Do you think this has potential? (Rabbit hutch conversion)

[Going Quackers]

I noticed this for sale, it's an outdoor rabbit hutch however i believe it could be converted.. i think the pro's are the hardware cloth and the metal roof... It's got solid construction being they used plywood and 2x4's etc... since we have winter it couldn't be this open but i need a run anyhow.. would it be worthwhile? or better to just start from scratch. They are asking 80$ for it.. i should mention i am NOT in the US so materials and so forth cost more here. Thanks!

 

[Izzymoon]

it does look nice, and has a lot of good features, but I do see they'd need some sort of box to sleep in, and also a nesting box so it would have to be modified. I would keep looking, seems like you can get a real coop and not have to make all those changes to it. It would only hold about 3 full grown chickens

 

[California_chickie]

it does look nice, and has a lot of good features, but I do see they'd need some sort of box to sleep in, and also a nesting box so it would have to be modified. I would keep looking, seems like you can get a real coop and not have to make all those changes to it. It would only hold about 3 full grown chickens

I agree. You'd have to do some modifications, but pretty minor. Depending on your budget, I would purchase that hutch but keep on the look out for a better one. You might decide to get more chickens in the future, or your needs might change in some way. The number one potential problem is the predator issue: I'm not sure how rural your neighborhood is, but raccoons can rip open that wire, lift the lid of the coop (if it's detachable) and easily open the latches. A few tweaks might be necessary, but easy.
I have a coop similar to this that I got a deal on from Craigs List. It's tiny but I used a wine case box as a make shift nesting box, replaced the latches with stronger hardware (using decanters to eliminate turning) and secured the roof. It was only used outside for a little while, to separate some of our chickens while they were 'transitioning' and worked great. Later on it was used strictly as a broody box and lots of happy chicks were hatched there! We consider it a little chicky condo...

 

[SunnyAlberta]

That's exactly like mine. Other than extending the run, it works for upto three birds.

 

[Debs55]

I would get it and modify it. the others are right it vouldnt hold many chickens but it would be a nice start and could later on be used as a brooder box

 

[Going Quackers]

it does look nice, and has a lot of good features, but I do see they'd need some sort of box to sleep in, and also a nesting box so it would have to be modified. I would keep looking, seems like you can get a real coop and not have to make all those changes to it. It would only hold about 3 full grown chickens

Thanks for you input, i have 4 birds lol so that could be an issue although i could expand it, coops here are a fortune even old ones they want hundreds for, really good ones move into 1000$+

I agree. You'd have to do some modifications, but pretty minor. Depending on your budget, I would purchase that hutch but keep on the look out for a better one. You might decide to get more chickens in the future, or your needs might change in some way. The number one potential problem is the predator issue: I'm not sure how rural your neighborhood is, but raccoons can rip open that wire, lift the lid of the coop (if it's detachable) and easily open the latches. A few tweaks might be necessary, but easy.
I have a coop similar to this that I got a deal on from Craigs List. It's tiny but I used a wine case box as a make shift nesting box, replaced the latches with stronger hardware (using decanters to eliminate turning) and secured the roof. It was only used outside for a little while, to separate some of our chickens while they were 'transitioning' and worked great. Later on it was used strictly as a broody box and lots of happy chicks were hatched there! We consider it a little chicky condo...

They have used hardware cloth but the entire front and floor would need to be modified. I just have the 4 chickens which at the moment are 2.5wks-3wks old.. no intentions of getting more, i mainly own ducks but wanted some chicken eggs.

I'm actually rural... so i have it all here... but we built our duck coop so i know what needs to be beefed up, i guess i kinda liked the idea of a foundation so to speak? i'd probably have to see it in person, to see exactly how sturdy and how decently it's put together.

That's exactly like mine. Other than extending the run, it works for upto three birds.

Thanks i have 4! so somebody would be left in the cold lol

I would get it and modify it. the others are right it vouldnt hold many chickens but it would be a nice start and could later on be used as a brooder box

I don't need a brooder, no roos here and my ducks brood there own... i wish i could find something to at least give us a start but the pricing here on coops is ridiculous and most of them are asking these outrageous prices with using chicken wire..

 

[LaynaDon95]

I think you could do some modifications for relatively inexpensive an easily. The nesting box(es) could be a hole cute in the wall with a bucket secured in it or something similar. It wouldn't take up any space in the coop and it would be easy. I use 5 gallon buckets turned on their side for nesting boxes and they work fine. You can get them for free from Wal-Mart, Brookshires, Kroger etc. bakeries. That's where I got mine. I went to the Wal-mart bakery and asked for any leftover icing buckets. They looked at me crazy and asked a couple times if I was sure I wanted them. =P I got five 5 gallon buckets and lids for free. You would have to add some sort of roost, but that should be easy as well. Remember that you can fit more bantams that standards.

 

[acemario]

I would definitely get it! We built our own coop this year, and it was not as cheap as we had wished! We were hoping for only about $200, but it ended up being more around $500! So, I would "hop" all over it and make the minor renovations! But as stated before, it all depends on your flock size and future chicken desires!

 

[joan1708]

I think that is a really good price too! I think you would need to enlarge the run for 4 chickens. You could wrap insulation around it in the winter if needed. I would get it.

 

[Nyowpotopop]

I made plans for a chicken coop made entirely out of recycled materials if you'd be interested in seeing it/having it explained. The whole thing is made out of recycled pallets and old furniture that people get rid of (for whatever reason)... Or scrap wood.