Indecisive about coop

[Luna Mesa]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I'll do a bit more digging into open air style coops to make sure this is a good fit for us. I know making one would probably be the best, I just don't have the skills or the mental bandwidth at the moment to create something like that. Maybe in a few years I'll go down that path. I have a bit of time to make my decision, though I feel the crunch as I have some eggs on lockdown at the moment!

Maybe a local handyman could give you a hand while expanding your skills and bandwidth. That money could buy a lot of materials. Stay away from metal roofs unless you are planning to insulate underneath.

 

[Birdinhand]

Hi all, I'm looking for some wisdom around coop designs for my 6 chickens who should be hatching in the next 10 days or so. I have a brooder for them, so am set for a small bit. I do not have a coop yet. Initially I was set on getting an Eglu Pro, but the price tag and the ventilation situation has me pausing. I saw the Royal Rooster Chicken Palace with small run and was wondering if that with the external laying boxes and weather shield would be a good option. Or would the Somerzby Homestead Chicken Coop be a better option? I plan to free range them in my fenced yard once I finish making it safe.

The local farm supply store was no help and said "chickens will be happy with whatever you get them". I just want a nice prefab option that doesn't do my head in.

Location is SEQ, Australia where Summer temperatures reach 34⁰C easily (93⁰F).

my preference has been to make my own from scratch so i can frame it and then add hardware cloth wall to wall, ceiling and floors with no more than a half inch gap so no rats or other vermin can get in. This may feel like an expensive route but the truth is keeping chickens isn’t cheap and an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Spending the money and taking the time up front assures success and avoids exasperation. As for the run, I’d make it as large as you can, and covered, several square feet per bird. By having an adequate run you won’t be as tempted to free range if/when you determine that it’s not safe to free range, which, I hate to sound skeptical, seems to be an eventuality for a lot of/most people. Free ranging goes well for a while, maybe even years but eventually predators trying to feed their hungry babies discover the food source and start returning with greater and greater frequency and determination. It’s arguable that the freedom is worth the shorter life expectancy, that a chicken has a greater quality of life free ranging even if it means it may meet an early end but I recommend people be realistic about how it will feel to have to replace beloved pets. Some people just see it as a circle of life and I’m not judging but I can say the drama and hassle of fighting predators has made me not a fan of free ranging. I’ve lost enough animals and had enough heart ache and stress to come to the realization that a large run, good food and clean water offers tremendous freedom to a vulnerable animal when it means they can relax and not worry about getting eaten.