Could people help me with two questions before I buy this coop??

[Laurajean]

Hey everyone, I am new to the site and have two questions about a coop I am considering buying. I really like this coop/run combo, but I have never had chickens before and here are my main two concerns:

1. Is this coop/run large enough? I plan to have three bantams. They will be free ranging in the yard, but only for several hours once I get home each day. So a good amount of time they will be within this coop. I had this grand idea of a huge coop/run and everyone keeps telling me it does not to be very large for 3 bantams, but I just want to make sure they'll be healthy & happy in this home.

2. Will they be okay in the winter? I live in New Hampshire where the winters can be harsh. The books & articles I have read all say I should have double insulated walls. This coop doesn't have double walls or insulation. If they won't be warm enough, what would I need to do to modify this coop to make it winter safe? Heat lamps? Insulate it somehow, is that possible? I know nothing about this stuff, so please spell it out for me.

My neighbors seem to think they'll be fine. One guy up the road has the flimsiest hen house I have ever seen, not much more than rickety old plywood poorly slapped together and he insist his chickens are fine. I of course wouldn't have something that flimsy, but I don't want to over-think and over-spend if it isn't necessary either. I am just nervous about all this, since it is a new venture and precious pets are at stake.

I would appreciate any answers anyone can provide, and any additional tips you might offer on providing a good home for my future friends. Thank you!

The first link is to the description page for the coop/run I like, and the second link shows a diagram of the dimensions.

http://www.horizonstructures.com/pull_it.asp

a PDF of dimensions: http://www.horizonstructures.com/pdfs/pullit_dimensions.pdf

PS: Ok, if I can squeeze in one more question: Has anyone ordered from Horizon Structures before? Satisfied?

To the poster who asked what type of Bantams: Most likely Silkies and/or Cochins.

 

[Wildsky]

Those would be fine for three bantams, but those prices are horrendous!

You could easily buy a small shed or playhouse and have even more space, you would need to add nest boxes etc.. but you'd have plenty money leftover!

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Hun, that's a 3 Banty MANSION! You can easily insulate the inside with spray insulation and just add in walls in front of it, that way you still have the pretty little outside. OR, I think you could get away with a heat lamp in there too. It's VERY cute! I think you will do fine with that coop and your chickie's will LOVE you for all that room to roam

I've never bought from them...so I have no answer for that question. Maybe someone else will though.

 

[BlooRooster]

Yes that coop would be like a mansion to 3 bantams. Plenty of room for extras in there.

Don't know the kind of bantams you are getting but they should be fine. Most are very hardy.

 

[enggass]

It's my understanding that certain Cold Hardy breeds do not need insulation and can withstand some very cold temps. I live in Maine and am getting 3 BR & 3 RIR which I understand will be fine in an uninsulated coop.
Steve

 

[bigstack]

YEP! Other than the price I love it! It would be huge for 3 banty's!!! Just hang a heat lamp in the middle and you wont need insulation. Chickens are very hardy! Depending on breed they are good down to zero( thats with out a heat lamp)!!! Just keep out the wind of course. Any thing will freeze in a cold wind! LOL You deffinately could build or find something cheaper. You may have to do a lil more work but it would save alot of money! I love craigs list!!!

Good Luck and God Bless!

 

[Grungybones]

Plenty big for 3 bantams... But I don't know anyone with chickens who doesn't always want to add more. These little ladies are addictive. No matter what you do, keep an eye on the future.

 

[elmo]

The wire on the run isn't suitable, though. You can fix that easily by wrapping with 1/2" by 1/2" hardware cloth.

You can never have a run that's too large for chickens' health and happiness. The only limit is your budget and the space you have. I now have three very tiny bantams in a 64 square foot run, and I'm wishing I'd built bigger for them.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

I built this one for less than $200. It is 3'x4'x4' and is plenty big for 3 banties. I actually have 5 silkies in it and they have ample room. You could easily adapt it to have a run attached to it.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=324932

The one on my BYC page I built for around $600 or so. It is 3'x8' for the coop alone. The run is 16'x16'x7'.

The cost for that one is outrageous. Save your money and build one. It's not that hard and you will have gobs of money leftover to buy more chickens!

PM me if you want instructions on how to build the silkie coop. It took a couple of weekends, but only because I couldn't commit all day to the project. I kind of meandered on this one.

(PS I am a middle aged woman with mediocre carpentry skills. If I can build it so can you!)

 

[tigerkitten45]

I also live in NH, my hubby and i just took an old bobhouse , replaced some of the plywood walls, added a 4'x8'extension, that slopes from 3' down to 2', main coop is 6' tall. We also added insulation in the walls and ceiling, and added an inner wall, however we also have a 3'x8' window above the new section covered with hardware cloth, this has a plywood cover with 2 windows in it for nasty or cold weather, there is ventilation through a small screened window in the wall of the new section, and neither the window or the pophole covers fit tightly, all allow some air circulation. I just put my 6 wk old partridge silkies and my black silkie(9 wks) out there yesterday , and they were fine through the night with a single heat lamp.