Need coup buying advice

[SRVfan65]

Hello everyone,
new to the site, this is my first post. We live in East Tennessee. I wanted to build my first coup but the price of lumber here is up over 200% from last year! I decided to buy a pre-build kit from somewhere like Tractor Supply Co. but the choices out there are overwhelming. I was looking for some advice/suggestions. We want to start with 4 hens but will not ever need more than 6. I thought I could build a run around or connected to the coup. Appreciate any help!

 

[black_cat]

You will regret buying a prefab coop- bad idea. They are cheaply made and overpriced. Build a coop and get an omlet run. Any prefab runs that's large enough to walk into is (usually) good.

 

[janiedoe]

I agree. Prefabs stink.
You might try a large dog kennel. You can usually find used ones on craigslist.
You can build a slant roof with a small amount of wood and some metal roof panels. Add some plywood to the backside and about half way around the two sides or use more metal panels. You can leave the front and half the sides open for a run area.
You'll also need to add hardware cloth for predator protection and frame in the doorway to get rid of the gaps.
You will have a little bit more of an investment but you'll be happier than if you bought a prefab.

 

[BleuSaphir]

Spend the money on DIY coop. So much better! Majority of those prefab coop will fit 2 hens at best!

 

[3KillerBs]

Hello and welcome!

Good for you doing your research and asking question before you buy anything. To get the best, most targeted advice please give us your general location (you can add it to your profile), because climate matters.

The sad truth is that almost all prefab coops are seriously inadequate. They are generally far too small for the number of chickens they claim to hold (some are too small for even one chicken), poorly built, and lack adequate ventilation for the chickens' long-term health.

The first rule of thumb is:

If it looks like a dollhouse it's only suitable for toy chickens.

Beyond that, these are generally-accepted guidelines:

For each adult, standard-sized bird you need at least:

4 square feet in the coop,
10 square feet in the run,
1 linear foot of roost,
1 square foot of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation

While height is not as important as square footage, there should be room for a decent thickness of bedding below the nest boxes, the roosts should be above the level of the nestboxes, and the ventilation should be above the birds' heads while they're sitting on their roost.

My Little Monitor Coop is built for 4 chickens and, I think, is about as small as is truly practical for long-term use -- being approximately 4'x4'x4'.

 

[21hens-incharge]

While still requiring some lumber a hoop coop requires the least lumber and is by far the least expensive option in my opinion.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threadloom/search?query=Hoop coop&tab=620

There are also a lot of awesome coops built from pallets that folks gather for free. Those can take a lot of work but can be quite attractive and secure.

 

[janiedoe]

I was in Atwoods a few days ago and they had OverEZ coops in 3 sizes. I thought they were very well built & sturdy but pricey. I believe the price range was from $750 (small) to $1500 for the large.
The problem I noticed was that the roosting bars were too close to the wall and to each other. There was no attached run. The nesting boxes were very small too. Also cleaning the small or medium would be a real chore for even a very small person.
The medium or large could work for bantams but probably not for standard size hens unless you remodeled the roosting bars and maybe the nest boxes. The small was so small, that even 3 to 4 bantams would be tight.
If I were purchasing a prefab this would be the one. I still think even with the high price of lumber now, you'll get more for your money if you build your own.

 

[jreardon1918]

Prefab versus DYI build had been debated quite regularly on BYC. Many people learn that they "fit" fewer than advertised. And they are not made well enough to last the test if time. Add to that that many people after a little while wish to expand their flock...

Whatever you buy it build listen to the people on BYC and not the descriptions on the tractor supply website.

We built a cute smallish coop. It worked and we still use it. But if we knew then what we know now... I have a couple articles including one that asks the question "How many will fit?". I encourage you to read as much as you can.

Lastly, welcome to BYC and enjoy your chicken adventure.

 

[BleuSaphir]

OverEZ Coop are a step up in my opinion.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Welcome to BYC - lumber prices have tripled here in my area of the country. Am handy with tools, though pragmatic, I build my own ugly coops for long term survivability with pressure treated lumber, hardie board (concrete and fiberglass) instead of plywood, and metal roofs. Lumber being what it is, that's now cheaper than using plywood and shingles. Even with minimal framing, my current build will probably hit $1,000, does not include an enclosed run, and will be ugly/appear unfinished. Not suitable for the suburbs.

In agreement with virtually all others who regularly post here. DO NOT got pre-fab chicken coop. You'd be better off buying a used shed (not "Amish coop design") from one of the roadside sellers, then cutting ventilation near the roof line and installing hardware cloth, and better still building your own.

There are some high end plastic coops, but I personal find their costs to border on criminal.

For the money, and the space enclosed for a small flock in a moderate climate - as you have - I would build a hoop coop targeting a footprint of 8x8 and guess you could do so around $350, perhaps less. Increasing the size to 8x12 would add minimal expense and only moderate weight, and would far exceed your current needs.

@Aart has an excellent article on a hoop coop build, and there are others offering similar, inspirational designs from the same basic structure and engineering. An Arch is the strongest, most materials efficient design available, and it keeps the weight down, which allows mobility for small flocks. "Hoop Coop Tractor" are the keywords to use - biggest difficulty is getting the 16' cattle panels home.