Simply Terrible

[chickened]

Pretty much this. Easy to cut down someone else, especially if they don't serve YOUR purpose. HD's coops obvious fit their niche market nicely - cute and pleasing to look at, a very good price, enough space for a handful of hens, just right for a small backyard flock in an area where aesthetics are probably quite important in order to not be harped on by neighbors for being an eyesore. Would it work for me? Not really - I have too many birds, and I don't need pretty, I like something I can walk into. I need electrical run in a way to provide heated water and potentially a heat lamp for winter - so I have my own coop set up the way I need it. I'm sure someone could find fault with it, but I don't care - it suits my needs nicely.

 

[hemet dennis]

My coops vary from chicken wire, posts and tin to a 36'x48' building with concrete floors,drains, lights and fans and another pole barn that is 36x24 with indivivual breeder pens with lights, skylights and all of them are weatherproof. Maybe I will take some pictures today and post them. But then again I actually own a farm not a backyard.

Well see we found your problem you're on the wrong forum this is BACK YARD CHICKENS.

Have a nice day bye

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Only read the first page, but what works quite well for one person and their situation is not at all appropriate for a different person or situation. You have to consider the climate, whether the intent is that the chickens are housed full-time in the coop or have out-of coop time, and many other things. A coop that is only for sleeping can house pretty much as many chickens as are willing to fit into it. A coop for full-time housing of chickens will hold far fewer--even in crowded conditions.

Every coop I have built over the last 13 years has been a bit different, and NONE is perfect (that doesn't exist). One coop is literally named The Neverending Coop, because I am constantly changing or modifying it. I doubt it will ever be finished.

 

[mixitup]

Only read the first page, but what works quite well for one person and their situation is not at all appropriate for a different person or situation. You have to consider the climate, whether the intent is that the chickens are housed full-time in the coop or have out-of coop time, and many other things. A coop that is only for sleeping can house pretty much as many chickens as are willing to fit into it. A coop for full-time housing of chickens will hold far fewer--even in crowded conditions.

Every coop I have built over the last 13 years has been a bit different, and NONE is perfect (that doesn't exist). One coop is literally named The Neverending Coop, because I am constantly changing or modifying it. I doubt it will ever be finished.

Absolutely. You have to start somewhere and if your carpentry skills are not 'advanced' you live and learn! I'm planning on building chicken tractor with a coop attached for the summer months. I have been building stuff for years, but I am going to modify it for my needs. Will it be pretty-nope, cause I don't care. I care more about functionality. If it serves me for this summer/fall, I will figure out where I want to go next year. And metal sheds I, personally, would be afraid to use because they would be too hot and stuffy for the chickens-even wood needs proper ventilation.

 

[wbruder17]

My OP had everything to do with functionality and nothing to do with aesthetics. I couldn't care less what the coop LOOKS like. My issue was with those super cute coops for sale that are just a ridiculous excuse for a functional coop. No easy acces for cleaning, too small openings/windows, roost bars over nest boxes..... all they do is look good.

 

[hemet dennis]

My OP had everything to do with functionality and nothing to do with aesthetics. I couldn't care less what the coop LOOKS like. My issue was with those super cute coops for sale that are just a ridiculous excuse for a functional coop. No easy acces for cleaning, too small openings/windows, roost bars over nest boxes..... all they do is look good.

It's new people that get suckered in to buying those cheaply made over priced junk that falls apart.

 

[mixitup]

Ahh, I see what you. Yes, I agree on that point-no standards and newbies get sucked in-and the birds suffer in the meantime because the newbie doesn't know any better. Unfortunately, it all boils down to how well the newbie is doing his/her homework. But again, the chickens suffer in the meantime.

 

[hemet dennis]

My OP had everything to do with functionality and nothing to do with aesthetics. I couldn't care less what the coop LOOKS like. My issue was with those super cute coops for sale that are just a ridiculous excuse for a functional coop. No easy acces for cleaning, too small openings/windows, roost bars over nest boxes..... all they do is look good.

It does come down to aesthetics, the people that are buying the ones with poor functionality don't know any better so they buy the cute one.
When you are young and want to buy a new car do you look for the functional car with good gas mileage Or the hot looking sports car ?

 

[MrsSerfesME]

Ahh, I see what you. Yes, I agree on that point-no standards and newbies get sucked in-and the birds suffer in the meantime because the newbie doesn't know any better. Unfortunately, it all boils down to how well the newbie is doing his/her homework. But again, the chickens suffer in the meantime.

Being a newbie, I totally agree with you, it does all boil down to how well the newbie is doing his/her homework and the chickens do suffer in the meantime. The people who build the poorly constructed coops that are pretty to attract people who don't know what they are doing are at fault, but so are the newbies who buy chickens with out doing any research or doing very little.

I agree that coops need to be built to your own needs and climate. What works for me in Maine would probably be stupid for someone in Southern Cali, but I think the biggest problem with most animals is that people do not do enough, or any research before, acquiring an animal and that is sad. I have wanted chickens for a long time, and have done research off and on for probably a year or more now, even though it wasn't until just recently that I lived some place where I could even have chickens and I still don't have chickens because I still need to learn more.

I think too many people just do things on a whim nowadays or buy their animals junk just because they think it's cute. Guess what, the chickens don't care if it's cute.

My advice, as a newbie to other newbies: research, research, research; then build a coop and run that make you chickens healthy and happy. If you are worried about aesthetics afterwards, paint it a pretty color. If you can't afford to build your chickens something that is adequate for them and safe for them, then wait on the chickens and get them when you can give them everything they need.

If you are raising your chickens for eggs or meat that your family is going to consume, wouldn't you want to make sure you keep those chickens as happy and healthy as possible to ensure that the eggs and meat you are feeding to your family from them is safe and healthy for your family to eat?

 

[wbruder17]

I blame the peope making/ selling the coops more than the newbies. You want to be able to trust the employees at a farm store to be honest and sell it to you straight. As well as to offer quality products.