Crate to Coop Conversion -- Part 2

[supercoops]

My first concern is the overall size. I wouldn't put more than two birds in that small space, and most folks have a limit of 4, so they'd need a bigger coop.

Second, is it needs windows and additional ventilation. Birds confined there during bad weather would be huddled in the dark, and the moisture would build up quickly.

Third, where are they going to lay? This goes back to size, but all the available floor space is covered by roosts. There's no place to lay eggs they wouldn't get pooped on. Combined with that is no space for a feeder and/or waterer.

I think the better idea would be to disassemble the crates and use the materials to build larger coops. Those are just too, too small.

Size

How much does a bigger coop cost to house 4 chickens? My coop costs $70. The rule of thumb is 2 square feet of housing per egg-laying chicken. The footprint is 8 square feet, hence the math works to house 4 chickens.

In addition, I have 17 chickens that choose to stay inside one, even during the day. They are quite content with it. I attached a picture -- it's the pen on the left side with the red hens.

Windows

Maybe for a full size chicken coop, but not for one this small -- it would be too drafty. A gap around the lid allows natural convection to work -- the same idea as a hen house with eaves. Natural convection moves smoke up a chimney -- warm air rises. There are also cracks between the wall-boards where you can see daylight.

Space

There is room in any one of the corners for an egg laying box. I heard one egg-laying box is enough for 5 hens. Is this not correct? Likewise, food and water can go in any of the 3 remaining corners.

too small?

Let's assume the coop houses only one chicken at a cost of $70. Surely it's large enough for that! Now please tell me -- what is your housing cost per chicken? When you tell me that, we can start making comparisons. thank you.

Ditto^^^^^


That 'roof' will never shed water properly.....you say you have drain holes but you never want any rain water/snow melt coming in to the coop, let alone enough of a flood to need drain holes.

What is the origin of those crates, can you post a pic of the stamp on them?


ETA: just read your other thread on 'part one'. I have no advice, that I can post here.

Drainage

Please study the lid opening very closely. Water does not run into the crate. The trim around the opening is plumbed to the outside with a bubble level and the cracks are sealed. We had a nice rain yesterday along with some wind, and the drainage was no problem at all. There are cracks between the floor boards if water gets in there from a real bad storm or something. My crate is not tornado proof, but with some luck it might remain in one piece. It is quite sturdy.

Drain Holes

The drain holes aren't for rain, they're for washing down the inside of the crate. The polypro sheets catch most of the mess, but I assume an owner would eventually want to wash it out. The owner needs some means to discharge solids other than cracks between the boards.

 

[supercoops]

Exactly!

In other words, I should tell the automotive company to keep their crates. $17.50 per chicken is not attractive here. Now please do tell me your housing costs per chicken.

 

[21hens-incharge]

In other words, I should tell the automotive company to keep their crates. $17.50 per chicken is not attractive here. Now please do tell me your housing costs per chicken.

Please see last post on page one.
And remember that for me as for most animal owners it is a responsibility that we take on when we take on caring for animals.
Coops around 3 grand happy chickens priceless to me.

I would still get the crates and sell them as raised veggie gardens etc. They look very sturdy.

 

[supercoops]

Hen, Please -- tell me a reasonable cost to house a chicken. University of Maryland says $150 per chicken. Does this sound right? Mine cost $17.50. That leaves you $132.50 per chicken to provide some strong defenses I'd say.

Also, please consider these crates are rated to carry 800 pounds of cargo over the ocean including the typhoons and hurricanes, and these crates can take it. They weigh in at 90 pounds. A coyote is not going to push it over.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Oh the coyote did not push the coop over they ripped it apart. I had built it with the predators in mind and that there was to be a secure run. I used 3 inch screws throughout the build. They shredded the wood. I am saying that with the lid propped open that is a nice place to paw at or slip through. My dog is 120 pounds of stubborn and has slipped with some effort through a 6 inch gap.
It does not take much.
Reasonable cost to house a chicken would be closer to the 150 dollar mark.

 

[fishin-nole]

It would make a great brooder. I wouldn't try to keep 4 hens in one though I've seen smaller coops with 4 and some who only have raised nest boxes in a pen.

 

[supercoops]

Please see last post on page one.
And remember that for me as for most animal owners it is a responsibility that we take on when we take on caring for animals.
Coops around 3 grand happy chickens priceless to me.

I would still get the crates and sell them as raised veggie gardens etc. They look very sturdy.

and you can't do that for $132 per chicken. Wow....Truth is.. I think maybe you're embarrassed at the cost.

I have 23 chickens. They are healthy. I started out with 24 and lost one when a bunch of chickens tipped over a barrel.

"Blue Bell" my bantam hen has 5 toes on the left foot. Check out her pictures. My chickens are clean and healthy and they like their coops.. a lot!

 

[21hens-incharge]

I am not saying to not do it. If you choose to you can. I am saying I see potential issues. If I wanted to house chickens in one of your coops I would simply put it in a fully enclosed run and prop the lid open.
Embarrassed at the cost of my coops? Nope. I spent what I needed to in order to keep mine safe.
Due to the fact that I need more storage space for the chicken stuff I am redoing their set up and adding a covered run. ( The run is going to be a complete redo.)
I am looking at the following.
New coop around 1500 dollars.
Roof for run is going to be metal. I got lots of it used for 150 dollars.
New posts for run that are not twisted around 250 dollars ( the current ones twisted after one winter and are in the wrong places for the new set up)
New 2x6's for framing the run and roof around 300 dollars.
YUP that is a heap of money.
Will still need to convert the shed turned into a coop back into a shed.

That is with me building it.

Sigh I need a second job.

You seem determined to get er done. With all that said I will tell you what I do like about your design in case I missed doing it before.

I like the prop for holding the roof up to clean. I like the detail above the door. I like the color. I like the weight and material it is made from.

Wishing you the best in your ventures
Babs

 

[supercoops]

I am not saying to not do it. If you choose to you can. I am saying I see potential issues. If I wanted to house chickens in one of your coops I would simply put it in a fully enclosed run and prop the lid open.
Embarrassed at the cost of my coops? Nope. I spent what I needed to in order to keep mine safe.
Due to the fact that I need more storage space for the chicken stuff I am redoing their set up and adding a covered run. ( The run is going to be a complete redo.)
I am looking at the following.
New coop around 1500 dollars.
Roof for run is going to be metal. I got lots of it used for 150 dollars.
New posts for run that are not twisted around 250 dollars ( the current ones twisted after one winter and are in the wrong places for the new set up)
New 2x6's for framing the run and roof around 300 dollars.
YUP that is a heap of money.
Will still need to convert the shed turned into a coop back into a shed.

That is with me building it.

Sigh I need a second job.

You seem determined to get er done. With all that said I will tell you what I do like about your design in case I missed doing it before.

I like the prop for holding the roof up to clean. I like the detail above the door. I like the color. I like the weight and material it is made from.

Wishing you the best in your ventures
Babs

OK, very good Babs, it will cost you $2200 to house chickens -- there's the numerator. How many chickens? (I need a denominator to make the math work for the $/chicken). thanks much!

 

[21hens-incharge]

22 chickens is current count.
I think the cost is a bit off since I had already spent 3500 on the current coops. The cost with new coop will be over 5 grand. However the coops I am eliminating will be sold so some cost will be regained.
I do sell my eggs at 4.50 per 18 pack and have sold to many to count. Still no where near the 5 grand mark but that is ok with me. I like the chickens as pets and bug patrol.
I did some quick math and have made about 1700 on the eggs I have sold over the last 3 years.

For me they are pets and treated like pets. I grow food for them and spend time with them in the yard, feed them, clean up after them and love them.

I do also enjoy building coops so may make more if the ones I have sell for a decent price. Who knows.