How to find the right coop if you can't build it?

[TwoShepherds]

Hello everyone! I'm still new to the forum and even newer to chickens (I don't have any yet)! I want to start out with 6-8 chickens but I would like the coop to be big, sturdy, and secure enough to let me expand the flock to 12-15 in a couple years if all goes well.

I am so impressed by all of you who have designed and built your own coops. Unfortunately, my husband and I aren't builders. Finding the right coop is probably going to be our biggest hurdle. I was excited to find a local man who sells BIG sturdy coops. I was disheartened when I saw a picture of the trailer he uses for delivery and realized that it would be impossible to get the trailer to the spot I want in our backyard. I could put it in our field (we have 5 acres) but I'd kind of like to keep it closer to the house. So unless I can find a local person to build me a coop for a price I can afford, it looks like I'm going to have to get a kit (that is simple and quick to assemble) or perhaps buy something fully assembled with wheels I can push into the yard from the road.

What do you all think of this one from https://overezchickencoop.com/product/large-over-ez-chicken-coop/



It is 6 feet long x 5 feet wide and 6 feet high. I wish it was a couple feet longer. I would also purchase the wheels and the large run (6 ft W x 16' ft L x 6' ft H).



Here is the other one I'm looking at from mypetchicken.com


It is 8 ft L x 5 ft W x 8 ft H. I'd also get the optional run (8 ft L x 6 ft H). This coop is delivered fully assembled on a trailer but if it had wheels and was dropped off in the driveway, I could just push it into the backyard...right?

Do either of the above seem like viable choices or should I keep looking for someone local to build one for us? How many chickens do you think these coops could realistically house? I would like the chickens to free range some of the time, but not all day long every day (I worry about the hawks I see perched in our trees every so often, and we have dogs).

Thank you to everyone who kept reading this far. Any advice, small or large, is very welcome!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Going by minimum numbers (assuming 4 sq ft coop, 10 sq ft run), the first coop holds 7 (maybe... I assume the measurements includes the nest box area which means there's actually less than the advertised 30 sq ft floor space) and the run holds 9 chickens.

The second holds 12 (again, the measurements likely include nest box area) and the run holds 4.

If you can't find a coop builder that would work for you, look into a shed builder instead, or even shed kits or prebuilt sheds. It may end up being more cost efficient and a well built shed makes for a great coop. You may need to do some finishing work yourself (i.e. adding a roost) but that's something that most people can install themselves even with minimal DIY knowledge. Sizewise I would aim for at least 60 sq ft. for your anticipated max 15 chickens, though depending on layout you may need more (or less), i.e. nest boxes can eat up floor space as mentioned above.

Are you planning to free range at all? If not, I would suggest contacting a fencing company and seeing what fenced enclosure would cost. For 15 chickens, you'd want a run of at least 150 sq ft... I highly recommend going over that for flock harmony.

 

[mowin]

If the coop that is coming on a trailer will fit without the trailer, there's has to be a way to get it to the area's you want. Small tractor to skid into place.

Has the coop builder actually looked at the property and said he can't get it into the spot? Maybe his trailer is smaller than your thinking.

 

[Beer can]

Those look a lot like the Amish shed company coops. See if you have any near you. They have nice heavy duty coops, cost $$ but they have them and do deliver.

 

[Acre4Me]

If you can afford it, you should buy a good pre-built, like your pics, or hire someone to build you one on-site or build a shed-kit with modifications for chickens. And, I wouldn’t assume the one person can’t access your area without calling him first.

 

[aart]

I was excited to find a local man who sells BIG sturdy coops. I was disheartened when I saw a picture of the trailer he uses for delivery and realized that it would be impossible to get the trailer to the spot I want in our backyard.

Got pics or links of these?

Has the coop builder actually looked at the property and said he can't get it into the spot?

Very good point!
Maybe he'd be willing to build on your site?

 

[TwoShepherds]

Going by minimum numbers (assuming 4 sq ft coop, 10 sq ft run), the first coop holds 7 (maybe... I assume the measurements includes the nest box area which means there's actually less than the advertised 30 sq ft floor space) and the run holds 9 chickens.

The second holds 12 (again, the measurements likely include nest box area) and the run holds 4.

If you can't find a coop builder that would work for you, look into a shed builder instead, or even shed kits or prebuilt sheds. It may end up being more cost efficient and a well built shed makes for a great coop. You may need to do some finishing work yourself (i.e. adding a roost) but that's something that most people can install themselves even with minimal DIY knowledge. Sizewise I would aim for at least 60 sq ft. for your anticipated max 15 chickens, though depending on layout you may need more (or less), i.e. nest boxes can eat up floor space as mentioned above.

Are you planning to free range at all? If not, I would suggest contacting a fencing company and seeing what fenced enclosure would cost. For 15 chickens, you'd want a run of at least 150 sq ft... I highly recommend going over that for flock harmony.

Thanks so much for taking the time to write this out! I guess I can eliminate the first one right away. If the second coop could possibly hold 12, and I adjusted my max number of chickens down to 9-10, do you think it would work? If I understand the website correctly, it looks like the coop is 8 ft x 5 ft without the nest boxes and 8' x 6' with the nest boxes. I wonder if the 16' foot run from the first website could be adapted to work with this coop. I'll have to ask the manufacturer -- they'd probably just try to sell me a coop though.

Yes, I should be able to free range, our neighbors do. However, I am worried about hawks, and thought I might let them free range for only part of the day, but I don't know how compliant chickens would be about going back to their coops when I wanted them to.

I don't have to make a decision in any particular time frame so I'll try to be patient and keep looking. I will also look around at some sheds. Thanks again!

 

[Acre4Me]

but I don't know how compliant chickens would be about going back to their coops when I wanted them to.

That why one takes a small amount of scratch or treat in a can/container out to the chickens...shake and make a call ("here chik chik chik..") then throw down the scratch/treat. They will very soon come running to you for that treat...you just need to shake the container, call, and then throw the treat into the run and they won't even know you closed the gate on them.

 

[TwoShepherds]

Got pics or links of these? Maybe he'd be willing to build on your site?

He has a website with pictures and videos. I am still thinking about going with him and just putting the coop in the pasture. I am reluctant to do that because it's a little further from the house (though still visible), I don't spend as much time back there, and we sometimes let the grass get long (it's about 3 acres). We have it brush hogged several times a season, and I'm sure I could mow a small area around the coop and run, but I'm not sure how appealing of an area that would be for chickens.

I have emailed him and he is very friendly and responsive. When I mentioned I was worried about the trailer, he did not seem that interested in making adjustments, but I did not explicitly ask him either.

Here are some pictures. There were 3 models I was interested in

#3 measurements are 7' x 12' x 7'



2 sizes to choose from

4-A (base measures 12′ x 7′ x 9′-2″)
Comes with 2 double nesting boxes & 28 ft. of roosting bars and a chicken door.



4-B (base measures 14′ x 7′ x 9′-4″)


I also wanted to get the large or extra large run. The XL is 14′ x 7′ x 6′-4″ tall and the lg is 12' x 7'.



If I did put the coop in the pasture, and got the largest coop (4B) and the largest run it would be a little out of my preferred price range, but not completely out of the question...

If it's not too much trouble, please PM me privately if you have anything particularly negative to say about the coop's design.

 

[TwoShepherds]

That why one takes a small amount of scratch or treat in a can/container out to the chickens...shake and make a call ("here chik chik chik..") then throw down the scratch/treat. They will very soon come running to you for that treat...you just need to shake the container, call, and then throw the treat into the run and they won't even know you closed the gate on them.

Thank you! I was hoping it would be that easy but I wasn't sure!