linoleum. Also add extra vents for any or all coops.

Hoop coops are great depending on your area. Unable to in mine as the temps fluctuate so much.

For cheap route we did a 12 x 12 shed, wood floor with metal all around. At the time for supplies it was $1,200. You could always get a cheap metal shed at Lowe's for $400 and be better off space wise.

Try to scout Facebook marketplace too. I found an old playhouse that I am going to rehab into a breeding coop.
Unfortunately now, my 12 x 12 shed (5-6yrs old)and defender (7-8 possibly 9-10, as it was a year or 2 old when we got it) coops are starting to have problems so definitely doing coop refurbishing this year. Although they are quite old too. I definitely recommend trying to get something prefab, even if it's an old doghouse, crate, etc. Although if you have time, definitely make a decent one, but larger than you think. Also remember about storing supplies, feed ect (that goes for what you are currently feeding and what you have in storage. )

There's a variety of options, just see what works for you. You could always get something to tide you over until you source a larger one. I hope this helps.

 

[AntiqueB]

Prefabs need modifications. They have too little ventilation, and need to be painted to preserve the (cheap) wood for more than a year or 2. Each door need better latches, and the roof will leak into the nestboxes. The roosts will be too narrow. If you have any predators, a raccoon can easily rip a door off; one ripped a hole in my neighbor's garage eave. All they need is a place to grab with their fingers. In addition, the attached run won't be nearly big enough for adult chickens.

My advice is to buy a shed and modify it.

 

[paintedChix]

Hmmm. Then that pretty much covers - "no chickens for us"...

I don't know of any prefabs that will hold against a bear. Most heavily, well built coops will not hold against a determined bear. A good acquiantance and several of her "neighbors" (acres away on each side, along a paved road) just all lost their coops & chickens around Thanksgiving. All were wood built, all had layers of hot wire - solar & plugged into house/barn currents. Fish & Wildlife did bring in & moved around a live bear trap. As of now, bear prob went into hibernation - has not been caught. Kalispell, MT. Black bear, not a grizzly.

In 2021, when i was there for 3 months, Bear season opened. Tammy "drug" me along to the Hungry Horse Dam. Ive NEVER been so happy to NOT SEE sign or actual bears...

As to good pre- fabs, for every good review, there are 5 bad. Most state way off #s of chickens vs space. Even "good" ones usually need extra ventilation & some type of treatment to protect the lightweight woods used - so weather doesnt quickly render them
un-usable.

For me, I would use one of the TSC coops - Producers Pride Sentinel (waist high) or Guardian (walk in) or Defender (walk in). Still needs a HWC lower border, and an apron. May need wire higher up. Then also "blocks" where the panels & gates are open. More ventilation on the coop portion & protective sealer on wood. And i have seen these (& dog kennels) rust, so recommend they be installed on brick or block foundation.

Another not walk in I've seen good reviews are the Aivituvin coop/run combos. You could check reviews for the many styles. TSC, Amazon & the Aivituvin company all sell them now.

But she is using it for bantam breeding group(s) - not full size chickens.

Again - #s, ventilation, treatment of wood, apron & raise lightweight frame off ground contact. Bear proof? No.

There are other pre-built coops. Even the better built Amish coops I've seen (on line & in person - i have custom Amish pony equipment. LOVE the quality) usually need extra ventilation for my purposes... BUT a GREAT option if you can get one where you live.

You have a little time. A shed that you could hire someone to turn it into a safe coop. You can work on the run. Or a carport roof that you build out a coop & run under it...