How to reinforce cheap coop

[SkyBlue49]

Looks like the interior area is 36.4 x 34.4 and we would have 2-4 chickens depending on how many are roosters. One is a silkie and the rest Easter eggers.

Hi! Just got our first chicks a few weeks ago and am desperately trying to figure out the coop situation. We bought an inexpensive coop from tractor supply (the “homestead”) and people said the bottom of the nesting boxes was flimsy particle board that wouldn’t last very long. Any ideas on how I can protect this or replace it so it doesn’t deteriorate quickly? Paint? Flashing? Another piece of wood on top? Also seems I need to get better hardware and replace. Any other suggestions? Thank you!!!

Hi and congratulations on your new chickens. I am also a newbie at this and only have three large but not huge chickens. Two Australorps and one Americauna. My roost and nesting boxes are in one area off the ground and is approx. 9 square feet. The run is under the coop and out the front. Works great.
As for your nesting box, the chickens generally don't dirty the box so it should not rot from urine or feces. You could put down a heavy piece of lino and put pine shavings on top for them. A fake egg will help them know what the area is for. Once they have made their nests you don't have to do much except collect eggs. I do keep an eye out for messes but so far so good. Our roost is separated by a wall with a hole for them to get through. The roost is all on the same level with a catch tray underneath for easy clean up. That is where the majority of the poop is. I hope this helps. I think your coop is big enough as long as the birds to get too large.

 

[Goathead Acres]

I have used flex seal on my whole base of the coop. I painted it on rather than spray that way I could hose my coop down if it got too dirty

 

[Relleoms]

x2. Mine of course froze to the ground and when the ground thawed the run at the roof came away slightly from the coop. One morning when I went out I thought my chickens has turned into ducks. I just put a tarp over it. Once we moved it this summer, away from the house, it got straightened out. I warped it all around with clear tarp from Amazon.com. I've had more trouble from expensive feeders and waterers that I guess people are "lying about" That red and white feeder is a lie. My SLW love to roost on that pyramid top. And the feed don't feed once it half full. And the feed does get wet in a good old fashioned Maine rain storm. Also, we get some pretty good wind here spring, summer, fall and winter. Mine's never blown away not directed at you but another.

Lol, I’m guessing that’s directed at me! We are prone to strong thunderstorms & tornadoes, so while Kansas may be an exaggeration, finding the coop a mile or two down the road would not be a stretch at all considering well built roofs, decks and even homes can be destroyed in a storm. Point is, I found that particular coop to very light and unsatisfactory for my needs, but glad it has worked well for you & hopefully the OP can find some inexpensive ways to modify for theirs! They’ve received lots of good feedback & suggestions!

 

[WELDON99]

I started out with 6 chickens that were given to me 4 years ago. I now have 40 chickens and 2 ducks, different breeds and life stages! I have built 7 coops, all from recycled materials. Only thing I bought new was chicken wire and screws and some hardware! I would hazard a guess at, maybe, $200 for all the coops/runs in materials. One run I made from a recycled dog kennel, 8' x 12', and covered it with some steel roofing panels (recycled of course!). I live in the country so there are no zoning issues. I have dogs and cats that seem to keep the predators away and they get along fine with the chickens (mine do not free range). My biggest problem is keeping the rooster population down! Over the past month, I've managed to sell 7 of them! My girls are pretty productive and I sell the eggs to buy their feed. I'm almost to a point where they are paying for themselves!! My present plan is to make a common yard (covered as we have eagles, falcons, hawks and owls) that they can all share and make life a little easier. I want to install a common water system for all the coops/runs and a feeder that will service all from one point. I'm thinking of doing something along the lines of an old deer feeder.

Right now, we spend about 15 minutes each day, feeding, checking the water and gathering eggs. Some days, a little more time to interact with the girls and check them for any problems. I want to set it up where we can get away for several days and not have to worry about them.

Oh yeah, I might mention that I'm retired! That means I have the time to scavange for materials! 2 years ago, I removed 2 porches from some trailers, just for the materials!! The owner was going to have to pay someone to remove them and clean it up. I did it for free!! Win/win for both of us!!

 

[Cryss]

Wow. I soooo know what you are going through right now. The excitement of this new endeavor with the cutest creatures ever, a coop that looks adorable. And then you realise it's not enough. Almost every single person with chicken experience is telling you how you wasted your money and need to build bigger. Even with suggestions for possibly free or cheap materials you just know it's going to cost more than you ever were prepared for. So. What to do. You have the birds so you need to do something.
Yeah. Me too. Same coop. 4 birds. No idea what I was in for or what I was doing. I read this site furiously, learned, and am still learning a year and a half later. But I survived it.
So, if you can't build a big coop now let's get you through your first several months, past winter at least. Once your current coop is secure you can begin planning for building in spring.
Like I said, I started with that coop or at least same dimensions. Put your head inside the house and see how many areas have light showing through gaps, mostly around all the doors. Those are drafts. Trim around those edges to close them. Raccoons can open those latches. Replace them with hasp and carabiners.
I'm going to link you to how I turned mine into a solid coop without a run. It will help with some of the gaps and give them interior space and make ut stronger. Yes, get it off the ground. My door froze shut at the ground point. I got 2 free pallets, put a piece of plywood on top (painted it first to seal it) and lifted the coop up on it.
Like I said, it now had no run. Before I enclosed the coop like this I made a 10x10x6 run with the coop inside it!. A quick one can be fashioned from a chain link dog run. You might even get it from a yard sale or habitat for humanity or something like that. I bought mine new at tractor supply. Your biggest investment is in 1/2 inch hardware cloth to cover the run, make a 2ft apron, and even cover the top. (Hawks, owls, climbing critters like raccoons and snakes).
Lots of good advice here. Mine is just a temporary "quick I gotta do something" suggestion, one I lived.
Here's my link.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/altering-my-terrible-ts-coop.1267790/#post-20364469

Currently I am building a walk in coop. And getting more birds. Yeah, chicken math is for real. Prepare for it.

If I can do it so can you. Keep asking questions. It's worth it in the end.

PS: Don't use chicken wire. Critters can rip right through it. It keeps chickens in, not critters out. Use 1/2 inch hardware cloth.

 

[grettasurfergirl]

Wow. I soooo know what you are going through right now. The excitement of this new endeavor with the cutest creatures ever, a coop that looks adorable. And then you realise it's not enough. Almost every single person with chicken experience is telling you how you wasted your money and need to build bigger. Even with suggestions for possibly free or cheap materials you just know it's going to cost more than you ever were prepared for. So. What to do. You have the birds so you need to do something.
Yeah. Me too. Same coop. 4 birds. No idea what I was in for or what I was doing. I read this site furiously, learned, and am still learning a year and a half later. But I survived it.
So, if you can't build a big coop now let's get you through your first several months, past winter at least. Once your current coop is secure you can begin planning for building in spring.
Like I said, I started with that coop or at least same dimensions. Put your head inside the house and see how many areas have light showing through gaps, mostly around all the doors. Those are drafts. Trim around those edges to close them. Raccoons can open those latches. Replace them with hasp and carabiners.
I'm going to link you to how I turned mine into a solid coop without a run. It will help with some of the gaps and give them interior space and make ut stronger. Yes, get it off the ground. My door froze shut at the ground point. I got 2 free pallets, put a piece of plywood on top (painted it first to seal it) and lifted the coop up on it.
Like I said, it now had no run. Before I enclosed the coop like this I made a 10x10x6 run with the coop inside it!. A quick one can be fashioned from a chain link dog run. You might even get it from a yard sale or habitat for humanity or something like that. I bought mine new at tractor supply. Your biggest investment is in 1/2 inch hardware cloth to cover the run, make a 2ft apron, and even cover the top. (Hawks, owls, climbing critters like raccoons and snakes).
Lots of good advice here. Mine is just a temporary "quick I gotta do something" suggestion, one I lived.
Here's my link.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/altering-my-terrible-ts-coop.1267790/#post-20364469

Currently I am building a walk in coop. And getting more birds. Yeah, chicken math is for real. Prepare for it.

If I can do it so can you. Keep asking questions. It's worth it in the end.

PS: Don't use chicken wire. Critters can rip right through it. It keeps chickens in, not critters out. Use 1/2 inch hardware cloth.

Yes! We totally have the same coop! Not ideal but I’m hoping it will work... my husband spent father’s day building an 8’ x 3’ run that we attached to the prefab coop. Tonight is there first night out there and now I’m totally worried about raccoons pulling this locks! Maybe I should go put them back in the brooder for the night!?

 

[Cryss]

Yes! We totally have the same coop! Not ideal but I’m hoping it will work... my husband spent father’s day building an 8’ x 3’ run that we attached to the prefab coop. Tonight is there first night out there and now I’m totally worried about raccoons pulling this locks! Maybe I should go put them back in the brooder for the night!?

Just saw your post. Are they ok today?

 

[grettasurfergirl]

Just saw your post. Are they ok today?

PHEW YES! They were all happy and full of energy this morning and seem to be loving the new space. Thank you for checking in!!!