Coup for someone with ZERO wood working skills or tools

[townchicks]

Do you know of anyone who got a prefab from My Pet Chicken?

Yes, that's where I got mine. I think they do a good job, as far as prefabs go. I got mine over 3 years ago, and it's held up well. It's very small, as most are. Cut the number of chickens they say it will hold in half. You will also have to reinforce the wire with screws and fender washers, and I recommend adding a lock hasp to the doors for better protection from raccoons, although I like that my pet chicken doubles up on the slide locks, I think a determined raccoon would figure it out. You need a bigger run, for sure, or free range during the day. Free ranging has it's risks, but chickens seem happy, at least until they get eaten. I live where we almost never get snow, so I can't say how well it would hold up then.

 

[townchicks]

I should add, that I did build a larger coop, after a year and a half of using the prefab, because my girls said it was too small for 3 full grown hens. They showed this, by one of the hens sleeping in the nest box, even though there really was room on the roost for all three. Chickens will be the best judge of what is enough room. Because I had my prefab, though, I knew much better what I wanted in a coop, and had an idea of how to go about it, from more time spent looking at coop pages on here. My new coop is still not large, and nothing is square, but it works. I don't have great skills, and I used only a hand saw and a rechargeable power drill and a staple gun (just to hold the hardware cloth in place while I fastened it with screws and fender washers). Partly reclaimed and partly new wood.So, it can be done, if you are determined. I never would have had a clue though, without my little prefab, and I am still using it right now as a quarantine/intro coop for 3 new pullets. They do have a place.

 

[123RedBeard]

Sometimes places like Home Depot have classes (free I think) on how to do things ... even basic power saw - drill safety classes ... an afternoon or two, may give you the confidence to do it yourself! But be warned ... buying tools can not only be addictive, but can get expensive ... just like chicken math!

Roughly ... where abouts do you live?

 

[Compost King]

I would never get a prefab coop, if I were to do Prefab I would get a tool shed because they cost much less and make for better coops. You still need to add nesting boxes, Venting holes (with hardware cloth) and roosting bars.