Prefab Coop

[Chickenchicken978]

I might get flamed for this but I have absolutely no way experience in building things so we got a prefab for the girls. The white one is the new on. couldn't be happier. Although if you can building your own is probably better.

 

[Callender Girl]

IF someone has the ability to build a coop, yeah, that's almost always better. I have both pre-fabs (as in my avatar coop) and DIY coops (made by others, not by me).

My goal was to safely house chickens, not to be an accomplished carpenter.

Most pre-fabs can be modified to make them better -- sturdier, more predator proof, better ventilated or whatever is needed.

As long as what you have works for the chickens and you, everything is fine. Absolutely fine. Enjoy your girls and their housing!

 

[Raubkatze]

We have done two pre-fabs in a row. By the time we invested in the tools we would have needed to have even started building a coop from scratch we would have been at least $300 into the project. It just didn't make sense for us right now. Our first coop was a Nestera, our second coop is a converted shed. Be prepared for all the people who say built is better, it's not big enough, it doesn't have enough ventilation, your nesting bars aren't right, your nesting boxes aren't right, and on and on and on. I figure as long as my chickens are safe and happy, that's all that really matters.

 

[MtnMama3]

Looks great! I agree, as long as your hens are happy, safe & healthy.... it will be a wonderful home for them. Considering the price of building materials (hardware cloth alone!!) it could be very expensive to build your own if you don't already have any materials to work with. Nothing wrong with going the pre-fab route. Then, if needed, modify it to work best for you.

 

[thistlewick]

oh no, I'm sorry to say but building your own is 100% cheaper

Because you *will* have to fix up any cheap prefab to be predator proof and have adequate ventilation. You will. Or, you will have dead or sick chickens.

Converting a shed is probably one of the best ways (and most expensive) for those not handy.


Prebuilts are either exorbitantly expensive and still not really advertised for as many chickens as they claim they can hold - I'm looking at you, Carolina Coops. They are WAY OVERPRICED and you can build one yourself (or hell, download a PDF of plans and HIRE someone to build one for you) for WAY LESS than what they charge.

Or, you buy one of them from Tractor Supply or Amazon for 'cheap' and yeah, they're CHEAP. Unsafe. Dangerously unventilated. So you need to spend more to make them safe and ventilated.

That is why people here, who have *spent the time and experience learning already* that building IS the cheapest, best way to actually get what is really needed for happy and healthy chickens.

Sometimes - you can find a good prebuilt that someone has built on Facebook or Craigslist that is actually pretty good and not too pricey. You will still need to fork out $$ to make it predator proof on site at your location, but this option is rare.

 

[Bawkbok]

I believe everyone does the best they can with what resources they have to work with for their current circumstances. What works for one person may not be the choice of another person. No one should be bashed or shamed for this. There is so much critique on this site for coops, prefabs, sheds, DIY coops, etc. Love and constructive support goes a long way. Everyone who wants to enjoy keeping chickens should do so; decisions and methods are personal. Doesn't make them right or wrong, just different.

 

[Buffy-Featherington]

I have the skills and the tools to build my own coop, and I still was very tempted to go prefab because I didn’t have the time or mental energy to start from zero. I ended up converting a shed from Costco instead, which I think is a nice compromise between DIY custom and prefab.

All that is to say, there are plenty of valid reasons why people choose the prefab route, and I agree that as long as your chickens are happy and safe, that’s what really matters. Have fun with your girls!