Help modifying this coop please

[brendave]

My dear, city raised husband surprised me for my birthday with a coop from Sam's. I've been wanting backyard chickens for forever and we recently moved where they are allowed. He had already assembled it and added and extra coat of paint before revealing it to me after I had my birthday dinner. Unfortunately, this coop is too small for the 5 chicks I now have once they are grown. I live in an area which can see -20 F in the deepest depths of winter and 100+ F in the summer. I would love to do the deep litter method and add an automatic door. Ultimately the chicken coop will be placed inside a double fence around my garden that will double as a deer deterrent and a chicken run. I will definitely be adding more secure latches and hardware cloth to the vent openings. But how can I adjust this to fit 5 chickens? Any advice appreciated!

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

so cute! are you in Washington? (you do not have to answer that) sounds like the weather here!

 

[brendave]

No, I'm in Michigan. I thought I put location in my profile -I'll have to change that!

My husband bought this because he thought we could get 1 or 2 chickens. He's so sweet to think of me but I don't think he understands that the 5 we have now are just the beginning...

Should I raise the coop and maybe add an extension on the side for better roosting?

 

[Percheron chick]

Take it back.
Sam's has a generous return policy. You bought it and it's not as advertised. The stores selling these junk coops need to be put on the hook so they have some financial motivation to stop selling them.

 

[Folly's place]

Consider the entire structure as coop; have the south facing side hardware cloth, and a solid wall on the north side. If it's facing south now, great; add a large opening between the closed part and the 'run', so it's better ventilated. In winter, you can used rolled clear plastic over the lower part of the 'run', leaving the upper area open for ventilation.
Using the entire thing as a coop will work better, and give you time to plan and build a bigger better coop. Then this will work for babies, broody hens, or new chicks.
Mary

 

[ChickieChickieMama]

It's really cute but definitely tiny. If it were me, I'd build a huge rectangular base two or three times the size of it that would become the actual coop and have this as a fun attic space on top of it to give the chickens a little extra space to stretch their wings of get away from the other chickens.

Anything is possible ...give us updates with what you eventually decide to do...I love a good reno!

 

[snow5164]

I agree , I’d build under the tiny coop . Raise it up like a bird house , and add doors and windows to a “box” underneath . He painted it so you’re stuck

 

[brendave]

Take it back.
Sam's has a generous return policy. You bought it and it's not as advertised. The stores selling these junk coops need to be put on the hook so they have some financial motivation to stop selling them.

I wish I could but he put it together and added another coat of paint. He also sealed all the "holes" Ugh.

 

[aart]

Well, it will work great as a grow out coop for chicks in the future....
..or a hospital/isolation/broody coop.
I wouldn't try to make it work by modifying, get a larger coop before winter.