New chicken owner here - need help with coop

[MrsBlock]

Hello! I am a brand new chick owner and I've read lots of helpful posts on this site, but this is my first post. We have three chicks that will need to move out to their coop in about 3-4 weeks. We inherited an existing coop with our house and I'm realizing it needs a lot of work before we move our girls out there! I'm pretty overwhelmed with information, so I might ramble so please bear with me.

What we have is a structure enclosed in metal fencing that is about 12 feet deep x 13.5 feet wide x a little over 6 feet tall. There is no solid roof. One side is up against a fence. It's under a few trees with one side partially covered by jasmine so it's a nice shady space. There is a little hen house (I don't know what else to call it) that is 42" wide x 28" deep x 26" high with a metal wire bottom and a roost. I've attached pictures that will hopefully give you a good idea of what we have.

So after lots of reading, I believe what we have is a run, and what we need is a coop? I don't think the little pen that is in there is large enough or will keep the chickens safe at night. We live in the East Bay of the SF Bay Area so our weather is pretty mild in the winter. We get some frost in the early winter mornings, but we never have to worry about snow. We're in a "semi-rural" area and we have foxes, raccoons, coyotes, owls, and hawks.

If we do need a coop, how big does it need to be? Can I buy a coop without a run attached to it? Every coop kit I've seen online comes with a run attached to it.

I'd appreciate any advice you could give me! Thank you!!

 

[Chickenhappy8708]

I think all you need is a coop, it looks sturdy possibly check to see if the wire is hurried, to prevent digs.

 

[rosemarythyme]

What you have is a run with a very small hutch/coop. I'd scrap the coop and add a new one. As far as how big to make it... how many birds do you anticipate having total? Right now you have 3, but if you enjoy having chickens, can you see yourself getting more? Or is there a restriction and 3 is max?

 

[MrsBlock]

What you have is a run with a very small hutch/coop. I'd scrap the coop and add a new one. As far as how big to make it... how many birds do you anticipate having total? Right now you have 3, but if you enjoy having chickens, can you see yourself getting more? Or is there a restriction and 3 is max?

Well, that is a good question, thank you! There aren't any restrictions, but I feel like three is manageable for us. Maybe we would add one more, but I'd like to keep our flock pretty small.

 

[Chickenhappy8708]

Is plan on about 9, the extra space is good, even if you don't expand to far.

 

[David61]

Looks like the den of death. While the wire used looks good and is animal wire, the wood is showing its age and is suspect as to holding the wire securely . I would cover all wire seams with treated batton. strips and screws. Cutting dog eared fence down the middle works very well. Cheap treated wood. I would put the new coop on the outside of this run for easy cleaning, access to eggs and more vroom in the run.

 

[MrsBlock]

Looks like the den of death. While the wire used looks good and is animal wire, the wood is showing its age and is suspect as to holding the wire securely . I would cover all wire seams with treated batton. strips and screws. Cutting dog eared fence down the middle works very well. Cheap treated wood. I would put the new coop on the outside of this run for easy cleaning, access to eggs and more vroom in the run.

I agree, it does look like the "den of death." LOL

 

[David61]

Well if the wire fence is secured it will keep the birds cool and happy.

 

[Wormhunter]

Hello! I am a brand new chick owner and I've read lots of helpful posts on this site, but this is my first post. We have three chicks that will need to move out to their coop in about 3-4 weeks. We inherited an existing coop with our house and I'm realizing it needs a lot of work before we move our girls out there! I'm pretty overwhelmed with information, so I might ramble so please bear with me.

What we have is a structure enclosed in metal fencing that is about 12 feet deep x 13.5 feet wide x a little over 6 feet tall. There is no solid roof. One side is up against a fence. It's under a few trees with one side partially covered by jasmine so it's a nice shady space. There is a little hen house (I don't know what else to call it) that is 42" wide x 28" deep x 26" high with a metal wire bottom and a roost. I've attached pictures that will hopefully give you a good idea of what we have.

So after lots of reading, I believe what we have is a run, and what we need is a coop? I don't think the little pen that is in there is large enough or will keep the chickens safe at night. We live in the East Bay of the SF Bay Area so our weather is pretty mild in the winter. We get some frost in the early winter mornings, but we never have to worry about snow. We're in a "semi-rural" area and we have foxes, raccoons, coyotes, owls, and hawks.

If we do need a coop, how big does it need to be? Can I buy a coop without a run attached to it? Every coop kit I've seen online comes with a run attached to it.

I'd appreciate any advice you could give me! Thank you!!

Hiya, welcome to chicken owners fun club!!
I have a coop on a pen that my husband built
The pen is built on a concrete wall that goes down 18 inches and has a roof
We bought the chicken coop from a great place here in the uk, we didn’t need a run as we have the pen and our 7 girls free range in our garden
The place we bought the coop from delivered and constructed it, it was a little pricey

 

[Wormhunter]

Hiya, welcome to chicken owners fun club!!
I have a coop on a pen that my husband built
The pen is built on a concrete wall that goes down 18 inches and has a roof
We bought the chicken coop from a great place here in the uk, we didn’t need a run as we have the pen and our 7 girls free range in our garden
The place we bought the coop from delivered and constructed it, it was a little pricey at over £ 200 but it’s pretty solid