Question about my coop size...

[NNYchick]

That would make a great community nest box for your girls. Agree with others though that there really is no way to modify that as a coop for 6 full grown hens.

 

[Zolasmama]

Well hi there neighbor (ish).


I am up by Fort Collins.

Yeah you will need a coop big enough they can be comfortable staying in when weather gets nasty.

Personally for 6 birds I would go with a 4x8 coop. The feed dish and water dish and nests all take up space.
I certainly would not want crowded cranky hens beating each other up.

Well I definitely agree with you on that.

 

[rosemarythyme]

That would make a great community nest box for your girls. Agree with others though that there really is no way to modify that as a coop for 6 full grown hens.

Oh yes that would be a great use for it. I had an old dog house with removable roof and used that for a couple of years as a nest box.

 

[Zolasmama]

So this I what I want to do with the existing coop. I want to add a run off to the side from this too. Still too small?

 

[21hens-incharge]

So this I what I want to do with the existing coop. I want to add a run off to the side from this too. Still too small?

The prefab are problematic for several reasons.

The manufacturer says they hold at least twice what they actually can.
The wood is very very weak and warps/falls apart within a few months in the elements.
The way they are constructed is not even remotely predator resistant.

It is sad but true.


What about a shed for a coop?

Can you or people you know build something?

I know a shed kit is a good chunk of money. Building from scratch really isn't horribly difficult. It really is the most cost efficient way.

Have you seen hoop coops?

 

[NNYchick]

I’m no carpenter but realistically I can’t see your first picture turning into your second picture. A coop is more than a place to roost especially if you get any kind of winter weather. Plus the breeds you have are known to be sassy and bossy to other chickens so they are going to need space. Those cute little chicks are going to grow like weeds. Maybe this article will help https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-much-room-do-chickens-need.66180/?page=2.
I did the same thing when I first got my Silkies I had my husband modify a 4foot x 4 foot dog house for 4 Silkies -he elevated, added a pull out tray and a ramp and it took me about 2 weeks to realize it was not going to work, especially in winter. I think you are better off putting your resources in to something from scratch. Bare minimum 8ft long by 4ft deep height is up to you but I personally like something I can walk-in to as it makes cleaning so much easier.

 

[Aunt Angus]

It's so hard when you are inexperienced. When I started keeping chickens, I asked for advice, and I got dozens of different opinions. It was frustrating, and I felt like throwing in the proverbial towel.

What I decided to do was just build a dang coop. I hadn't built anything before, and I am frugal (i.e. cheap) and didn't want to spend a fortune for all those beautiful Pinterest-worthy coops you see when you do online searches. I got old fence boards from my mom's fence after a crazy person drove a car into mom's backyard. Then I bought some t-11 siding off of Craigslist for $20. I splurged on metal roofing panels and discounted "oops" paint from Home Depot. I drew up really basic plans on a piece of lined paper and started building. I made it 4x8 because that's the size of a piece of the siding I'd bought. Took me about a week all by myself without fancy tools. Here's what I ended up with for under $250:

It ain't perfect (it's actually level and square, in spite of how wonky the pic makes it look), but it's sturdy! I have since added a run and external nesting boxes. It stays completely dry. It withstands the toughest winds we get here in NorCal (45 mph sustained, ,60 mph gusts). There are 4 pullets and 1 chick in it now. I will have a total of 8 by mid June. It doesn't need to be huge where I live because my winters are mild; I don't have to shut them in. And they free range part of every day. Your climate will dictate how much space you need.

Bottom line: Even though I am a complete noob, I ended up with a coop far, far better than one I could have bought for the same amount of money. I love my coop. It's all mine. And I can change it easily to fit my needs.

Clearly, I recommend building, but you do whatever is most comfortable for you. I didn't think I would be comfortable building, but it turned out just fine.

However, if I had more funds available, I would have bought a shed and repurposed it.... That's my plan for my next coop after we move.....

 

[SurferchickinSB]

It's so hard when you are inexperienced. When I started keeping chickens, I asked for advice, and I got dozens of different opinions. It was frustrating, and I felt like throwing in the proverbial towel.

What I decided to do was just build a dang coop. I hadn't built anything before, and I am frugal (i.e. cheap) and didn't want to spend a fortune for all those beautiful Pinterest-worthy coops you see when you do online searches. I got old fence boards from my mom's fence after a crazy person drove a car into mom's backyard. Then I bought some t-11 siding off of Craigslist for $20. I splurged on metal roofing panels and discounted "oops" paint from Home Depot. I drew up really basic plans on a piece of lined paper and started building. I made it 4x8 because that's the size of a piece of the siding I'd bought. Took me about a week all by myself without fancy tools. Here's what I ended up with for under $250:
View attachment 1756434
It ain't perfect (it's actually level and square, in spite of how wonky the pic makes it look), but it's sturdy! I have since added a run and external nesting boxes. It stays completely dry. It withstands the toughest winds we get here in NorCal (45 mph sustained, ,60 mph gusts). There are 4 pullets and 1 chick in it now. I will have a total of 8 by mid June. It doesn't need to be huge where I live because my winters are mild; I don't have to shut them in. And they free range part of every day. Your climate will dictate how much space you need.

Bottom line: Even though I am a complete noob, I ended up with a coop far, far better than one I could have bought for the same amount of money. I love my coop. It's all mine. And I can change it easily to fit my needs.

Clearly, I recommend building, but you do whatever is most comfortable for you. I didn't think I would be comfortable building, but it turned out just fine.

However, if I had more funds available, I would have bought a shed and repurposed it.... That's my plan for my next coop after we move.....

Wow, that’s a great looking coop! I can’t believe you built it for only $250! It sure beats anything you could buy for that price already made and it doesn’t look like it will fall apart either.

 

[Zolasmama]

The prefab are problematic for several reasons.

The manufacturer says they hold at least twice what they actually can.
The wood is very very weak and warps/falls apart within a few months in the elements.
The way they are constructed is not even remotely predator resistant.

It is sad but true.


What about a shed for a coop?

Can you or people you know build something?

I know a shed kit is a good chunk of money. Building from scratch really isn't horribly difficult. It really is the most cost efficient way.

Have you seen hoop coops?

I have not seen hoop coops...I will check them out. Thanks!

 

[Zolasmama]

It's so hard when you are inexperienced. When I started keeping chickens, I asked for advice, and I got dozens of different opinions. It was frustrating, and I felt like throwing in the proverbial towel.

What I decided to do was just build a dang coop. I hadn't built anything before, and I am frugal (i.e. cheap) and didn't want to spend a fortune for all those beautiful Pinterest-worthy coops you see when you do online searches. I got old fence boards from my mom's fence after a crazy person drove a car into mom's backyard. Then I bought some t-11 siding off of Craigslist for $20. I splurged on metal roofing panels and discounted "oops" paint from Home Depot. I drew up really basic plans on a piece of lined paper and started building. I made it 4x8 because that's the size of a piece of the siding I'd bought. Took me about a week all by myself without fancy tools. Here's what I ended up with for under $250:
View attachment 1756434
It ain't perfect (it's actually level and square, in spite of how wonky the pic makes it look), but it's sturdy! I have since added a run and external nesting boxes. It stays completely dry. It withstands the toughest winds we get here in NorCal (45 mph sustained, ,60 mph gusts). There are 4 pullets and 1 chick in it now. I will have a total of 8 by mid June. It doesn't need to be huge where I live because my winters are mild; I don't have to shut them in. And they free range part of every day. Your climate will dictate how much space you need.

Bottom line: Even though I am a complete noob, I ended up with a coop far, far better than one I could have bought for the same amount of money. I love my coop. It's all mine. And I can change it easily to fit my needs.

Clearly, I recommend building, but you do whatever is most comfortable for you. I didn't think I would be comfortable building, but it turned out just fine.

However, if I had more funds available, I would have bought a shed and repurposed it.... That's my plan for my next coop after we move.....

Wow that’s amazing!! Thanks for the help Aunt Agnes!! I will probably try going the diy route.