Buy or build??

[RWD]

Only buy a coop from a builder who raises chickens. The little manufactured coops come from a factory and built by people who have no idea what chickens and the caretaker need.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[sumi]

Only buy a coop from a builder who raises chickens. The little manufactured coops come from a factory and built by people who have no idea what chickens and the caretaker need.
Just my 2 cents.

X 2

I bought a coop and I regret it now. It wasn't very well made, is way too small, the "perch" inside is ridiculous and I paid way too much for it. I seriously wonder if the manufacturer actually owns any chickens and knows that they need and want in a coop. In future I'll build my own coops or get the materials and pay someone to build it for me.

 

[Trefoil]

I bought one coop, never again. 1- they are too small, in the pictures they look like they would hold a couple of chickens comfortably,but pictures are deceiving. and worse 2- once you get the coop, to use it you are probably going to have to replace all the hardware in it to be predator proof. 3. The finish that comes on them last one summer, redo it immediately and save yourself a lot of sanding. 4. probably for shipping as well as initial cost, they are made of flimsy materials, the one I bought was cedar and supposedly 1/2", but it was made out of cedar siding, very light weight.
I would suggest that rather that actually trying to hide the fact that you have it, make it look like a playhouse or shed, hide its purpose. Buy or build a 8x10 or 10 x 10 shed, use part of it for your chickens and the rest for storage, you can use the shed to screen the fact that you even have a run and you will also have room to expand if necessary. No matter what you do, take the time to go through the coops in the coops section, they have some wonderful ones. And much as it pains me to say it, if you are thinking of having chickens "illegally". It would be much better to try to change the laws before you get chickens or at least clear it with your neighbors because there is no way you will be able to completely hide the fact. The promise or actuality of sharing eggs and/or mulch for the gardeners goes a long way towards friendly neighbors.