Coop From TSC

[The Coop Crew]

One more thing, the last one I purchased a year or so ago came with two vents in the housing section which was a needed change. It is also holding up better from the plywood rotting standpoint than the first two but tropical storm Debby's pending deluge will most likely change that quickly. But the hardware on the lid over the nest box came loose after only a few weeks.

I hope you stay safe!!!!

 

[SandyRiverChick]

It’s not that I won’t make modifications. I’m not sure if you read the whole post but I’m obviously upset about these things. I contemplated posting because I didn’t want to have to defend myself.
We plan to build a coop. We wish we could do it now but unfortunately we aren’t rich and we have other expenses that take priority at the moment.
Our girls are 14 weeks. We have modified the roosting bar by sanding down/rounding the edges.
If we still have this coop when winter comes we plan to insulate with straw bales all around covered tightly with a tarp. Which should help with the water issue as well.
I guess the bottom line is, we are doing the best we can with what we have. I know my girls are happy and healthy. The breeder we bought them from actually stopped over the other day and commented on how good they look.
This is all a learning process and I’ve done HOURS of reading to educate myself.

Sorry, I tried to be considerate instead of some of the posts I'm sure you've seen where people just call these coops junk.... I also can appreciate that not everyone has to be a carpenter with a big bank account to take very excellent care of chickens. That's why I suggested creativity. I'm way more impressed by the upcycling creativity I've seen from BYC members than the purchased Taj Mahal's. You'll figure it out just like I did. I started chickens while unemployed by converting a free dog house. The lengths I went to to use already cut wood so that I didn't have to cut anything, lol.... led to me learning how to use power tools. I love my power tools now. I'm a coop building beast, but I certainly didn't used to be and what I build is always winged, with no perfection plans. It's a process for sure and most people like myself really just hate to see your good intentions and money taken advantage of.

 

[The Coop Crew]

Sorry, I tried to be considerate instead of some of the posts I'm sure you've seen where people just call these coops junk.... I also can appreciate that not everyone has to be a carpenter with a big bank account to take very excellent care of chickens. That's why I suggested creativity. I'm way more impressed by the upcycling creativity I've seen from BYC members than the purchased Taj Mahal's. You'll figure it out just like I did. I started chickens while unemployed by converting a free dog house. The lengths I went to to use already cut wood so that I didn't have to cut anything, lol.... led to me learning how to use power tools. I love my power tools now. I'm a coop building beast, but I certainly didn't used to be and what I build is always winged, with no perfection plans. It's a process for sure and most people like myself really just hate to see your good taken advantage of.

Thank you for that. I didn’t think you were being rude, I guess I just already feel bad about the whole thing so I’m extra sensitive You guys have been so helpful though! We have some pallets and other wood around so I’ve been trying to figure something out but I’m an idiot when it comes to constructing things if I’m being honest
I just want my girls to be happy and have the best life possible. They’re pets to us.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

The cool thing about the coop you already have is the wire frames! I look for coops on sale on amazon because I love having those frames, it's so much easier than cutting the hardware cloth and building frames. I think whenever you're up to the task, with pallets and good roofing material you can modify what you have and make something that'll last.

 

[The Coop Crew]

The cool thing about the coop you already have is the wire frames! I look for coops on sale on amazon because I love having those frames, it's so much easier than cutting the hardware cloth and building frames. I think whenever you're up to the task, with pallets and good roofing material you can modify what you have and make something that'll last.

I didn’t even think about that! I think that’s what we will do! Just build off of the frame we have. Thank you so much!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'm amazed that no one's yet suggested modifying it.

To turn it from 2 small "boxes" (tiny coop above tiny run) into 1 bigger "box" you'll want to remove as much of the inside coop wall as possible, plus the floor. Take out the old roosts too.

Nests might be able to stay as is, or may need to be relocated elsewhere or replaced - depends on the structure of the coop and how things inside stack up once done.

Run a new roost(s) lengthwise or widthwise across the newly open space, depending on how much roost is needed. Ideally you’d like 12” per bird but 10” can suffice in many cases.

Board up some of the external wire walls so that the roost area is protected from winds and rain. Do NOT fully cover up all the wire, you need ventilation and natural light, so at the very least a few inches under the roofline should remain open. If your climate allows for it, you can leave entire walls open with just the mesh, or make it convertible for the season by covering up open walls for winter, and then uncovering for summer.

Example of a modified prefab: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-renovated-prefab-coop.1440258/

 

[The Coop Crew]

I'm amazed that no one's yet suggested modifying it.

To turn it from 2 small "boxes" (tiny coop above tiny run) into 1 bigger "box" you'll want to remove as much of the inside coop wall as possible, plus the floor. Take out the old roosts too.

Nests might be able to stay as is, or may need to be relocated elsewhere or replaced - depends on the structure of the coop and how things inside stack up once done.

Run a new roost(s) lengthwise or widthwise across the newly open space, depending on how much roost is needed. Ideally you’d like 12” per bird but 10” can suffice in many cases.

Board up some of the external wire walls so that the roost area is protected from winds and rain. Do NOT fully cover up all the wire, you need ventilation and natural light, so at the very least a few inches under the roofline should remain open. If your climate allows for it, you can leave entire walls open with just the mesh, or make it convertible for the season by covering up open walls for winter, and then uncovering for summer.

Example of a modified prefab: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-renovated-prefab-coop.1440258/

Thank you so much for that information!

 

[Chicken Heel]

The cool thing about the coop you already have is the wire frames! I look for coops on sale on amazon because I love having those frames, it's so much easier than cutting the hardware cloth and building frames. I think whenever you're up to the task, with pallets and good roofing material you can modify what you have and make something that'll last.

Excellent point about the frames as they are very sturdy which is why I have used them primarily for hens with chicks.

 

[aart]

f we still have this coop when winter comes we plan to insulate with straw bales all around covered tightly with a tarp. Which should help with the water issue as well.

Do not wrap a coop with tarps, they still need ventilation all winter long.

 

[The Coop Crew]

Do not wrap a coop with tarps, they still need ventilation all winter long.

We would make holes for ventilation as well as holes for the doors/openings.