Okay, my fellow PA chicken friends! Help needed!
I've committed to raising 6 backyard chickens! First timer, here. And while I don't have the means to build my own coop, I did find help to build a large 8 x 16 enclosed run... So, I'm in need of some feedback on coops I have found for purchase... I tried to narrow them down with the 4sqft recommendation in mind:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Large-Wood...5-8-Chickens-with-4-nesting-box-/282932313728
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Chicken-Co...ouse-Huge-8-Bantams-Extra-Large-/233055031605
https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Large-...5-8-Chickens-with-6-nesting-box-/282933230042
I welcome all feedback!! As well, if anyone has recommendations on other coops for purchase- looking to stay under $500.
Thank you in advance!!!
Hello, I am a bit behind the 8 Ball here. Haven't been keeping up, life happening again
.Don't know how much feed back you got on your question or if your even in need of any right now, but going to throw some reply at you anyway.
The first 'prefab' coop looks like the best out of the 3 choices. I started with a medium prefab coop...it was smaller than it looked online, they always are. I would not have want to keep it out in the elements uncovered. (we used a tarp that first season, pain in the arse!)
Got a "lean-to" built over it that next spring. We started with 2 large chickens (BLRW), would not have wanted to keep more than 4 of those big girls in there. If they have to spend any amount of "time" in there because of bad weather the coop will prove to be small for them.
The coop would need to be painted & or water-sealant/stained. The wood on those things is crap...at least for our weather here anyway, it will warp/peel and become just unlivable very quickly.
The roofing & egg-collection roof material has to be changed or have some good shingles or metal over what it has already. It will leak if left as is.
The prefab are okay if given some improvements and protected from the harsher elem ants.
If you have the $$ and the willingness to learn more than what you though you would ever get to know about construction, then building your own coop is the way to go...although be forewarned....
as a responsible enabler/helper it is my duty to tell you that the first coop is JUST the preliminary adventure down the rabbit hole of what is known as chicken keeping.
You will be adding on to it, you will no doubt build a second and even possibly a third, each one becoming ever more involved and expansive than the last.
You have been advised.
So, I hope I haven't taken up too much of your time and if I have ...sorry. Just hope I am not coming in too late on this & you have already moved on to the next huge question..."what types of chickens should I get?"
Good luck on what ever you have decided.
, I hope she has recovered well.
...he becomes the opposite of his normal almost-calm self. Their daughter, she just turned one 3-2-19, just watches it all like 
...yeah, sooo entertaining
. Have a very full 2 weeks of this behavior. 
