Coop idea.. would this work?

[slong15]

Hi everyone
I'm thinking about getting some silkies and I decided i'd ask this question about a possible coop idea. I realize it might seem foolish, so try not to laugh! I'd be a first time chicken owner.
I have an old plastic playhouse type thing that i thought could possibly work, as long as i made sure i put wire underneath into the ground and in all of the windows and such so nothing could get in. I would also make sure i had some way of keeping the door more secure too. Would this work, or is it a stupid idea? I was just wondering if this could work before i went out and bought supplies to build one. Thanks!

 

[chicken_angler]

Quote:
It is not a stupid idea! Its an awesome way of recycling it! First off, how big is it? Is it like a kids playhouse?

There are many people on here that have made coops out of playhouses both wood and plastic!

Godd luck!

Cody!!

 

[Blue_Myst]

Nope, it's a great idea! Check out the coop pages, and you will see, like chicken_angler said, plenty of people have made coops out of playhouses.

One concern though...plastic does heat up quite a bit in direct sunlight, you might need quite a bit of ventilation in the summer time.

Good luck!

 

[Brokenegg]

I Agree, Great Idea, I build and sell alot of Coops. The best ones are the ones easy to clean, Looks good in the yard, and gets the birds out of the wind and Rain. Yours will do it all. Just put in the roost bars and a nest box for each silkie. Silkies are lazy. They will be in the coop sleeping most of the day. Should be good, Good Luck

 

[chicken_angler]

One more thing, if you live in the city, one of these will be good because the neighbors will just think its a kids playhouse! haha

Cody!!

 

[maine chicks]

Yup-those plastic playhouses are great. Easy to clean and move around. Pet igloos are also used up here in Maine by lots of folks.Just make sure you can make the area critter/pest proof.

 

[DixieDame67]

Slong, I think thats a great idea !! Ill tell you what i did, I had an old swing set frame, so i framed up two pieces of plywood building an A-frame then put a floor half the size of the swing set inside for a loft, then ran chicken wire around the bottom securing it with tent pegs....works great for my pair of Cockins, only problem i have had is building a door .....I got the idea from a homesteading site i frequently read, i put it at the end of my garden in hopes this summer to fence around the garden so after all my goodies are gone i can turn them out to free range within the garden ....

 

[Buzzy]

just one caution:

how strong is that plastic and can a racoon bite through it? Can any potential predator bite through? If possible, then don't use it! There is nothing like finding your coop invaded and all your darlings dead.