Finally got my coop and free range area setup...

[jgm0348]

So I was pressed for time and settled on a Tractor supply red barn coop which holds 8 to 10 chicks. I think 5 is max. I got it mainly because I got the open box one for $150! I have 5 chicks in it and they love it. I have a side of my yard that is never used so I placed the coop there and closed off the area with chicken wire and mad it into a free ranging area fro them. It is 6 ft wide and 2 0 feet long. I let them out in the area on Monday and they love it.
Any suggestions on what I can add to it?
Thanks is advance!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

When your chickens fully mature your coop will be too small. Unfortunately they overestimate how many chickens can comfortably use a coop like that. I can't believe that they would say 8-10 chickens, that's probably impossible. I have no clue how you can improve on it though, I wish they would be realistic, but they are only interested in sales.

 

[Pork Pie]

I agree with Oldhens. I'd be inclined to weather-proof at least half the run. In bad weather, your flock will not venture out too much and that coop could well prove too small for 5 birds. Overcrowding can lead to stress and displacement behaviours that you could do without (such as feather pecking). Maybe putting a few shrubs in the run area would also give them shade and give them somewhere to dust bathe / relax in comfort (i.e. feel protected from predators).

Adding your general location under your avatar would help, not only with this question, but in the future.

 

[barred2rock]

I have an 8x8' coop for five birds. No way I'd put more than two birds in that tinny coop. If you don't have a predator issue or severe weather, you might consider building something like a loafing shed.

 

[jgm0348]

I live in Mission Texas which gets hardly any rain and lots of sun. Its dry and hot. Winters will be in the low 40's at most and summer days can reach 115. The area they are in is on the west side of the house so it does not get sunlight until about 1:00 or 2:00 pm. By then the bottom of the coop is fully shaded. They will be spending most of their time outside the coop.
So from what I am reading I will be building another coop here shortly.

 

[jgm0348]

I have an 8x8' coop for five birds. No way I'd put more than two birds in that tinny coop. If you don't have a predator issue or severe weather, you might consider building something like a loafing shed.

I just don't have the room for something that big. I can go longer but wider is not possible with the area.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

What predictors would get through chicken wire I think the only things we would have are raccoons and the odd fox but both would be nighttime predators no? And that's when she'd be in the coop

I live in Mission Texas which gets hardly any rain and lots of sun. Its dry and hot. Winters will be in the low 40's at most and summer days can reach 115. The area they are in is on the west side of the house so it does not get sunlight until about 1:00 or 2:00 pm. By then the bottom of the coop is fully shaded. They will be spending most of their time outside the coop.
So from what I am reading I will be building another coop here shortly.

Well at least you are only into this coop $150 Mine was thousands..... Spoiled chickens


Gary

 

[TominWa]

I'm curious if some of the more experienced keepers of the chickens, have ever confronted these places. I went through the same thing and luckily didn't buy one and built a big place. But only because I came here first. The average person out here thinks these stores know what they are doing and believe them.

Honestly, if it wasn't for this place I would have listened to them too.

In my opinion, the only way it is going to stop is if they are called to account for it. 8 birds in that thing? No way. I have a 50 sq ft coup and another 100 in the run and plan on making a bigger run.

 

[Ryan James]

We started with 4 chicks then a few days later picked up 2 more and have gone up from there. We were lookin at that coop but in Alaska it is $300+ Abt then was going to add a dog run on the outside + free roaming in the non snow months . I opted to build my own and am super happy. I am new to chickens and believed that our chickens would fit but last minute i canceled our order. It is too bad they advertise it for 8. I went over the $300 and extra 100 for the dog run but not by much. In Texas it may do better then Alaska but first snow would've crushed the coop

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I just don't have the room for something that big. I can go longer but wider is not possible with the area.

I'm not sure of the exact dimensions of your coop and run, but I personally would modify the whole thing so it's all coop. You have a wonderful place for them to get out and run around, so I would consider that side yard as my run, and work to make it more secure.