Playhouse Chicken Coop?

[3KillerBs]

Oh ok, I get it. I keep hearing about how people say how they only wanted a couple but keep getting more. Oh well, I won't be able to since I won't have anymore room. I'm just hoping that there is no such thing as odd ball out since I'm only having 3. They will be fine , right?

Many people keep 3 chickens. It's the minimum, but it usually works.

 

[BDutch]

Chicken math can go slow too.
I started with four ( ).
A year later I extended the coop and build a larger run to make room for a few more ( ).
After a couple of years I thought it was time for a few new layers because I expected my older girls would stop laying soon. ( )
The coop was okay but they could use a little more run space. So I build a second run-compartment to the run. Had chicks. Sold a chicken, gave away the cockerels, lost one chicken ().
Now I have seven chickens and hope to get 2 or 3 new layers this year. ( )

 

[KingD]

So I’m new to this website, and I apologize if I’m not using the right thing to ask questions but I was wondering if this playhouse: https://www.walmart.com/ip/KidKraft...awHV8vh1h0ari389bXEaAsEYEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds would work as a chicken coop?

What could I do to make it more suitable as a chicken coop? Or is that even a good idea?

It looks good for a couple of hens.
Might be a struggle cleaning it out though.

 

[3KillerBs]

Oh wow, I hadn’t really thought about a coop like that. I like the idea but I’m concerned it would let rain in, soaking everything. Is that the best kind of coop for my area? I’m not in the mountains, luckily, or it would be a much bigger problem, finding a coop insulating enough, but we do get our fair share of rain. So far, all I’ve got is a 10x20ft run that’s got a slanted roof covered in tarps to drain the rain and keep it all dry. I’m planning on starting with 4-6 hens but that’s without chicken math

That's where good roof overhangs and orienting the shelter toward the prevailing winds comes in.

The big thing for most of NC is keeping the chickens cool in the summer. They tolerate winter cold much better than they tolerate heat so shade and ventilation are the big things for those of us who frequently see 95+F with 95+% humidity.

I took an experienced chicken keeper's advice and gave my girls electrolytes once a week in hot weather (in addition to their regular water, not exclusively).

 

[bill3607]

Descriptions says it is built out of cedar lumber. That is not good.

Edited to say that maybe with the structure being cedar it may not be a problem as it would if it was the bedding.

@aart ?

 

[arwoon]

So I’m new to this website, and I apologize if I’m not using the right thing to ask questions but I was wondering if this playhouse: https://www.walmart.com/ip/KidKraft...awHV8vh1h0ari389bXEaAsEYEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds would work as a chicken coop?

What could I do to make it more suitable as a chicken coop? Or is that even a good idea?

Hey! I used one similar to this for my young pullets, I just push some chicken wire over the windows and it worked up just fine. Be careful to not overcrowd though, and I would advise to let them free range every day b/c its a small space, but it will definitely work! Get creative!

*edit* I used it temporarily, you would definitely have to get more heavy duty for year round use!

 

[BDutch]

why buy that when you can buy a real chicken coup? I was just looking at those last night! ha ha. funny.
Example:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/TKOOFN-W...hicken-Coop-Small-Animal-Cage-House/318168762
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Country-Style-Chicken-Coop/231977009
Also they sell coups at Rural king. ....and maybe co ops.
Best wishes!

This coop is way too small for normal chickens. It’s even small for small bantams like my Dutch.

 

[aart]

why buy that when you can buy a real chicken coup? I was just looking at those last night! ha ha. funny.
Example:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/TKOOFN-W...hicken-Coop-Small-Animal-Cage-House/318168762
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Country-Style-Chicken-Coop/231977009

Neither of those would be good for more than one chicken.

I bought the little envelopes of "Save-a-Chick" at the farm store.

Yes, that's what I use too.
Details on small batch EL in this article:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/

 

[AuburnChickenNewbies]

Funny you ask that. I was looking at that exact one five minutes ago wondering the same thing. Looking forward to people's responses.

We actually did something like this years ago as our brooder/young chick coop..the only thing to know is that they leak like nuts. We enclosed the windows with plexiglass we had, but never really could get it water tight. Super cute though

 

[Mamatomany123]

What's that on the roof?

It was just temporary plastic because the bolts were missing in the. Middle to hold the roof together. Once we added them on I took it off.