Need advice regarding wood coop or vynil please

Pollitos6

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Hello,

I am new to chickens and yesterday we just got our first 6 cute chicks. We are all very excited at home and goggling a lot about them. They are still pretty small and I keep them indoors and of course with a heating lamp. However, I have been looking for coops (just to be prepare when the time come). I live in Indiana (hot in summer and it can get very cold during the winter) and I was wondering if I should get a wood coop or vinyl. I appreciate any feedbacks .

Thanks
 
Welcome! :yesss: We are glad you joined our flock!
Jump right in and make yourself at home.
Check out the link below for coop ideas.
I recommend you build one instead of buying and if you have to buy make sure you know that most premade coops only hold half of what they say they will hold. (number of birds)
You need 4 sq feet per bird inside your coop.
This video will help you learn how to navigate this site:

Coop Ideas:
Chicken Coops

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welcome aboard great people,loads of information,tons of fun,shake your tail feathers and enjoy
 
Hello,

I am new to chickens and yesterday we just got our first 6 cute chicks. We are all very excited at home and goggling a lot about them. They are still pretty small and I keep them indoors and of course with a heating lamp. However, I have been looking for coops (just to be prepare when the time come). I live in Indiana (hot in summer and it can get very cold during the winter) and I was wondering if I should get a wood coop or vinyl. I appreciate any feedbacks .

Thanks
I have only seen the vinyl coops, never owned one, but the ones I have seen have been very small.

Indiana has snow doesn't it? If you do get snow I HIGHLY recommend a roofed run because chickens really don't like playing around in the snow. They like it even less when it is snowy and windy. If you get lots of snow and wind, or just lots of cold wind, a three sided roofed run would be fantastic.


I wrote an article about building coops in cold weather that might be helpful.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/cold-weather-poultry-housing.72010/


good luck! And Welcome to BYC!
 
Especially for any area which gets cold weather, I recommend that you have a walk in coop. As other posters have said, a minimum of 4 s.f. in coop per bird is required. And you will need 1 s.f. of ventilation per bird, even in the winter. A "short coop" lacks the cubic feet necessary to allow enough air movement to vent out the moisture produced by the birds. Excess moisture in the winter = frost bite. Lack of air movement can also result in poor air quality, and damage to lungs due to ammonia build up. A walk in coop AND RUN will allow you to use the deep litter method which will keep your birds occupied, especially in the winter months when cabin fever can result in aggressive behaviors.

I recommend wood. Don't buy a pre-fab. Save your money. Either build your own, or pay some one to build it, or buy a shed and repurpose it. In the last 5 years this 62 y.o. biddy has built a green house, a 12 x 8 cattle panel coop and 2 tractors. Building your own is definitely within the capabilities of almost ANYONE!!!
 
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