Need Help with Paint Options/Other Ideas for my pre-fab coop!

[rosemarythyme]

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I’ll have to look into that! While I was going through reviews I saw this expansion someone did. I think once I make that expansion, I can expand the coop as well.

Might want to think bigger - not just for the chickens, but also for you as the caretaker.

Maybe you don't have back issues, but I sure do. A chicken run that isn't tall enough to stand upright in makes for difficult maintenance, and almost impossible chicken catching.

Assuming you don't want to build your own, a dog kennel kit with modifications can work as a base unit for a run (minimum modifications would include addition of hardware cloth around the bottom few feet, and possibly netting over the top). For 3-4 chickens (and to make it easy) I'd get a 10x10 kennel, and simply put the modified coop inside it. That will meet your space needs and be much easier to maintain.

 

[CleaverFox]

This is another product made by the same company. Very similar in features and resistance as the one that I’ve used before. I have not personally used this specific product, but I’ve used about 3 or so of this companies stuff and it’s all worked really well and provided great protection. I wouldn’t think this one would be any different.
This product also penetrates but allows the wood breathability and flexibility. Which you want in wood care. However, it also comes in colors, to include semi-solid ones (and they have a nice barn red to boot). I suggest the IR color range. It has built in extra ultraviolet ray blocking. It will keep the color more true for longer. They’re also buildable, meaning add another coat to make it darker. This takes your work down to one product coating step, gets your protection you need and gives you color.
https://www.ecosafetyproducts.com/timbersoy-polyurethane-wood-stain-sealer-1gal-p/t1-2000-1ss.htm

 

[3KillerBs]

Could you tell me why?

#1 factor is the almost complete lack of ventilation. In a hot climate your chickens will be roasted alive.

Rule of thumb -- If it looks like a dollhouse it's only suitable for toy chickens.

Texas is an ideal place for an open air coop -- a wire enclosure with a roof and shelter from the prevailing winter winds.

Have a look at this setup and think about how you could scale it down to your needs. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/texas-coop-build-pic-heavy.1371038/

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I started with a prefab and let me tell you they are junk and don't have near enough space! I only had 3 ladies and they were crammed in there. For $400 you could build a way better and bigger coop for your girls! I also live in Texas, I scavenged materials and spent $550 and this is what me and my husband made
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/the-new-coop.1443937/page-6#post-24239692

 

[hugene]

you guys are giving me such a hard time for the pre-fab coop (with good intention)! I am going to see if my wife and I can come up with a good design and see what tools we would need (don't have many tools) and play with the idea of building our own. We are restricted on the dimension but will take an initial inspiration from this link: http://www.simplesuburbanliving.com/2016/03/how-to-build-simple-suburban-chicken.html

height cannot exceed 6 feet, so as long as I make the bottom leg at around one foot I should be okay. maximum length space i have is 10 feet so it'll be approximate a 4x4x4 coop and 4x6x6 run.

 

[CleaverFox]

Is your yard fenced? As in, would they be allowed to run around the yard for a bit every day? Just thinking on this for space maximization.
If you’re not super handy, don’t have a lot of tools, it can still be done. Let me think on it since I have your dimensions....
Oh wait, so 6ft high, 10ft length. Do you only have 4ft in width to work with? Basically anyways?

 

[rosemarythyme]

We are restricted on the dimension but will take an initial inspiration from this link: http://www.simplesuburbanliving.com/2016/03/how-to-build-simple-suburban-chicken.html

This coop design isn't bad, the main changes I'd make is 1) axe the clean out tray in favor of a fixed floor - they simply don't work the way people think they will (here they're often referred to as poop squeegees) as they're heavier and more unwieldy than people realize and 2) I'd open up a lot of the coop wall under the run roof for ventilation (on the illustration marked Left Coop Wall I'd have at least half the wall space or more as wire mesh - i.e. areas in pink).

maximum length space i have is 10 feet so it'll be approximate a 4x4x4 coop and 4x6x6 run.

If 10' is max length, what's max width? Unfortunately the run is very small for the number of birds you want. They may tolerate a smaller coop, but really can't cheat on run space.

Is free ranging in your yard an option?

 

[hugene]

This coop design isn't bad, the main changes I'd make is 1) axe the clean out tray in favor of a fixed floor - they simply don't work the way people think they will (here they're often referred to as poop squeegees) as they're heavier and more unwieldy than people realize and 2) I'd open up a lot of the coop wall under the run roof for ventilation (on the illustration marked Left Coop Wall I'd have at least half the wall space or more as wire mesh - i.e. areas in pink).

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If 10' is max length, what's max width? Unfortunately the run is very small for the number of birds you want. They may tolerate a smaller coop, but really can't cheat on run space.

Is free ranging in your yard an option?

Thanks for your tips. We are considering another design that will have two runs.

Do you know of any articles on designing an open-air coop? Trying to understand what is too much air and what is not.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thanks for your tips. We are considering another design that will have two runs.

Do you know of any articles on designing an open-air coop? Trying to understand what is too much air and what is not.

If you're considering 2 runs keep in mind that width matters, so if at all possible I'd rather have 1 smaller one (in sq footage) than a longer but very narrow one with a little more sq footage.

A couple good open air coop ideas I've seen on here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/texas-coop-build-pic-heavy.1371038/ and https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...tral-mississippi.1299778/page-2#post-21327161 I'm sure there's others but these are what I have bookmarked.

 

[hugene]

If you're considering 2 runs keep in mind that width matters, so if at all possible I'd rather have 1 smaller one (in sq footage) than a longer but very narrow one with a little more sq footage.

A couple good open air coop ideas I've seen on here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/texas-coop-build-pic-heavy.1371038/ and https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...tral-mississippi.1299778/page-2#post-21327161 I'm sure there's others but these are what I have bookmarked.

Thanks. One run will be 24 sqft and then another run will be much much bigger in an open ceiling (will just have a fence door and the chickens will own a corner of a fence.

It seems like the commonalities of open air design is to have open space on the front side mainly—i guess to maximize ventilation and minimize drafts.