Help finding the right coop

[21hens-incharge]

I would see if they will eliminate the box that sticks inside the coop since it appears to be storage and the shelf looking thing inside the coop.

Maybe they would be willing to move the roosts to where the weird shelf thing is and make the storage box into a nest box.

 

[Cryss]

You need to keep in mind the house without the nest area needs 4sqft per chicken. 4 chickens will need a 16sqft house (minus nest area). The run needs to be 10sqft/bird. 4 birds will need 40sqft of run space. The houses you are looking at only hold 1 or 2 birds. Believe me, I know. I bought that innovative model. Do it correctly so you don't go through all the trials I had.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

My vote goes to building your own.

 

[Acre4Me]

The latest link ($750 coop) also will need different latches, it appears.

We raised our coop up 2.5 feet above the ground. The chickens utilize this area for shade and dust bathing. If you can, you should elevate the coop. The $750 coop is close to the ground (although elevated) and if you notice, is blocked off from the run.

I’ve seen posters indicate getting a pre-fab off Craig’s list /fb marketplace for cheap. I wouldn’t get an actual used one due to potential bugs/illness, but sometimes a poster scores an unopened, boxed coop for cheap. That way, you could stay on budget even with modifications to improve the coop and run, if you could find such an item in your area.

Good luck!

 

[aart]

The only problem is this is in the UK so I am not sure that they ship to the US

Probably not....plus coop is tiny, tiny......just like the one they currently have.

 

[Brummie Pekin]

Probably not....plus coop is tiny, tiny......just like the one they currently have.

Thats what us City people have to deal with, tiny coops. I try to free range them every spare minute I have but its just the way it is....

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

The right coop is not found, it is built.

Gary

 

[sharkerbaby]

Thats what us City people have to deal with, tiny coops. I try to free range them every spare minute I have but its just the way it is....

Amen to that! While I realize most houses have a backyard, when I think of "backyard chickens" I think city or suburban chickens which tend to be smaller lots, which in turn frequently means fewer chickens. I truly believe most people here do the best they can by their chickens considering their resources, skills, and time. I greatly appreciate those posters here who readily acknowledge there is more than one way to do things and offer various options, support, and encouragement. I sometimes fear new folks get discouraged when most of what they are told is that their actions are wholely inadequate and they need to rethink or completely start over.

 

[aart]

I truly believe most people here do the best they can by their chickens considering their resources, skills, and time. I greatly appreciate those posters here who readily acknowledge there is more than one way to do things and offer various options, support, and encouragement. I sometimes fear new folks get discouraged when most of what they are told is that their actions are wholely inadequate and they need to rethink or completely start over.

While that is true, most of us here are simply looking out for the welfare of the birds...and the heartbreak of a keeper with miserable and possibly sick birds due to inadequate housing.

Some of us react strongly due to the proliferation of the 'backyard chicken craze' and the manufacturers and advertisers who are touting that inadequate housing, it can be very frustrating to see it happen over and over and over again.

It's too bad that city dwellers do not have the space needed for the animals they want.....but should the humans desires outweigh the animals needs?
Should we cheer lead and blow sunshine when we see a disaster waiting to happen?

 

[rosemarythyme]

While I realize most houses have a backyard, when I think of "backyard chickens" I think city or suburban chickens which tend to be smaller lots, which in turn frequently means fewer chickens.

A small backyard set up can still be fine for a smaller flock, though it may require more careful planning and a few concessions compared to someone who has more room. But most prefabs are undersized for even that purpose.

I think looking at the coops articles on this site is very helpful to get ideas on how to set things up. For smaller set ups I think designs similar to the Wichita coop (smaller elevated coop with fully enclosed run) or the open concept coop/run combo type set ups (where there's not an enclosed coop but rather a fully enclosed run with a roosting area inside, not sure if there's a name for that) would work well to maximize space in a small footprint and to keep the birds protected from weather and predators/pests.

I kinda wish I'd been convinced to think bigger when I first started as I do have a lot of space to work with. It would've made things easier with less need to make fixes/additions along the way (which cost time and money), though it ended up working out ok since I did reuse the starter coop I had.