Does anyone have this coop?

[RobinZ]

Hi Claud. I have that coop, we like it but now wish we would have gone bigger. We house 10 full size chickens comfortably. I don't know where you are in PA But we got ours much cheaper at Martin's Garden Center near Huntingdon, PA.

 

[Tecalli]

I got the smaller version of the coop, the 4x4, this July. Its plenty for my three girls. The things I really like about it are:
1) Very easy to clean. The floor is easy to wipe down and everything is easily reached.
2) The girls love the space underneath and hang out down there on hot, sunny days.
3) The window opens and closes easily and has a gate across it to keep out unwanted intruders.
4) Its very secure. When the girls are closed up inside they are perfectly safe.

As we aproach the cold weather though, we've realized some adjustments are needed. Its not insulated so we will be adding that this weekend. We will also need to create additional air flow as when the pop door, back vent, and windows are closed there really is no air circulation.

We got ours at Martin's Garden Center in Tyrone for $625 and then paid an additional $50 for them to deliver it to State College and set it up where we wanted it. As I recall, they wanted $780 for the 4x6 version.

There are two versions-- metal roof and shingled roof. The metal roof version has better circulation than the shingled roof as it has an overhang.

 

[claud]

Thanks Tecalli and RobinZ. I am about an hour east of State College. There is a guy not too far from here that is selling the 4X6 coop for $750 + $50 for delivery.
I am really leaning toward this coop.

Tecalli: I've had chickens for 10 yrs in a metal uninsulated shed and never had a problem with the cold. I believe ventilation and moisture are the key to preventing frostbite. I think the cold is worse when there is too much moisture in the coop and sometimes that comes from the coop being too tight. Just a observation that you might look into before winterizing.

 

[Tecalli]

Thanks Claud, good advice. I may skip the insulation then and focus on adding more ventilation. If you do get that coop, please let me know how you will add ventilation to it. I'm kind of struggling with trying to distinguish between adding ventilation versus preventing drafts. Very new to chickens, since July 20th.

 

[Luna_Chick66]

I don't know if this is right or not, but I think I read somewhere that these aren't insulated because that can keep the cold in?

I know this does happen in my guest house... right now it is colder inside than it is outside.

 

[CrazyFowlFreak]

We have one and have 8 chickens in it and room for more. It is uninsulated. DH is going to insulate it before the winter. Other than that, we love it and the birds do, too.

 

[claud]

Quote:
With the one I have now I leave a window open year round unless there is extreme wind or temp(below zero) but the window has to face the right direction. The one I have faces east - it never rains in there. I also leave their chicken door open all the time which faces north(that would depend on how secure your outside run is).
I almost never open the one that faces west because the winds come that way and the rains.
Depends on how your coop is set I suppose.

 

[gwennym]

Quote:
WOW, Liz, you got a coop AND a clean garage outta the bargain. You're one lucky gal !

Gwen

 

[SandyK]

Mine is similar, bought in Lancaster, PA from an Amish dealer. I love it and have 8 chickens now. Paid around $569. He made it up in a kit for us to bring home and build ourselves since we live in MD.