Small premade coops

[rosemarythyme]

You can modify a prefab to improve it but the amount of chickens you can fit in will always be pretty limited. For someone who is just starting out if they're willing to make the modifications, I don't think getting a prefab is a bad thing, but they aren't the best long term or cost effective solution.

I got a prefab (though a pricier, studier one) to be sure chickens were right for me before thinking about jumping into a larger coop. It's fine for my purposes right now. I do plan on repurposing it in the future for intergration/broody breaking.

 

[cottontail farm]

I still may pick up this one. Looks nice and roomy in that picture right? Yeah, it's the size of my quail pen. LOL. I may get it as a second grow out pen for quail or possible if I put the two together (this plus the pre-made "expansion run" I own) possibly a broody coop for my bantam.
I don't think these prefab coops are necessarily horrible if you know what you're getting into. But shame on big box stores (especially farm supply ones) for selling them to people who think 6 standard chickens are going to fit in this thing.