Coop Kits--any recommendations?

[steiggy]

Hi all,

I have been looking for a coop for ages. I had hoped I would be able to find someone to build one for me, but no luck there. And as for me, I wouldn't know the first thing about constructing anything...even a bird house! So I was wondering if anyone has bought a 'coop kit' from places like Amazon or My Pet Chicken. I am hoping to get 2 light bramhas and 2 blue Orpingtons, and need something that will accommodate their size. Any suggestions would be great!

 

[sn0wwhite]

Hi Steiggy and welcome to BYC!

I started with a coop kit from Fleet Farm, but as we get closer to winter I became too concerned about ventilation, size and security. I've seen pictures here of people who have incorporated kits well into secure runs, so I'd say that if you do go with a kit, you may need to modify things anyway.

If you find one you like, you could post it here too to see if anyone else has feedback specific to that coop.

 

[steiggy]

Thank you! I was thinking that if I decide to go with a coop kit I would need to find a way to insulate it a bit better, as the winters here in Wisconsin are brutal. I was browsing amazon and the following coops caught my eye:

Pawhut Deluxe
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007D8319O/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1381069858&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70

2 Story Large Chicken Coop
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CP...qid=1381070230&sr=8-91&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70

Coop without run
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CH...qid=1381070487&sr=8-21&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70
I thought if I selected this one I would purchase a large dog kennel as a run and put the coop inside?

Thanks for any input...I am so lost on the coop situation!

 

[steiggy]

Oh, and here was the kennel I was looking at at Fleet Farm. I thought I would use heavy plastic around the sides in the winter to keep the wind at a minimum and also keep the snow out of the run.
http://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/lucky-dog-kennel-set-6x5x15/0000000000550

 

[yogifink]

Hi all,

I have been looking for a coop for ages. I had hoped I would be able to find someone to build one for me, but no luck there. And as for me, I wouldn't know the first thing about constructing anything...even a bird house! So I was wondering if anyone has bought a 'coop kit' from places like Amazon or My Pet Chicken. I am hoping to get 2 light bramhas and 2 blue Orpingtons, and need something that will accommodate their size. Any suggestions would be great!

You dont need construction experience to build something. It is always fun to try and is much more satisfying when you put something together yourself, no matter what it looks like.

If your timid, I would suggest a very simple hoop coop. Which you can make very easily with absolutely no experience.

IMO, most people find that online kits are way overpriced and made cheaply. They tend to be a lot smaller than you think and fall apart rather quickly.

 

[sn0wwhite]

I agree that you don't need any skills to build something. I did, and even though there are some mistakes, it is still an awesome coop, large enough for me, easy to work with, super secure and the chickens don't care about the mistakes. They just want treats.

 

[luvmychixandducks]

If you are concerned about your building ability, look for something structurally sound and adapt it to a chicken home.
View craigslist for a little tykes playhouse or a fort like structure even a well used swing set with the climbing tower - I've seen both modified into great chicken homes with little modification. Both of the above I've seen offered free for the taking.
Also have seen some thrown together coops offered free just to get rid of them.
My own coop came from craigslist - it needed basic modifications to be really efficient but the girls are safe and dry and out of the wind.
For $60. and a day of modifying adding a window and a coop door that slides open and locks tight at night, we're good to go. My pen was a dog kennel made of chain link panels which I covered with bird netting to keep out the hawks. That was $75. on Craigslist also.
Like everybody else with a small coop I wish it was larger but it is what it is and didn't break the bank.