Coop advice?

[Chickentea]

So I don’t have my chickens yet, I’m still researching and getting prepared. I’m hoping to raise Australorps or Buff Orpingtons as I want chickens as pets as well as egg layers.

I was looking at some pre-fab coops, but I know you have to be careful because sometimes the capacity size advertised is aimed at the “factory farmer shove them all in a tight space” type, and I don’t want to do that to the poor things.

I’m looking to possibly get six chickens to start.

The two that I was looking at are these. I’m hesitating on the first one because the run is separate and costs about as much as the coop. The second looks well made and comes with the run as well.
I know they’d both have to be predator proofed and possibly
Insulated and I’m prepared for that.

coop one: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/overez-chicken-coop-medium?cm_vc=-10005
(Or the large one. https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/overez-chicken-coop-large?cm_vc=-10005 The price on this one is….extreme but looks well made)

coop two: https://www.urbannorthern.com/colle...cken-coop-barn-red-dark-brown-and-clear-stain

thanks so much for any advice/help!

 

[CluckerFamily]

I would say neither will be big enough for 6 chickens. The dimensions they give you on both are about the same but they include the nesting boxes in the dimensions and those don’t count when you calculate the appropriate space for the chickens.

 

[Chickentea]

I would say neither will be big enough for 6 chickens. The dimensions they give you on both are about the same but they include the nesting boxes in the dimensions and those don’t count when you calculate the appropriate space for the chickens.

Yikes! Glad I asked first. What are the dimensions needed for six?

 

[Callender Girl]

I have a large OverEZ and they are ridiculously expensive (although when I had to build a coop this spring, it turned out the lumber prices had tripled and even with free labor and some salvaged materials, it was still Way Too Costly). I bought OverEZ off used Craigslist for $600 and added my own run. My run's not lovely, but it's not too expensive either.

The OverEZ is incredibly sturdy. Most people want to add some ventilation, and there are several ways to do that. My coop, as seen in my avatar, honestly only houses six birds, and I think that's the most I would ever consider in it. It has two roosts that run the full length, so I guess that's where the sellers think they can convince people it will house Many More Birds. There are also five nest boxes, but only two ever get used. Chickens!?!

I figure about four square foot per full-sized bird. All of mine also have runs and/or get to run around in the yard all day.

I don't have any experience with the Urban Northern Coop, so no opinions there.

 

[CluckerFamily]

The bare minimum is 4 square feet per chicken for the coop and 10 square feet per chicken for the run.

 

[CluckerFamily]

Some people remodel an old playhouse into a chicken coop.

 

[Chickentea]

I have a large OverEZ and they are ridiculously expensive (although when I had to build a coop this spring, it turned out the lumber prices had tripled and even with free labor and some salvaged materials, it was still Way Too Costly). I bought OverEZ off used Craigslist for $600 and added my own run. My run's not lovely, but it's not too expensive either.

The OverEZ is incredibly sturdy. Most people want to add some ventilation, and there are several ways to do that. My coop, as seen in my avatar, honestly only houses six birds, and I think that's the most I would ever consider in it. It has two roosts that run the full length, so I guess that's where the sellers think they can convince people it will house Many More Birds. There are also five nest boxes, but only two ever get used. Chickens!?!

I figure about four square foot per full-sized bird. All of mine also have runs and/or get to run around in the yard all day.

I don't have any experience with the Urban Northern Coop, so no opinions there.

Yeah that’s the one reason I was eyeing it, haha. It looks sturdy and so well made.
so if I grabbed the large one I’d make sure they had a good size run to move around in.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I had to buy some lumber yesterday. Prices are coming back down.

A month ago a 2x4x8 was $8.95 here. Yesterday it was $5.98.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Of the ones you listed the OverEZ Large would be the best fit for 6 birds. It does need more ventilation added but the basic design and size is good enough.

Assuming you don't want to build something yourself, but are willing to make modifications, cheaper options would be used sheds, playhouses, etc.

 

[brich2929]

good thread! I can't move from my current place to a new place suitable for chickens until October but I am reading and learning!