Help Me Decide

[kaybee123]

Thanks for all your help - I have bought a cottage style one (but different to the pic) and it's on the way in the post. 

Now.... does anyone know about automatic door openers that aren't just the up and down ones. The doors open outwards on the one I'm getting. I don't think I'll need one urgently but it might be a good thing to have if I'm going to be home late from work.

Which one did you end up purchasing?

 

[FluffyandGinger]

This one - can't wait for it to arrive!
And these watering/feeders....apparently rain and rodent resistant (fingers crossed).
I'll miss watching them settle down and sleep for the night

 

[kaybee123]

This one - can't wait for it to arrive!
And these watering/feeders....apparently rain and rodent resistant (fingers crossed).
I'll miss watching them settle down and sleep for the night

Cool! I'm looking for things like this too right now. What was cost on coop and feeder/waterer and where did you pirchase? And when you get items, will you post a review of all items? Thanks and best wishes on the move in of your chicks when it happens.

 

[Diggidy]

I bought that exact coop from Pawhut through amazon. I paid $180, the next day it was on there for $215. With shipping it was $240. The structure itself is flimsy, needs to be sealed and the roost bar is not really big enough for 3 chickens. I plan to modify mine this weekend.

I feel that you would be better building your own or having someone build you one from craigslist.

Nice feeder and waterer though. I plan to make a gravity feeder out of PVC as the one i currently have takes too much room.

 

[Ashburnham]

Those pipe based feeders and waterers you can easily make yourself,
for a fraction of the price, by buying the pieces from a plumbing supply company.

 

[pumpmom]

If the coop you purchased is from CCOnly, I can say that it will be quite lightweight. I had very good luck with the one I purchased arriving complete, well made with all parts there and pre-drilled holes in the correct place, but still made from lightweight fir. I used Gorilla glue when doing the final assembly (I did a dry fit to make sure it was in good order.) and waterproofed it with outdoor decking waterseal. Knowing that I have an active raccoon colony roaming my place, I elected to enclose the CCOnly coop within the (hopefully) raccoon proof run. Will report after I get my chickens .....

 

[FluffyandGinger]

Yes, I got mine from eBay for $170 including delivery - the same one I was looking at for $300 somewhere else so I was happy with that. And the feeder/water combo was $64 for both. Yes, if I was handy I could make the same thing but being so busy and challenged in the handyman department I was happy to pay for these to come ready for me to use. They are from www.dineachook.com.au
I will happily review when I get these things, and they're up and running. I think I'll also get some metal mesh for the bottom of the coop so nothing can burrow under... not sure what pests I'll encounter yet. Possibly snakes, possums, bilbys.....

 

[SunnySkies]

I have that coop and like it very much. If my birds were confined for any amount of time, it's only good for a couple, but they free range and a bunch have decided, against my suggestions, to all sleep in it. I have no idea how they can be comfortable, but they are.

I would strongly suggest the following:
Add some coonproof/predator proof latches to the doors.
Waterproof it with some paint on or spray on stuff
Put it where the wind cannot pick it up.

I don't think it's nearly as awful to buy one of these as people make it out to be. I have built several coops, and I bought one of these. This one has held up just as well, if not better, than the coops we built and it cost way, way less.

The size is definitely an issue. You cannot let chicken math happen if you have this as your sole coop.

 

[kaybee123]

I have that coop and like it very much. If my birds were confined for any amount of time, it's only good for a couple, but they free range and a bunch have decided, against my suggestions, to all sleep in it. I have no idea how they can be comfortable, but they are.

I would strongly suggest the following:
Add some coonproof/predator proof latches to the doors.
Waterproof it with some paint on or spray on stuff
Put it where the wind cannot pick it up.

I don't think it's nearly as awful to buy one of these as people make it out to be. I have built several coops, and I bought one of these. This one has held up just as well, if not better, than the coops we built and it cost way, way less.

The size is definitely an issue. You cannot let chicken math happen if you have this as your sole coop.

How many of your birds pile in there and what size are they? . Mine can't stand each other and free range during the day in small groups, but come dusk and they are fighting to be the one under someone else or at least their wing!!! Lol.

 

[SunnySkies]

There are 4 Silkies, 1 bantam Cochin, and 4 SFH, which are almost full sized. I'm planning to take the two girl SFH out to put them in a different coop, and I want to take the male SFH out to go in a bachelor pad. My ultimate goal is to actually just use the Pawhut as a breeding coop for a trio of SFH or a grow out coop for young birds.

Way, way too many birds, but they stay inside only at night. Even on crummy weather days, they have their choice about being in or out. They usually choose out.