Chickn Barn by ware

[columbiacritter]

Anyone had one of these they've used for a while and been happy with? I've read pretty bad reviews but have two friends who like theirs.

I bought one and because I over build am already planning on having it on a raised platform and will reiforce it with 1x1s.

I've built large coops inthe past, but just didn't see myself having the time, or enthusiam for building yet another one with so many other projects going this summer. Hope I don't come to regret this moment of laziness on my part.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

I don't have this but do have a rabbit hutch from them. Wood is thin Warped out of shape the 2nd year. Do not recommend for the price you pay.

 

[fldiver97]

I have one, was outside for about 3 - 4 months and then I decided it was not good for winter, too small for more than 2-3 standard size chickens for anythin but sleeping and egg laying. I raised it on a platform and added a 4x8 covered run to it. It worked OK during the warmer months as the 5 girls I had then spend their time either in the run or free ranging in a big fenced in yard. Now I use it as a quarantine coop. The last 7 - 8 months te little coop has been in a completely covered area, protected from snow and rain. I stained it too. It still warped a bit and I don't think it would have survived the year if I would have used it as intended. Just my experience/opinion. It may work OK in warmer climate than WI and maybe OK for 4-6 bantams but for standard size or larger chickens even 4 is too much. I ended up converting a 12x8 (originaly vent and windowless) gardenshed to a coop for the 6 girls I have now. They did great during the winter even after they did not go out in the snow and basically stayed in the coop and attached covered 4x12 run

 

[WoodlandWoman]

In addition to raising it off the ground and reinforcing it a little, you might want to spend some time using a good sealer on it. I think that would help a lot. I think excess moisture without a good sealer is one of the biggest problems with this coop.

Watch out for driving rain getting in the vent along the roof ridge. The overhang from the top portion isn't very wide. I think one person covered just a little of the lower edge of that vent, to keep the inside drier.

If this coop is working for people you know in your climate, I would think it would work for you. In addition to looking at how they have theirs set up, you could search this forum. Someone here did a really nice job on theirs.

On the other hand, if you can still return it and you want to, you could do that. By the time you build something to raise it, reinforce it, seal it and put on better hardware that's raccoon proof, you could be pretty far along on a nice little coop of your own design. You could also look for a different pre-made coop or a dog house or shed to remodel, that would be sturdier. I'm sure it will work out, no matter what you do.

 

[columbiacritter]

I unboxed it and studied the wood and design. The main issue I see if the stain they use isn't water repellant at ALL! So I'm painting it inside and out. The wood isn't that thin, it shouldn't warp if sealed against moisture. But I am still going to add some 1"x1" reinforcements inside.

Should I have bougth it? No. Though I am still happy not to have to spend the time to build one from absolute scratch. If nothing else it has given me some really good ideas on how to build a similar coop myself later, when the hubby finds yet another chicken breed to love. And it forced me to keep it small, as it needed to be, rather than an over sized over engineered monster like I usually build.

I could not and now after major car repair bills, cannot afford a really nice prebuilt one.

As a word of warning to anyone thinking of buying one. I sent 2 emails to the Manufacturer Ware and got no answer. I called their costumer service number and the woman seemed confused as to whether I could paint over their stain then said I could. I took one of the panels to a reputable paint store and got confirmation a latex primer would work just fine. In fact it soaked in confirming the stain they used had no water proofing at all. I will put 2 coats of primer then a colored outdoor quality paint.

Hopefully this weekend I can assemble it.