Help me evaluate this coop!

[Gardening Fool]

Hi everyone,
I'm new to the site and chickens, but have been reading up on the excellent information here for a few weeks. I'm about to pull the trigger on a coop and I wanted some opinions before I do. My situation is this: I have a decent-sized expanse of grass in the backyard for 2-3 chickens. I'm not looking to ever expand beyond that. I'm aware that most here build their own coops, but this is outside my wheelhouse and I found this coop, which seems to fit my needs: http://www.ranch-coop.com/Chicken-coop-with-cedar-roof.html
These people seem to know what they're talking about, but I'm so new I can't be sure. I like the ability to move it around in different parts of the yard, the ventilation seems adequate, and here in South Texas we don't much need winterizing. For some reason, the plastic coops don't appeal to me. Is there anything I'm missing? Any alternatives you'd recommend? I looked at the Roost N Root portable, but it's considerably more expensive.
Any opinions would be great. Thanks in advance.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Welcome to BYC and congratulations on your first post . I am also in south Texas near brownsville. I only took a cursory glance at that coop design and the ventilation is there so that is a plus. If you truly only want the 3 chicken for now and forever it seems ok a little pricey but not outrageously so. Good luck with your project @007Sean @Kiki @RUNuts are all in Northern South Texas as well.

 

[RUNuts]

Welcome to BYC and the wonderful, marvelous world of chickens!

critical

• Egg door small. Not sure how easy to change nesting materials after an egg breaks everywhere. I like the wire bottomed boxes for messes to fall through.
• Egg box in open, the hens may want a little privacy. Meaning that they like to lay in darker, protected spots to preserve the eggs. -solution, add curtains. Maybe a floral print.
• Nest box appears to be at the same level as the roosts. They may sleep in it. And poop. - solution, put it lower. Assuming it is detachable for cleaning.
• This thing looks heavy. Ask for shipping weight. It ships assembled, so expect a big box. How young/strong are you? Do you have any help to move it?
• If you have to catch a hen, have a long fishing net. You won't be walking into this coop.

positives

• Heavy & stable - dogs or wind won't knock it over. (Tornadoes and hurricanes not included)
• Lots of doors
• Well ventilated
• Looks secure against raccoons and possums. Hardware cloth is the preferred wire.
• portable - my next one will be portable. Or have a concrete floor.
• appears well built and better than the box store insta-coops

The best way to figure out if you like something and if it meshes with your keeping style, is to try it and find out. It sounds like you did your research and figured a few things out. Good for you!

Other option is do what Allen did and hire a local handyman to build something for you. It helps to get a good handyman or have a set of plans selected.

After you get your birds, keep them confined to the coop for a couple of days so they will realize this is where you want them to sleep. Otherwise, you could have them all over. I'm assuming you will get pullets or full grown birds.

Best wishes

 

[Kiki]

Welcome!

 

[BaaKaaawk]

That price seems crazy high for something you can easily build yourself. That's my $0.02.

WELCOME!

 

[AllenK RGV]

I really enjoyed the well reasoned and thoughtful input from @RUNuts it seems self isolation agrees with him! Please feel free to join us over on the Texas thread as well the current page starts here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/texas.44/page-4575

 

[RUNuts]

I really enjoyed the well reasoned and thoughtful input from @RUNuts it seems self isolation agrees with him! Please feel free to join us over on the Texas thread as well the current page starts here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/texas.44/page-4575

Why thank you Allen.

I've been pondering our next coop. Lots of pondering. Light, yet stable. I'm being reminded how heavy I made the chicken tractors. Beasts. Stout, but ouch.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
I'm not a fan of this coop, especially for the price. The ventilation is good, but otherwise, no.
Too short, and A-frames don't give birds enough 'air space' to use roosts comfortably.
You will hate crawling in there!
Predators can dig into it easily unless it's parked on concrete, and then bedded.
The hardware cloth isn't attached well enough.
It will be heavy, and dragging it around won't be fun. We have a hoop coop, and dragging it has shown that our base needs to be built better, as it's coming apart.
There's no way to store food in there, or to comfortably have their feeder or waterer inside.
Even for three or four hens, a walk-in structure will work better, especially for you! It can be a three sided shed, with hardware cloth and woven wire across the open side for security.
Mary

 

[Gardening Fool]

Thanks everyone, for your excellent responses and welcome! Unfortunately, the makers of this coop indicate that they are backlogged until July, so I suppose it's back to the drawing board for me. If you have any specific suggestions of coops, please feel free to mention. I'd also note that the folks on this board seem exceptionally nice.

 

[Acre4Me]

Thanks everyone, for your excellent responses and welcome! Unfortunately, the makers of this coop indicate that they are backlogged until July, so I suppose it's back to the drawing board for me. If you have any specific suggestions of coops, please feel free to mention. I'd also note that the folks on this board seem exceptionally nice.

for just 2-3 birds at a time, in Texas, where the extremes tend to be in temperature highs, you have a lot of flexibility for housing. FWIW, You can successfully use a coop such as this, especially if you have a shady spot. In TX it’s going to be all about the shade and cool water.

I agree it’s not an ideal coop, but it’s not much different than others I’ve seen posted on here by people making something that can be moved around. 2-3 chickens need a half to3/4 lb food a day when in grass so bringing feed out daily isn’t an issue. I did notice thaT the hinged top does not have any latches in the pictures, so any opening needs to be able to be secured no matter whichcoop you find.

here is an old advertisement featuring an even more simple structure, considered acceptable at that time.

my neighbor constructed a very very simple coop for his flock of 8 birds. He has a small barn like building with a loft, so taller than a simple shed. The back faces west and cannot be seen from the house or road. He put up a very simple tall plywood box, covered in rubber roof material. So, no high marks for ventilation and it’s ugly, but his flock has been safe for 3 years. he built that after the pre-fab coop he bought started to disintegrate after a season or two. Basically,
You can make a coop out of many things,But keep in mind shade and ventilation.

Good luck.