How many chickens?

[Horsedoglover]

I changed the question from previous advice. I am looking for a cheap coop to hold 4 chickens enough room for 5 maybe. I would like it to look nice and have nesting box access. And enough space for 2 five gallon buckets, one hanging. I am willing to diy so long as it is simple as I am very unexperienced. I live in Colorado so the winters are below 0 and the summers are over 100 degrees. If you could help me look thank you!

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

Hardly one or two.

 

[Farmgirl47]

The pictures don't show how long the roost(s) are/is.

If you got it would you let the chickens free-range all day, or would they be in it 24/7?

 

[Horsedoglover]

Is this a good coop for 4 chickens?
www.overstock.com/Pet-Supplies/Pawhut-Green-Wooden-Backyard-Poultry-Hen-House-Chicken-Coop/12514610/product.html

 

[AlleysChicks]

Is this a good coop for 4 chickens?
www.overstock.com/Pet-Supplies/Pawhut-Green-Wooden-Backyard-Poultry-Hen-House-Chicken-Coop/12514610/product.html

Bantams maybe, but that coop would not hold 4 large chickens. They'd be very cramped.

And these coops don't hold up well. I have 2 and the wood is very soft and the roof leaks. I'd look into building your own.

 

[jeria]

I figured pre-fab would be easy and the cost controllable. Too many awful reviews both on here and other places mostly stating very small and flimsy. I looked at a few available at feed stores in my area and those verified what I was reading.

I'm a 68yo gramma, never designed or built a building in my life. YOU CAN DO IT if I can. I am updating my 50's ranch house mostly by myself but no re-building walls etc. so not afraid to tackle projects. If I had a table saw for more precise cuts it would be nice but have a circular saw and a jog saw. I did invest in a stronger drill and a cut off tool to cut the hardware cloth. See the thread "Gramcraker's coop" for photos of progress so far. Off to work on it today in a few minutes.

I didn't find a design that fit what I decided I wanted to work with my yard and climate so started drafting my own, it has changed some along the way as I have learned more, in fact yesterday decided to add another window. The basic plan has remained the same. It's raised 4x6 coop enclosed in an 8 x 10 foot run. The entire coop and run will have a solid roof. Grandsons are going to squeeze in some time to help me with the roof.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you look in the articles tab above you will see a section called chicken coops. You don't say where you are so I don't know climate, but you are probably looking for a "small" coop. Your climate, especially winter, can have an effect on that.

Most of those come with plans. For your criteria I'd suggest a minimum of a 4' x 6' coop with an attached run of minimum 4' x 8' plus the area under the coop available. Under the coop could be a good place to hang the feed and keep it dry.

The two biggest problems for most people doing it themselves are having the right tools which might get expensive to buy and having the confidence to try it in the first place. You can find magazines and books on how to build a shed at Lowe's or Home Depot. If you don't want to buy one, go to your public library and talk to the librarian. They should be able to get you a good book you can check out.

Some people start threads on building a coop and ask for step by step directions on how to do things as well as comments on design. Some of those threads get dozens of pages long.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I figured pre-fab would be easy and the cost controllable. Too many awful reviews both on here and other places mostly stating very small and flimsy. I looked at a few available at feed stores in my area and those verified what I was reading.

I'm a 68yo gramma, never designed or built a building in my life. YOU CAN DO IT if I can. I am updating my 50's ranch house mostly by myself but no re-building walls etc. so not afraid to tackle projects. If I had a table saw for more precise cuts it would be nice but have a circular saw and a jog saw. I did invest in a stronger drill and a cut off tool to cut the hardware cloth. See the thread "Gramcraker's coop" for photos of progress so far. Off to work on it today in a few minutes.

I didn't find a design that fit what I decided I wanted to work with my yard and climate so started drafting my own, it has changed some along the way as I have learned more, in fact yesterday decided to add another window. The basic plan has remained the same. It's raised 4x6 coop enclosed in an 8 x 10 foot run. The entire coop and run will have a solid roof. Grandsons are going to squeeze in some time to help me with the roof.

X2
My 21 year old daughter, who has never built anything (assembled, yes, like packaged furniture....but not planned and built) recently built this in the course of three weekends

(This was still in progress)

Those who have read the article here on my coop recognize the door design? Yep, she just had to have one on her coop after seeing mine, lol

 

[jeria]

OL Gray Mare, love your door. I may do the corner trim like your DD's as well. Have been thinking about my corners that are not perfect. Might need a few more pieces of wood, will anyway as I didn't measure for securing the hardware cloth on the inside of the coop. My car knows the way to Menards (home improvement store).

Ridgerunner, agreed on tools, they definitely help. Would have loved a table saw, not in my budget nor do I have room for one. Craig's list may be a good place to look for them or borrow them from a friend or family member. I buy some @ Harbor freight. As my pro son-in-law says he doesn't buy them as he uses them daily in his business but for my uses they are an excellent affordable choice. He doesn't live close enough to come help me. ;( or to borrow his tools.