Crap mail order coop

[dlaciv12]

I just wanted to give a heads up to those of you thinking are buying a "ready to assemble" mail order coop. Some of you, like me, have heard that they are cheap and not worth the money. But, like me, you are thinking that it is till a low budget way to get into this hobby. Well let me tell you every penny you spend on one of these pieces of junk is money you should be giving some local carpenter or handy man to help you build something nice. See the pictures below and read on for the story.

Below is what happened to the roof after the first rain storm.

The coop lives under 2 dense pine trees to protect it from the elements, here it is before the end of it's first summer.

The company who sells these is called www.comfypets.com. I am frightened to think what would have happened if let my girls live in this thing. "Comfy" is definitely NOT what they would have been. I live in New England and was told by www.comfypets.com that this coop would hold up through our winters and summers. It was also being advertised a enough room for 10 hens even though it is just under 10 square feet.

I really can not express enough how awful this is thing is. If this post saves 1 person and their future chickens I will be happy. If it starts a national outrage (international - they are a British company I believe) and these people are put out of business I will rejoice. Thanks for reading.

 

[mmwb]

Maybe a roofer will chime in here. While that is not really a shake roof, when you have wood roofing as a final surface, you probably want to soak it with the appropriate oil. It should increase the water resistance while allowing the wood to breath, and decrease warpage.

Looks like you need to go around and fasten everything properly. Maybe some reinforcement with 2x2s even... I can't really see on that coop, but often mass produced, cheap things are assembled with staples or brads that are too small for the application. Use the correct sized nail or screws. If that wood is well dried, then it may have a tendency to split when you nail or screw it. Maybe some real carpenters will chime in here.

It was a learning experience for you, but it looks like you have something you can salvage into a useable coop, though for a limited number of birds.

 

[Garlydog]

I went to they link you provided and it says the domain is for sale. Is the link correct?

Also, have you talked to the company about the product's quality? What was their response?

Other than the roof issue, can you detail any more specific problems.

Thanks for the heads-up.

 

[joy]

Quote:
I bought A COOP VIA E-BAY. over a year ago. They were constantly on the British web site but have not seen them for quite a while. I believe they operated out of New York also. Mine is still in use but very difficult to reassemble , most things out of allighnment! I did get some of my money back .I believe they are made in the Far east somewhere and shipped over.

 

[Suburban chick farmer 09]

Sorry about your luck. I'm sure its made in China and like most things made in China its a good price just not a very good product.

 

[dlaciv12]

I also ordered mine from ebay and it was a nightmare. I placed the order in Nov. 08 and received it in April 09. That's a whole other story.
They told me the finish on the coop would last at least 1 year and I would need to maintain in annually and that wasn't going to be a problem.
There is a chance they US version in finally out of business but they can be found internationally at http://www.cumfypets.co.uk/.
Once I received the coop and looked at the lousy craftmanship I did what I should have done in the first place. I called a buddy who was an out of work builder and gave him the job of converting the back half of my shed into a coop. I will try to get pic's of that up, it actually help him start his own business so I feel that much better about it.
I have 6 very happy girls living in the back yard now (3 black sex links and 3 amber). Their coop area is about 6 x 11 so I hope to add to the flock next spring. They roam the whole 1/3 acre backyard and fertilize the lawn all day long. I leave the crap coop up as reminder of what happens every time I try to "Walmart" a project instead of doing it the right way.

 

[barred-rocks-rock]

the domain is for sale

Thats what they get

 

[NHN]

I bought the same exact coop but from another company online. Putting it together was a nightmare! The directions were awful. It might be ok for chicks but not full grown hens. Not even worth half the money it is sold for. Pm me if you want to know where I bought mine.