I need your opinions on Coops! What do you think of prefab coops?

[HerdAndHome]

I'm awaiting the new fold up Avituvinwhatever coop to use as a quarantine for a new Swedish Flower Hen I've bought. I will put it beside the chain link fence so I have something to anchor it to. I don't have room or dry space to store a put-together prefab, so I thought I'd try this. Wish us luck!

ps: There will be mighty fortification made to this expensive piece of fir wood to be sure.

 

[BDutch]

Predators are not a problem as it sits in a 10x10 dog pen. I also put in another pen attached to it for more run room. That is covered with 1/2" hard wire cloth. I domed the dog pen with pvc to make an arch for rain runoff. Hopefully it will last long enough to build a better coop one day.
View attachment 3937181

Some predators dig under a frame. I would add pavement tiles around it or ad an apron with hwc.

 

[bsshog40]

Some predators dig under a frame. I would add pavement tiles around it or ad an apron with hwc.

Luckily we don't get anything that comes close to the house. We have a 60lb spaniel pitt that runs loose. On nice nights, he'll actually sleep in front of the pen. Lol

 

[BDutch]

Luckily we don't get anything that comes close to the house. We have a 60lb spaniel pitt that runs loose. On nice nights, he'll actually sleep in front of the pen. Lol

Not seeing them, doesn’t mean they are not there at all.

https://www.researchgate.net/figure...n-Texas-Results-represent-No-of_fig1_12266314

 

[bsshog40]

Not seeing them, doesn’t mean they are not there at all.

https://www.researchgate.net/figure...n-Texas-Results-represent-No-of_fig1_12266314
View attachment 3937200

I know what we have around here. I've been here for awhile. Lol Thanks for the concern and info tho'.

 

[Kaiser Fertilizer]

Hello,
I'm a college student in product design and I want to hear your hate/love about certain coops and their features. I recently built a chicken coop myself, and much of the design was inspired by the takes of people I've heard on this website. I'd like to quote them in my presentation (anonymously) if anyone would provide them. In particular, please let me know about your opinions on these features/traits of prefab and built chicken coops (love or hate).

-Nesting Boxes
-Ventilation
-Predator Protection
-Build Quality
-Chicken Door
-Aesthetic and Color
-Cleaning
-Windows,
-Heating/cooling
-Ease of Use
-Roosting bar
-Poop Shelf
-Sickness Isolation
-Nurseries
-Chicken Doors
-positioning (features such as doors, nesting, boxes windows, relative to each other.)


If you have any opinions that aren't related to these topics, share them too.

The more passionate your opinion, the better, but avoid being aggressive.

Hate and love is appreciated


Thank you!

Thank you all for your responses! These are fantastic, keep the coming if you have any more!

 

[BDutch]

Thank you all for your responses! These are fantastic, keep the coming if you have any more!

As colleague product designer I advice you to set a few demands for the new coop. There are must haves for chickens in general, but also must haves for the circumstances the chickens live in or demands that are important for the buyer.
like:

• climate (heat - cold)
• number of chickens
• predators
• goals of the chicken keeper
• free range or not (run to add on)
• chicken size
• ability to jump or not
• wanting xtra space for broodies & chicks
• pest control
• sustainability
• price vs quality

It’s impossible to design a one fits all coop. Therefore it’s very important to describe a range of imaginary BYC keepers/flocks/circumstances. After doing so you can decide on the must haves and nice to haves.

Please share your proces and design

 

[Ceetian]

Hello,
I'm a college student in product design and I want to hear your hate/love about certain coops and their features. I recently built a chicken coop myself, and much of the design was inspired by the takes of people I've heard on this website. I'd like to quote them in my presentation (anonymously) if anyone would provide them. In particular, please let me know about your opinions on these features/traits of prefab and built chicken coops (love or hate).

-Nesting Boxes
-Ventilation
-Predator Protection
-Build Quality
-Chicken Door
-Aesthetic and Color
-Cleaning
-Windows,
-Heating/cooling
-Ease of Use
-Roosting bar
-Poop Shelf
-Sickness Isolation
-Nurseries
-Chicken Doors
-positioning (features such as doors, nesting, boxes windows, relative to each other.)


If you have any opinions that aren't related to these topics, share them too.

The more passionate your opinion, the better, but avoid being aggressive.

Hate and love is appreciated


Thank you!

Stick with Sand in coop and run, stay away from wood shavings. Use sweet coop, but buy 25lb bag for horses. Same exact product except cheaper and larger bag. Much cleaner.

 

[FrostRanger]

Stick with Sand in coop and run, stay away from wood shavings. Use sweet coop, but buy 25lb bag for horses. Same exact product except cheaper and larger bag. Much cleaner.

Many of us use woodchips and shavings just fine, it comes down to one's environment and personal management style

 

[Schreib69]

The best thing to do is to buy this book:
"Raising Chickens", by Gail Damerow. . .
and READ it.
Then, build your own. Or, in your case, tear it down and start over as necessary . . .
Good Luck!