Seemed simple but the more I know.......

[Ben Lynnsy]

which coop did you buy? Chances are a BYC member can give you a first hand rating on the item! Mine was the 8x8 run, without coop attached. I tackle that problem when it gets cold, so far we are having temps in the mid to high 80s. they need airflow more than anything.
And of course a dry spot, but I do have a tarp over half the roof!

I have the Sentinel. I've probably already read every review and watched every vid on the internet for this coop. LOL (I research EVERYTHING before I buy. Leads me down SO MANY rabbit holes. It's a habit and not always a good one... sometimes leads to decision paralysis, LOL. ) But any new info is always welcome. I know it's small for most ppl, but I don't want a bunch of chickens. I think most ppl who are telling me that I need a walk-in coop, are ppl who have been doing it for a while, and have fallen prey to "chicken math". And here *I* am, not even sure I want to keep chickens, so I'm not going the full monty with the walk-in yet. I might not even like having chickens, LOL
That 8x8 run without the coop is what I plan to connect to whatever coop I buy/build. How do you like that so far?? Have you done any further predator prevention on it? I've seen some ppl who covered nearly the whole thing in hardware cloth, and others who haven't done anything extra to it. I live in the suburbs, and I know we have raccoons and a few scattered coyotes. Snakes, for sure, and a bear or 2 that wanders though the county every few years to much announcement and concern on the Next Door app. Never seen one in our area tho. Hope I don't.

 

[Alagirl]

I have the Sentinel. I've probably already read every review and watched every vid on the internet for this coop. LOL (I research EVERYTHING before I buy. Leads me down SO MANY rabbit holes. It's a habit and not always a good one... sometimes leads to decision paralysis, LOL. ) But any new info is always welcome. I know it's small for most ppl, but I don't want a bunch of chickens. I think most ppl who are telling me that I need a walk-in coop, are ppl who have been doing it for a while, and have fallen prey to "chicken math". And here *I* am, not even sure I want to keep chickens, so I'm not going the full monty with the walk-in yet. I might not even like having chickens, LOL
That 8x8 run without the coop is what I plan to connect to whatever coop I buy/build. How do you like that so far?? Have you done any further predator prevention on it? I've seen some ppl who covered nearly the whole thing in hardware cloth, and others who haven't done anything extra to it. I live in the suburbs, and I know we have raccoons and a few scattered coyotes. Snakes, for sure, and a bear or 2 that wanders though the county every few years to much announcement and concern on the Next Door app. Never seen one in our area tho. Hope I don't.

I had looked at the Sentinel, as far as I recall. They were out when I was going to pull the trigger (in the middle of chick season) It is ok, sturdy and such, but you probably want to get a run to go with it.
I like the way the run is working so far. I have a lot of shade trees so it does not get a whole lot of direct sunlight. Ironically I put the tarp over the north side of the roof.
The first day I had it up, it poured buckets and I wondered if I was nuts, going with the all open solution. everything got soaked. The chicks were still in their brooder though.

Since then I have put cardboard (my husband loves to shop online) around one corner, to form a blind for them to hide out in. eventually I guess I will replace it with something more permanent.
I placed some dead wood in, as perches/roosts. I might also replace those at some point with 2x4s. They work though.
As far as predator prevention, I bought 'cage wire' and hardware cloth. The rolls are 10 feet each, so that minimized the need to cut. Hardware cloth is much easier to work with. then the cage wire!
Since my first batch of chicks fell victim to my weeny dog, I added a small fence charger (2 mile load) and the according wire around the outside. it works well for relatively little effort.
within a couple of weeks, the greenery inside the run was nonexistent. I also added a bag of sand to their digging corner under the roost. (which is diagonal) So far so good. It seems the 4 stages of acceptance among chickens is 'be scared, peck it, scratch it, poop on it' when they are a little older I will have to add the nest boxes for them.

So far I am happy with the solution. I am sure there will be many changes as well.

A picture from the first day the ladies were out there:

 

[Ben Lynnsy]

I had looked at the Sentinel, as far as I recall. They were out when I was going to pull the trigger (in the middle of chick season) It is ok, sturdy and such, but you probably want to get a run to go with it.
I like the way the run is working so far. I have a lot of shade trees so it does not get a whole lot of direct sunlight. Ironically I put the tarp over the north side of the roof.
The first day I had it up, it poured buckets and I wondered if I was nuts, going with the all open solution. everything got soaked. The chicks were still in their brooder though.

Since then I have put cardboard (my husband loves to shop online) around one corner, to form a blind for them to hide out in. eventually I guess I will replace it with something more permanent.
I placed some dead wood in, as perches/roosts. I might also replace those at some point with 2x4s. They work though.
As far as predator prevention, I bought 'cage wire' and hardware cloth. The rolls are 10 feet each, so that minimized the need to cut. Hardware cloth is much easier to work with. then the cage wire!
Since my first batch of chicks fell victim to my weeny dog, I added a small fence charger (2 mile load) and the according wire around the outside. it works well for relatively little effort.
within a couple of weeks, the greenery inside the run was nonexistent. I also added a bag of sand to their digging corner under the roost. (which is diagonal) So far so good. It seems the 4 stages of acceptance among chickens is 'be scared, peck it, scratch it, poop on it' when they are a little older I will have to add the nest boxes for them.

So far I am happy with the solution. I am sure there will be many changes as well.

A picture from the first day the ladies were out there:

your plan sounds a lot like mine. I'm looking at having my neighbor help me build the coop, and then I'll put it in (or connect it to) the same pen you have. I have been lookinf for branches that I can collect for perches. I'll just keep them til I need them, They DO say not to put your perches near the edge of the run, so raccoons cant reach in and grab your chicks if they are setting at the edge. So I'll prolly suspend them from the top and make sure they are a foot or so from the side of the pen. Sad what your weeny dog did. I had weenies, and I know how "hunter" they are. I have a 6lb Yorkie, and he chases squirrels and chipmunks, so I'm not sure how he will be with chickens. I "tested" him with a friend's small chicks and he was very interested, but responded to corrections. So it may take some time. I don't plan to allow them free range in the yard together until I have satisfied myself that he won't bother them. And even then, they would not be unsupervised. The fence charger is always an option. Thanks for mentioning that.

 

[Alagirl]

my dogs have a dash of terrier in them, too, really no off switch there. She touched the hotwire though and has given the coop a wide berth now. All my neighbors have dogs, so I am not sure how prevalent raccoons are. I know there are some possums about.
I am more worried about the hawks who live here. the chickens won't see much roaming time I imagine. The hawk had no problem attacking my parakeets I had inside, just behind the open patio door. And then he looked mad because there was wire between him and his lunch! I am however considering securing the ends of the roost with something like plywood or similar. It would also make the installation a whole lot easier! Some BYC member has done that in their setup. I thought it was quite clever!

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

Hello again.
Yes, lots of things can happen with chickens. But the best prevention is proper housing, environment, feed/water and protection from predators.
So... my first piece of advice is to return the coop if you haven't already assembled it.
Instead spend this time trying to find a used shed or maybe you have your own shed on your property you can use and convert that into a coop instead. Most people know someone that can do some minor carpentry work to install a pop door, ventilation, windows and simple poop boards with roosts over them. Being able to walk in the coop to tend to the birds is so much easier than having to stoop over with a pre-fab.
Then you can install electric poultry netting for a pen connected to the coop, preferably with some shelter inside the pen, like a large shrub or something like that.

I'm not really old but I'm "older" and my setup makes it truly easy to manage my flock. I've only had one predator loss in their pen. From a hawk. I lost a young, inexperienced pullet.
It only takes me 15 minutes total from walking out the door to walking back in to change their water, feed them, turn them out and clean the poop boards each morning. That's it. Another 3 minutes in the evening to lock them up and do head count.
Feed them a complete diet and always have fresh clean water and keep the treats to a really low roar and you will avoid most issues with malnourished and overweight birds.
Give them a large run and they will get lots of exercise.
If you keep your flock size small, that will reduce the chances of health issues.
If you choose breeds with normal egg production instead of hybrids that have been created to crank eggs out like mini factories, you will avoid a lot of the health issues caused by reproductive tract failures.
Chicken are truly enjoyable, endearing creatures and I cannot imagine entering retirement without a flock. Don't give up. Keep asking questions. The more you read about these issues that have you concerned the more prepared you will be.

Ditto!

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

Yep, I'm looking at the free plans now, so when he gets back I can be specific about what I want. I guess I'll be going to Tractor Supply to return this coop kit. LOL I on[y bought it NOW, because it was $100 off. Otherwise, I would have waited, LOL

Welcome, I'm so excited for you! If you feel you can keep the prefab financially and build a coop and run, then do keep it. I use mine as a brooder/look but don't touch introduction to original flock. broody jail, separating a sick chook and the list goes on. Right now my older chooks are using it to lay eggs because it is cooler in there. AGAIN, it is so nice to have the option. Mine is set up in a 6X10 chain link covered run. It has a cement floor. It is low to the ground which is something that I wish I could fix. I'm a young 58 but getting up and down is hard. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Ben Lynnsy]

my dogs have a dash of terrier in them, too, really no off switch there. She touched the hotwire though and has given the coop a wide berth now. All my neighbors have dogs, so I am not sure how prevalent raccoons are. I know there are some possums about.
I am more worried about the hawks who live here. the chickens won't see much roaming time I imagine. The hawk had no problem attacking my parakeets I had inside, just behind the open patio door. And then he looked mad because there was wire between him and his lunch! I am however considering securing the ends of the roost with something like plywood or similar. It would also make the installation a whole lot easier! Some BYC member has done that in their setup. I thought it was quite clever!

doesn't your pen have a wire roof to it?? The one I'm looking at at Tractor Supply does, and that should solve the hawk problem. I KNOW we have hawks here. I've seen them perching in my trees, and a red shouldered hawk perched on my deck railing last winter. This spring, I saw a mama and daddy hawk making a nest in one of the tallest trees in the wooded lot next to me. So I am wary of them, and raccoons and possums. We have them all.

 

[Alagirl]

doesn't your pen have a wire roof to it?? The one I'm looking at at Tractor Supply does, and that should solve the hawk problem. I KNOW we have hawks here. I've seen them perching in my trees, and a red shouldered hawk perched on my deck railing last winter. This spring, I saw a mama and daddy hawk making a nest in one of the tallest trees in the wooded lot next to me. So I am wary of them, and raccoons and possums. We have them all.

It does. It was a prime concern of mine. The structure is quite sturdy (and heavy). I am so far very satisfied with it. It does really need a dig apron though. even if you don't think you have predators, because chickens could tunnel out as well.
I am considering to cover the whole roof, and half of the walls. So far it works though. I might have to reconsider when they start to lay. We'll see. I have not added nests yet. As far as space goes, it is big enough to house 6 chickens, as far as being coop and run, you might run into housekeeping issues. Or I could partition a small section off to set up roosts or nests. I will have to see how it works out.

Just fair warning: For some reason, the trucking company hired sent a really big semi that could not get into my neighborhood. The truck also had no lift gate, and transferring it into my pickup in the parking lot of the grocery store was also a no-go.

Next time I have it shipped to the store - where the transfer finally happened, with the aid of their forklift). The Sentinel coop is not as heavy but seems quite sturdy, too.

 

[Ben Lynnsy]

It does. It was a prime concern of mine. The structure is quite sturdy (and heavy). I am so far very satisfied with it. It does really need a dig apron though. even if you don't think you have predators, because chickens could tunnel out as well.
I am considering to cover the whole roof, and half of the walls. So far it works though. I might have to reconsider when they start to lay. We'll see. I have not added nests yet. As far as space goes, it is big enough to house 6 chickens, as far as being coop and run, you might run into housekeeping issues. Or I could partition a small section off to set up roosts or nests. I will have to see how it works out.

Just fair warning: For some reason, the trucking company hired sent a really big semi that could not get into my neighborhood. The truck also had no lift gate, and transferring it into my pickup in the parking lot of the grocery store was also a no-go.

Next time I have it shipped to the store - where the transfer finally happened, with the aid of their forklift). The Sentinel coop is not as heavy but seems quite sturdy, too.

Yeah, when I set mine up, I plan to sit it on 3 ft hardware cloth, with 2 feet outside and 1 inside, just so it doesn't slip off in time. I'm hoping not to have to dig a trench to sink it into the ground... hoping just laying there will do the job. I'll put hardware cloth about 2 ft up each side, too, and I know I'll have to fill in those openings between the panels and at the door. This is going to be a "project", not an event.
Do you think it's necessary to cover the roof?? Are the holes big enough for hawks and critters to get it? I'm betting possums might. . Chicken wire might be strong enough for that. If I do cover the roof, I'll put it on the outside. That way and animals can't make it cave in with its weight. SO MUCH to consider. My brain is spinning like a gerbil wheel, LOL
Thanks for the warning about the truck. I have a friend who can get it in his pick-up truck, so I will follow your advice and have it sent to the store. Can't get a semi in my yard either. I couldn't even get a dump truck in to deliver my garden mulch, so I "get it".
Good to have someone with similar issues, to think things through with. Thanks for that!!
PS, I saw on FB today, someone had the sentinel coop and it had been broken into by a predator. Whatever did it pushed hard on the wiring of the run and caused the welds of the mesh to fail and push away from the metal supports.. If the designers had put the welded wire on the OUTSIDE of the metal legs, that would not have happened.

 

[RoyalChick]

Welcome to BYC. I agree with what others have said about people posting when they need help so don’t get frightened off.
I am still only a few years into my chicken journey and I would say it is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. They are so wonderful and bring such joy. But sometimes stuff happens and it is sad and stressful.
So real highs and some lows. I don’t regret getting my lovely Princesses for one minute and I am sure you won’t either.