Thoughts On This Coop From TSC

[thisjed]

Hi all. I'm completely new to chickens - like about 4 days new, lol. I have 9 baby chicks in my brooder at home and they're the best. I'm in the market for a coop since it won't be long and they'll be ready to move out (6 plus weeks away).

I'd love to build one, but know I'll really struggle to find the time to do so - which has me searching for pre made coops like a mad man. They're extremely hard to find - at least ones with decent reviews and not costing thousands.

After way too long searching and changing my mind a few times, I've settled on this coop. http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...n-walk-in-coop-up-to-15-chickens?cm_vc=-10005

It's seems like a good fit for 9 chickens and solid construction (at least for a pre made coop). I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with this coop??? Also wondering if I should dig down a wire perimeter to keep predators out?

Thanks in advance for any help! I'm open to any and all suggestions regarding chickens!

Here are the breeds (at least best I can tell)...

(3) White Leghorn
(2) Rhode Island Red
(2) Barred Rock
(1) Black Australorp
(1) ISA Brown

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Where are you located? There are not many places where this coop would be suitable for 9 birds (really, none) - nor where it will withstand the weather of more than 1-2 years due to the materials it is constructed of. Event without those two factors, the design itself is not really suitable for keeping poultry in as it lacks ventilation and the interior is such that it will contribute to many common issues that come in keeping a flock in an unsuitable housing unit.

 

[thisjed]

I live outside of Chicago - was planning to likely use a heat source of some kind for the winter - although the past 60 days here have been extremely mild (nearly 70 degrees today which is nuts) - will be a day by day basis.

The wood is chinese cypress.

The run is approximately 40 sf and the coop is approximately 12 to 13 sf (not counting the nesting boxes) - so 52 to 53 sf all together (again, not counting the nesting boxes).

We have a fenced in back yard and my daughters will allow them to free range from time to time - but, we live in town and can't let them free range unattended.

 

[Zoomie]

I don't have that exact same one but I do have a similar one. I agree that they will not stand up to the weather. I put mine INSIDE my barn!!

Now it does not have to withstand the wind and the weather. The barn roof protects it from above, and the barn walls break the wind so it does not have to stand up to our winds which can get really high. So far I've only kept three hens in it. I had to change the perches; they were too narrow. I use 2X4s, set so that the 4" side is uppermost and where the birds perch. On the bottom I have deep litter and inside the coop I have shavings, and every single day I go through the shavings and pick out the poop, keeping the coop as clean as possible. Also, I have a clip fastened to the side of the coop where the handle for the pop door is. I clip it at night so that nothing can pull it open.

It might work out OK in your situation. Just keep in mind it's not super durable. On the other hand you could set it up and then gradually build on it, making it better, with better materials. I also suggest that you bury wire mesh all around it, or else put in a cement foundation all around, to stop pests digging in under the walls.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The actual coop on that is 13 sq ft? That's 3 birds, maybe 4 if they really get along. There's no way there's enough roost space for 9 birds nor floor space inside the coop portion.

If you can turn the entire thing into a coop and then add a run outside (i.e.a 10x10' dog kennel), that would work for 9 without having to let them loose in the yard frequently. Given your location you'd probably need to replace some of the mesh "run" panels with wood, and then open up some ventilation for the enclosed part. Actually I'd be tempted to rip out the enclosed part altogether and then run a roost bar along the longer wall. Essentially, I just turned it into... a ventilated shed.

You could probably buy a shed of a similar size and price and modify it by adding a roost and ventilation as well.

 

[DaveTheDamaja]

I saw this one at TSC last night. has two nesting boxes, one on each side; can house 4 total hens. Roof is covered with that green turf material you used to see covering people concrete front porches. The run is made of material a little smaller than 1X3.... I grabbed the frame and shook it to see how sturdy it was and was able to move it fairly easily. Not sure if this helps, but that what I gathered from looking at it yesterday.

 

[Knoble Chickens]

For 9 cacklers you would be much better getting the $999 coop on TSC site. The one you are considering is WAY too small. I considered the larger one, but cost to compromise factors made it a no in my book. I would rather have a solid roof on the run. I have not been able to find any kit solutions that have exactly what I am looking for, therefore, I will be building my own for my flock of 8.

 

[thisjed]

Thanks for all the comments.

In addition to the 13 sf, it does have the 6 nesting boxes. I don't know if chickens bed down in them for the night or not - new to this chicken thing???

I could spend about double on a coop if anyone has better suggestions as well. The one for $999 isn't bad, but not too aesthetically appealing for the neighborhood (sounds silly I know, but some wouldn't be happy with it).

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I know that you are concerned about building one yourself, but you can build a really good sized coop in a matter of days for so much less than you'll pay for any pre-fab unit - it might be time to just force yourself to commit to getting it done and doing it. Heck, if you have an even remotely "handy" friend, family member, neighbor, etc you can have them do the building for you and still end up spending less than you would on the pre-fab units and have something that is better built and actually suited to keeping poultry in.

 

[ChickenMammX4]

We were at the same place 2 years ago. We had just brought home our first 6 chicks and a pre-fabbed coop. The coop was advertised to house 6 chickens but as those little chicks grew and grew. By 6 weeks, they were about the size of a bowling ball and still growing! It quickly became apparent that the coop wasn't going to house these chickens comfortably nor keep them safe from predators. On a nice day we'd put the chicks outdoors for a few hours then Hubby got to shimmy through the door on his belly (through the poo) to catch the chicks. If the ramp was in place, that wasn't even possible. There wouldn't have been room for a full size waterer, feeder or dustbath area. Chcickens should not sleep in the nesting boxes, and need room to roost for sleeping. Most of these coops don't have near enough roosting feet.

Long story short...we repurposed an existing shed (8' x 18') and added a covered run (8' x 16') . We sold the mostly unused coop on Craig's List t someone raising Silkies.