Coop recommendations?

[scratch32]

Lol yeah good point

 

[Jiffyrocks]

Mine was about $300.

 

[chik-n-chit]

I have been thinking something similar to your dog kennel run Riverman. What kind of netting did you use?

 

[PD-Riverman]

I have been thinking something similar to your dog kennel run Riverman. What kind of netting did you use?

I use deer netting, but my set-up is probably different than most. The Netting is only used to keep the chickens in and the Hawks/owls out. My pens are in a 1 1/2 acre fenced in area---the fence is not to keep small predators out--it is to keep the Great Pyrenees in. She patrols the area. Before her I used chicken wire across the top of the pens I had at that time and live catch traps if I seen a track any where close to my chicken yards---with the GP I have not had to set a trap since I got her over 2 years ago (3 years ago was when I really got into the chickens heavy). I keep having to pick up a dead opossum, raccoon or stray cat than entered her area. With the dog kennels If I chose to sell out----I can resale them for what I payed for them or more because all were bought used. My first 2 10x10x6ft I bought in 1995--$65 for one and $75 for the other----22 years later I still use them and know I can sell them for atleast $100 each because of the demand. That's Free fencing for 22 years---you can not do that with nothing else. This pic will show a few more pens----all with deer netting across the top. No we do not have a lot of snow to deal with---some ice at times---so deer netting might not work for some.

 

[Howard E]

To the OP, most pre-fab, commercial coops you can buy either online, at TSC or other farm and home stores are NOT made to house chickens. They are made as product to sell to someone like you who is looking for a quick and easy way in to raising chickens. Most of these coops are poorly designed and often poorly built of inferior materials. As such, they are considered by many as a waste of money, bordering on fraud. You can end up with a much better coop if you build it yourself, even if you have to hire some of it done by a local carpenter.

Also, was reminded of this yesterday watching the birds huddle in the shade in yesterday's temps in the low 80's, birds out in the open need some shade. An alternative to poultry netting and deer netting on top of a run is shade cloth. Not needed if your coop / house sits under a shade tree, but a good idea if it is out in the open. Birds can take a lot of cold. They cannot handle a lot of heat. Temps in the upper 90's, with high humidity and in the full sun, is probably putting them at risk of death.

 

[boomerscreek]

I had a old boat trailer, utility top and some materials from a old projet leftover. So i built a mobile brooder. But going to expand it in the coming days to handle the chicks as they get bigger and grown.

 

[Buckbeak01]

Thanks for the advice. After researching it more it looks like building my own is the way to go.

 

[emmaellis111]

my coop cost me £100. Can't really complain about that price lol.