Needing a chicken coop

[Fluffygirl]

Anyone know where I can get a chicken coop off line? Is the one pictured big enough for 4 large birds? Help me out lol

 

[Battlepants]

As a general rule, you want about 4 square feet of house, 10 square feet of run and about 10 inches of roost bar (per bird). Being that this house is just under 4 square feet, this doesn't even meet the requirement for 1 bird. I'd say you could get away with 1 or 2 birds if they were small breed, but I would avoid this one.

Also, as a random piece of advice, whatever the prefab coop or run says it will handle, assume about half of that or less. These things are not typically advertised accurately or assume small breed, or even worse, just assume that people will cram them full of chickens regardless.

TBH, I would highly suggest just hitting up the hardware store and building a coop out of lumber. It will be more work, but you can make it exactly what you need. AND it will likely be cheaper!

 

[Skyle]

It's way too small, maybe it can be enough for 2-3 bantams.
For large sized chickens you need 4 sqft for each one in the coop, so 16sqft. Then you'll need 10sqft in the run for each, so 40sqft in total.
Most of the times prefabricated coops are too small and pretty expensive.
I can advise you to search a second hand coop (of the right dimensions) on Craigslist or to search for a garden shed, you just have to add the run, roostbars, nests and ventilation. Another way is to build it yourself or have someone build it for you.

 

[SheaLoner]

Anyone know where I can get a chicken coop off line? Is the one pictured big enough for 4 large birds? Help me out lol

Are you looking for brand new from a box? Any experience/willingness to DIY? And have you check craigslist and marketplace in your area? Can normally find a used one or something similar to start off with.

What is your weather like? What do the chickens require protecting from? Snow, ice, rain, wind? Heat, humidity?
These will make a difference in the type and style you should look for.

 

[Fluffygirl]

I was going to try to build, but i think a box one would be better

 

[SheaLoner]

Your best bet when buying is to go for as big as you can afford/have room for. That gives you the most options to modify and if you grow your flock. Chicken math is a thing. Like potato chips, 1, 2, a bag?

 

[SheaLoner]

I've never followed the sq ft "rules" for chicken coops. Mine have an A frame coop 6Lx4Wx4H with roosting bars spanning the W and 2 nest boxes. There are some 20 chickens that live comfortably in there as a roosting and nesting space. They do have a riduculus fenced in yard so they free range most of the day. For winter I have an 8x8 tarped hoop house tractor that is used for meat birds during the summer and butted up to their coop for a "run" during the winter. It Works for me.

 

[Fluffygirl]

I've never followed the sq ft "rules" for chicken coops. Mine have an A frame coop 6Lx4Wx4H with roosting bars spanning the W and 2 nest boxes. There are some 20 chickens that live comfortably in there as a roosting and nesting space. They do have a riduculus fenced in yard so they free range most of the day. For winter I have an 8x8 tarped hoop house tractor that is used for meat birds during the summer and butted up to their coop for a "run" during the winter. It Works for me.

I can not do free range. I work a majority of the day. There is a dog that’s runs loose every once and a while. So they can not roam unless I’m home. I’d love to build one but I dont know if it will happen.

 

[springvalley123]

I believe it's @3KillerBs that says: Anything measured in inches instead of feet is not meant for chickens.

Perhaps you could do a shed conversion? You could even have someone install the shed, then add ventilation by removing the wall that gets the least wind, replacing it with hardware cloth. Depending on your part of Tennessee, an open air coop might work. You could possibly start with a metal run that comes with chicken wire, but use hardware cloth in addition to/instead of the chicken wire. Many of these come with tarps, and many people in various parts of the country use them if they need to cut costs. Guidelines for run space are 10-13 sq ft per bird, but many people need more than that. I'd think with any moisture and heat, you'd want more.

 

[SheaLoner]

A 6x10 or 10x10 dog kennel works great as a run. And you know it will keep a dog out. Cover with some type of heavy tarp or roofing material to keep the weather out and that would work nicely.