Do I want a hoop coop?

[Sunnymommy]

We need to build a coop, and I am getting overwhelmed reading on here. If I am not aiming to move my coop around, do I not want a cattle panel hoop coop? Or might that still be a good choice? Or would we want something more solid? We are not great at building stuff but can't afford to buy a new one. This hoop coop design sounds simple enough for us to try. And we could cheaply get a large area penned with cover from rain/snow. We have 8 chicks right now but think 1 is a boy so probably only keeping 7. We can't free range them because of predators but want them to have a larger area. Also want to try deep litter.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What is your climate, that will play into design more.

 

[Sunnymommy]

We are in midwest - Iowa. Hot summers 100 degrees, cold winters 0 degrees lots of snow.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It may not work well for you than. Hopefully someone who has had one will give an experienced opinion. I think it would get hot in summer, and may be too cold in winter, but again I haven't tried one.

 

[kwhites634]

We need to build a coop, and I am getting overwhelmed reading on here. If I am not aiming to move my coop around, do I not want a cattle panel hoop coop? Or might that still be a good choice? Or would we want something more solid? We are not great at building stuff but can't afford to buy a new one. This hoop coop design sounds simple enough for us to try. And we could cheaply get a large area penned with cover from rain/snow. We have 8 chicks right now but think 1 is a boy so probably only keeping 7. We can't free range them because of predators but want them to have a larger area. Also want to try deep litter.

Several folks on here have built coops from pallet skids that they get free for the hauling.

 

[Kellycbf]

We are in midwest - Iowa. Hot summers 100 degrees, cold winters 0 degrees lots of snow.

I live in Iowa and we built a hoop run and attached it to the coop. We got a free old smoke house (their grandma would smoke in the playhouse) and converted it to a coop. It is smaller than I would prefer, but we plan to let the chickens run in the run in the winter. I have thought about expanding the hoop run to include a coop using metal roofing that can bend and wood for the coop part.

I think you could do it. It is not a cheap option, but it is one that can be easily made into something else if you decide on something else in the future.

 

[Chickiemom25]

We need to build a coop, and I am getting overwhelmed reading on here. If I am not aiming to move my coop around, do I not want a cattle panel hoop coop? Or might that still be a good choice? Or would we want something more solid? We are not great at building stuff but can't afford to buy a new one. This hoop coop design sounds simple enough for us to try. And we could cheaply get a large area penned with cover from rain/snow. We have 8 chicks right now but think 1 is a boy so probably only keeping 7. We can't free range them because of predators but want them to have a larger area. Also want to try deep litter.

I just finished mine this weekend. I have a regular coop and created a hoop coop for the "other birds" ducks, guineas, etc. its in the 90s now and I am comfortable inside it. I have a raised coop and run which ran me close to $1000 to build. My hoop coop was under $200 and at 50 yo I managed to build it myself although a contractor would shake his head at my improvising. ( toe screws are NOT in my range of abilities, but L and T brackets are). Our winters get down to the 20s so I plan to add hay to insulate. currently the front and lower 3 feet in the back are open for ventilation. Mine is 8X8 finished but I would recommend you extend to 3 panels ( 8X12)

 

[RUNuts]

I'm not sure your question was straight forward for an answer. So I say, yes, go for the hoop coop. One of the simpler coop options. I'm puzzling through yard tractor designs and my scrap pile. But the chickens are growing and time to expand somewhere.

I am learning, but have come to the conclusion that easy access for cleaning should be a major consideration. I'm not too old to learn, but stubborn enough to make mistakes.

Best wishes and cheers!