Expanding a Small Prefab Coop for 3-4 Chickens

[Nicksa]

Hi everyone,

I’m new to raising chickens, and my wife recently bought me a prefab chicken coop. Unfortunately, it’s only 6.5 sq. ft., which I know is too small for the 3-4 chickens I’d like to keep. Returning it isn’t an option, and I want to make use of it rather than wasting it.

Would it be better to build a second coop and connect them somehow, or should I try to add more space to this one? I’m open to DIY ideas but don’t have a lot of experience with construction. Any tips, suggestions, or photos of similar projects would be greatly appreciated!

 

[DobieLover]

Posting pictures of what you currently have to work with are critical to offering you appropriate advice.

 

[Nicksa]

Posting pictures of what you currently have to work with are critical to offering you appropriate advice.

Will add some pictures from Amazon, I have not built it yet. The supplied wood and pieces done really seem made to last but would like to get started this year. And hopefully be able to move to an old shed next year.

 

[townchicks]

Do you have chicks yet? If not, you could consider bantams, and start with an easygoing breed like cochins, that are more likely to get along in a small coop. 2 or 3 max. The bigger concern is the very small run. Are they going to get out daily? If not, your best bet is perhaps to get a large dog kennel, adding hardware cloth for security. Starting small will give you time to learn what you need, and what you want, when you get the shed later.

 

[Nicksa]

Do you have chicks yet? If not, you could consider bantams, and start with an easygoing breed like cochins, that are more likely to get along in a small coop. 2 or 3 max. The bigger concern is the very small run. Are they going to get out daily? If not, your best bet is perhaps to get a large dog kennel, adding hardware cloth for security. Starting small will give you time to learn what you need, and what you want, when you get the shed later.

I've considered bantams, but really excited about eggs. However hearing someone else suggest makes me think it's not a bad idea ... And yes that run is terribly tiny... Already have plans to make that bigger.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I had a nice coop built. Then I filled in the porches. My DH didn't like that I did that, it is ugly, but it is more practical.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If it came with the run then I'd prioritize expanding/adding a much bigger run over the coop, as the tight run space is a far bigger issue.

As far as the coop, the design isn't the easiest to expand on but one option would likely be to remove one of the walls (since it's not yet built you'd just not attach it), double the length of the two walls perpendicular to it (and of course copy and extend the roof), and then cap it with the "end" wall. That would give you closer to 12-13 sq ft which should be ok for 3-4 birds.

Another option (assuming it comes with the run) is paneling up some of the run for climate protection and having the combination serve as the coop. So the lower wall facing into the run would be removed and they'd have access to the entire space at night. For the roof you could possibly run a slanted panel from the top of those little windows and down over the top of the run area?

 

[Penpal]

Please put your location in. Notice that under your photo of your blue "N" are today's date (your first post) and some other numbers. Under my letter "P" is the same, plus my location.

 

[LtDanFan]

My partner did the same. Knowing i wanted chickens, he purchased a (too small technically for the 14 hens i ended up with) coop for valentine’s day. It was a gift and i was raised to not look a gift horse in the mouth so i thanked him. But to keep our ladies safe, he built an entire chicken yard after that and we added an additional 6-8 hen pre fab coop. So now my ladies cram themselves into the smaller coop (even with the option of a bigger space) at night but have free ranging space outside. And Believe me they will hunker down at night in whatever house they have but i think the biggest thing is that they have enough space to peck and scratch during the day. Depends on your setup i guess. My coop is only for laying and sleeping, they have other space to live, eat and scratch.
So i’d say just build a fence around the coop and let them be chickens.