Need bigger coop....are there any good prefabs out there?

[Heffalump]

I need a bigger coop. We repurposed an old dog kennel for our first coop, but it was always a short term measure. Now that the wet weather is coming in I'd like to give the girls some more space and have some wiggle room if I wanted a few more.

Options I think are:

1- buy a 6x4 shed and repurpose it by adding some nest boxes (so we don't have to go in to collect the eggs), ventilation and perches. This was my first plan, but we've just moved house and I know my husband won't thank me for giving him more DIY.

2. Buy something prefab online. Will probably work out quite expensive, and I'm worried about the overall quality. Can anyone recommend a good prefab for 10-15 hens?

I'm not talking about uprising the run or outdoor space, just the actual indoor hen house.

Thanks

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Most likely option one is your best bet, but for 10 - 15 full sized chickens you would want a bigger shed that is 40 to 60 sq ft. There aren't any prefabs suitable for 10-15 chickens. Even if it states it would hold that many chickens, you most likely could squeeze half that many in there.
Unless 6x4 is not measured in feet? If it is it would be big enough for 6 chickens. You can squeeze maybe 2 more in with a maximum of 8 birds, but that would be dependent on the birds and their temperament. Bantams could require less space.

 

[muddy75]

when we were planning for our chickens I looked at all the different possibilities. In the end, we opted for DIY because the cost of a large prefab coop can get into the thousands and may not hold up as long. The outdoor sheds can still be pretty pricey and would not work well in the area we allotted for our run (behind our existing shed). I ended up spending under $500 in materials and had enough left over to build my matching turkey house! There are lots of great DIY ideas on this site as well as others that can be built fairly easily and cost a fraction of the other options! I’m sure while your hubby may not be happy about the addition to the “honey do” list, you could bribe him with something he wants with the savings!!

 

[snow5164]

I’d look at sheds at the lumber yards, it will cost you a bit but adding nesting boxes and roosts can be done by you ....

Really ... you can do it

 

[Heffalump]

Thanks, you're right, I will need to go bigger than 6x4, will keep that in mind.

 

[Heffalump]

I've spoken to my husband and we might actually just make one from scratch. Thinking 8x6/8x8/6×10 kind of size. Any bigger than that and we'd need a bigger run and to relocate the whole thing. If anyone has come across any good plans let me know! Preferably something easyish, for the part time DIYer rather than the professional carpenter.

 

[perchie.girl]

I've spoken to my husband and we might actually just make one from scratch. Thinking 8x6/8x8/6×10 kind of size. Any bigger than that and we'd need a bigger run and to relocate the whole thing. If anyone has come across any good plans let me know! Preferably something easyish, for the part time DIYer rather than the professional carpenter.

The way I design is start with a floor plan... Use grid paper That way you can draw everything to scale with just a straight edge and a pencil.

I plan on using materials using as few cuts as possible.... full sheets of plywood ... etc...

Plan where your access is for ease of tending the birds... Orientation for prevaling winds and or rain and snow.... I dont know common materials for Ireland so you may have different sizes ... The grid paper will be handy no matter your construction.

Plan on good ventilation even in the winter months... Condensation inside the coop is responsible for frost bite on combs.... Ventilation not draft... There are a couple of excellent threads on BYC that cover that.

I dont know the predators you have to contend with but I suspect Stoats and Foxes are a couple.... Not to mention hawks and roving dogs. Thats why hardware cloth not chicken wire should be used to line the run and any vents.

I for one prefer to build with the idea that I will need to walk around inside the coop .... cleaning , grabbing birds for examination.... etc.

Good luck and happy building.

deb

 

[Heffalump]

Thanks Deb. Yeah I'd like to walk around in it.

 

[perchie.girl]

Thanks Deb. Yeah I'd like to walk around in it.

by the way.... a belated welcome to BYC from San Diego.

 

[Chick Chick McGee]

We used an old ice fishing house. It’s nice because it was already insulated.