Need Opinions on these 2 pre-fab coops

[CooperDooper]

Hi everyone - I am new to the chicken world and due to a tight budget, I have narrowed down my coop selection to these 2:

http://chickensaloon.com/the-rambler-backyard-chicken-coop/
http://www.wayfair.com/Precision-Pet-Products-Extreme-Hen-House-Chicken-Coop-2926-29136-PNP1216.html

With coupons, they are both roughly $400. One includes a run and one doesn't but we plan to construct a larger run for either of them. We plan to get 6 large chickens.

I am hoping some of you will give me your opinions based on experience - have you dealt with either manufacturer? Is the design of either one superior to the other? We live in CT and get plenty of snow and cold weather. Anything else?

Thanks in advance for your time!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

If you get lots of snow and cold weather I'd go with a shed. They will spend lots of time in it. I have two sheds- my metal one gets condensation and rainout in the winter. My double wall plastic one is great! In summer I have to keep the front door open too for letting the heat out. I use sand in the bottom and scrape with a plastic rake, use a kitty litter scoop and voila!

Home Depot is selling my plastic shed now for $549- I just looked. We installed an automatic coop door opener after cutting a hole in there. Also we added addtional ventilation- that is a MUST when using a shed.

My plastic shed outgassed for the first summer and it smelled bad, but now it is great and is lasting just fine. Those sheds are a bear to put together though! And the site must be absolutely level- I am not exaggerating.

Oh and in freezing rainy weather the metal shed doors freeze and I have to take hot water to pour over the groove before I can open the door, so I like my plastic shed much better.

 

[CrazyPetunias]

we had tried to use a coop from the chickensaloon site. Not a good idea for this area (Mid Michigan). The coop is big enough only for the girls to sleep in...no room for food or water. Also, we get really strong winds in the spring and the wind broke the lid off the nesting box. I don't mean the hinges either...the hinges held..the lid split in 2 and half of it went sailing.

After that, we decided to convert a small shed into a coop. Room enough for the birds, food and water, with room to spare. cost may be a bit more but its worth the extra $50 - $100