IT'S HAPPENING SOON!!!

[nuthatched]

WOW and Thank you. But my dream coop will cost more than I paid for this "thing"
I guess you didn't read my post all the way through. I don't intend to build one as we aren't crafty in a lumber kind of way. I won't be bringing home the girls until we've reinforced the run and coop and shored it up with hardwire cloth all around the run and windows and yes the hardware will be replaced as this is cheap. I am repainting it too so the purchase of chicks is still in the distance. This is fir wood and it will do for my first time starter coop especially since I am tweaking it BEFORE I get my chickens. I got it for $250. Again, can't build my dream coop for that. The coop size is 48 inches high x 83.25 inches wide x 35.5 inches deep. I'm only getting 4 and no more until I get the hang of it.

l'm terribly sorry, I did read all your post. Four times to make sure I understood. I understand your plan but the execution is lacking.
Anyway, the best of luck to you, I'm sure it will all work itself out.

 

[rosemarythyme]

That dream coop is pretty. What kind of neighborhood guidelines do you have?

I do know what a run and a coop are. We have already talked about adding on to the run but don't want to spend much on this one except for security. I might start with 2 instead of 4 if space will be a issue for them.

The coop is generally an enclosed structure where the chickens roost at night and lay their eggs. The run is a contained "outdoor" space. So in the structure you have, the coop is the upstairs part, the run is the downstairs part. (ugh I misread that terribly, nevermind!)

If you need to budget between expanding coop or run, I would go with a bigger run. Something like a chain link dog kennel can be added on to to make for a nice run space and if you start with a decent sized one, it can still be used later even if you add on a few more birds.

The good news is, even if you start small, no reason you can't scale up as you go, and that that point this small coop could be used to house new chicks or injured birds. I started with 3 chicks and a prefab coop, and I still have pieces of the prefab around as a chick brooder and rain shelter.

 

[PVILLAGO]

That dream coop is pretty. What kind of neighborhood guidelines do you have?



The coop is generally an enclosed structure where the chickens roost at night and lay their eggs. The run is a contained "outdoor" space. So in the structure you have, the coop is the upstairs part, the run is the downstairs part.

If you need to budget between expanding coop or run, I would go with a bigger run. Something like a chain link dog kennel can be added on to to make for a nice run space and if you start with a decent sized one, it can still be used later even if you add on a few more birds.

The good news is, even if you start small, no reason you can't scale up as you go, and that that point this small coop could be used to house new chicks or injured birds. I started with 3 chicks and a prefab coop, and I still have pieces of the prefab around as a chick brooder and rain shelter.

Yes I thought this little one would end up as the infirmary

 

[PVILLAGO]

l'm terribly sorry, I did read all your post. Four times to make sure I understood. I understand your plan but the execution is lacking.
Anyway, the best of luck to you, I'm sure it will all work itself out.

Again WOW.
Execution? Trust me I have a plan (Copied from a website)
BUILDING A FORT KNOX CHICKEN COOP
cover the eaves with 1/4" hardware cloth attached with screws and fender washers.
The windows and one pop door(that isn't used) are also covered on the inside in the same manner.
The coop is 4x8, 2 1/2' off the ground,
The run surrounds 3 sides of the coop, total dimensions are 16'x16' with 4' of one end comprised of the coop itself. This is completely covered in 1/2" hardware cloth again attached with screws and fender washers.
The top of the run is 2x4's attached to the coop and top edge of the run walls with joist hangers screwed in, and completely covered in 1/2" hardware cloth as well.
There are no openings in the hardware cloth larger than 1/2" anywhere.
2' skirt of 1/2" hardware cloth attached along the bottom 2x4 of the run walls again with screws and fender washers to prevent diggers from getting in.
These order of events will take place #1 Bought a prefab. Not to your liking. Will put together and reinforce and spiff it up as I stated before I get my girls.
Again, not to your taste. But we all are doing things our own way. It might not be to your taste but my dream coop won't be either because it will be too foo foo or something.
My post was originally put out here because I am excited to start this year long quest not one for ridicule or rudeness. If you are trying to be helpful you come across the opposite.
But thank you for your response.

 

[PVILLAGO]

Yes I thought this little one would end up as the infirmary

The guidelines are you can have chickens. There is a number limit. You can't have a chicken business. The Chickens have to be contained. You have to maintain the cleanliness around the area. The coop has to be esthetically pleasing. suggestions: must match the existing home or barn no scrap wood type shantys can be constructed.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The guidelines are you can have chickens. There is a number limit. You can't have a chicken business. The Chickens have to be contained. You have to maintain the cleanliness around the area. The coop has to be esthetically pleasing. suggestions: must match the existing home or barn no scrap wood type shantys can be constructed.

So not too bad then. Some places have ridiculous restrictions, like I've seen ones on here where the entire set up has to be under a certain height like 48", or can't be larger than 20 sq ft, or must be 200' from any residence, etc.

How many chickens total are you limited to? If eggs are the primary concern, you'd be better off staggering their ages anyhow (which will give you time to grow your set up as well), to increase the changes of having egg production through winter.

Also sorry for misreading the coop/run thing earlier, usually when new folks ask about prefab coops they don't know one thing from the next, so I was answering that while making dinner.

 

[3KillerBs]

All prefab coops grossly exaggerate their capacities for grown birds

This.

A standard-size chicken can be thought of as a 15" cube and they neither pack like sardines nor stack for storage.

 

[PVILLAGO]

So not too bad then. Some places have ridiculous restrictions, like I've seen ones on here where the entire set up has to be under a certain height like 48", or can't be larger than 20 sq ft, or must be 200' from any residence, etc.

How many chickens total are you limited to? If eggs are the primary concern, you'd be better off staggering their ages anyhow (which will give you time to grow your set up as well), to increase the changes of having egg production through winter.

Also sorry for misreading the coop/run thing earlier, usually when new folks ask about prefab coops they don't know one thing from the next, so I was answering that while making dinner.

Thank you so much. Hopefully I can get started on it in February. I will post after photos when I get it complete.