Opinions on prefab coop?

[Bokk]

@Perris reviewed the Nestera prefab here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/reviews/nestera-chicken-coop.12115/

They are warrantied for 25 years, and appear to be a couple hundred cheaper than that one you've posted.

Here's their website. https://nestera.us/

Thanks I’ll look into it

 

[Sally PB]

When I saw this picture, it sort of looks like it's a doll house.

If it looks like a doll house, it's only suitable for toy chickens.

Take the money you would have spent on that coop and build one. Check out "hoop coops" for less expensive ideas. If you can find a shed to repurpose, that might work, but plan to cut a LOT of openings in it for ventilation.

The rule of thumb for ventilation is 1 square foot open 24/7/365 per chicken. ("Open" does mean covered with hardware cloth to keep out predators.) In your climate, you will need more than that. You will also want to be sure to provide your chickens with plenty of shade.

 

[Bokk]

If it looks like a doll house, it's only suitable for toy chickens.

Take the money you would have spent on that coop and build one. Check out "hoop coops" for less expensive ideas. If you can find a shed to repurpose, that might work, but plan to cut a LOT of openings in it for ventilation.

The rule of thumb for ventilation is 1 square foot open 24/7/365 per chicken. ("Open" does mean covered with hardware cloth to keep out predators.) In your climate, you will need more than that. You will also want to be sure to provide your chickens with plenty of shade.

Yeah that one wasn't the one I was talking about but the one I was talking about was also too small
I think I'm gonna use a home made one and we have lots of shade in the backyard but do I put the cage and run in the shade? Like the backyard has some spaces where the top is completely covered so its just dark I was thinking maybe put them there but close to the part with sun or is that not enough sunlight for them? Thanks

 

[Sally PB]

As long as they have a large enough place to escape the sun, that location should work.

What is large enough? They need room to move around, to scratch in the dirt, to dustbathe. How much airflow do you have there? If there's a nice breeze, it will help keep them cooler in the hot months. Chickens are wearing down parkas, and they can handle cold temperatures better than hot.

About 40% of my run is shaded by the tarp over the top. That's where they hang out on hot sunny days. The roof on the other part is translucent polycarbonate panels. If the sun is high in the sky, they don't use that area as much in the summer. Once the air temps moderate, they wander back over there.

 

[Debbie292d]

Yeah I think I’ll look for local ones and they’ll probably be sturdier and only for around 20-80 bhd, I was thinking buying a run from them then taking an unfinished coop we have add wheels to make it movable so I can use it (its pretty far so i need to move it and the area it’s in is dangerous) not sure if it’ll work but I’ll give it a try

We didn't realize you already have an unfinished coop. Is it a stick-built one, I assume, then? You can probably rent some type of flatbed moving cart somewhere there and get a few folks to help you get one side onto that, then one steers, and everyone else lifts and pushes or get two of those and put one on each end.

 

[BDutch]

Agree but I was hoping it would at least fit 4

If you like to buy somekind of prefab for 4-6 chickens I would buy playhouse for children and alter it for chickens.

The one I bought is more spacious than the chicken coops for the same price, and better quality too.

I closed the openings with hardware cloth 1 cm . The windows are closed now with a piece of metal wire. But can be opened in summer. The front abobe the ½ door is always open for ventilation. Under the roof is ventilation too. Only need to add roosts , 1 nest box and put it on a safe floor.

I wouldn’t place my chickens in a plastic coop in a hot climate.

This is the playhouse I bought (my chickens are bantams). Just to give you an idea. Of course you need to build a run around/attached to it or free range your chickens.