Thoughts On This Coop From TSC

[Beekissed]

That's not unusual here....an astonishing number of people get their chicks long before they have a coop, thinking they have a couple of months before they will be putting chicks out into a coop. Many get them before they even have a brooder set up to receive them.

 

[aart]

Out of curiosity thisjed why would you get chickens before you had a coop ready ?

That's not unusual here....an astonishing number of people get their chicks long before they have a coop, thinking they have a couple of months before they will be putting chicks out into a coop. Many get them before they even have a brooder set up to receive them.

Exactly.......some goes for ignoring advise against tiny coops from experienced chickeneers

 

[thisjed]

I'm not trying to disregard everyone's input. The one thing I left out was a recent vehicle repair expense of $2,500. So, the old bank account isn't game for spending $1,000 plus on a larger coop. I could get a shed for maybe $500, but would still need to outfit it and then construct a large run which is additional money and time.

The other component is we're foster parents and I desperately need to finish a bedroom build out in our unfinished attic - need the additional bedroom to accommodate the foster situation. This project is a considerable cost - but more than anything is occupying all my spare time for the next several months - doing the work myself.

I bought the chickens thinking I have 6 weeks to get a coop figured out. Thought it was simply buying a pre made one somewhere and putting it together in a few hours.

But, realized the number of chickens a coop specifies is usually incorrect AFTER buying my chickens. I did quick research before and saw several for 10 to 15 and figured I'd be good with 9.

Due to my limited time, I was really banking on the pre made coop solution.

I so wish I could find a large pre made coop for $700 to $800. I'd seriously buy it - but I don't think they exist - which I didn't know either before buying the chickens.

So - to meet my time crunch - I'm left with the coop from TSC. It's the largest one I found coming in at 9' long. I realize I'll likely need a different solution come winter, but will cross that bridge when I get there.

I was hoping someone had something positive to say about the coop or point me to a better pre made solution. If anyone knows a better pre made solution I can get up and running in an afternoon (counting buying material, etc.) for $750 or less, I'm all ears.

Maybe someone should make one - seems to be a market void.

Again, worse case, I'll give away some of my hens.

Thanks!

 

[Mr Pink]

I'm not trying to disregard everyone's input. The one thing I left out was a recent vehicle repair expense of $2,500. So, the old bank account isn't game for spending $1,000 plus on a larger coop. I could get a shed for maybe $500, but would still need to outfit it and then construct a large run which is additional money and time.

The other component is we're foster parents and I desperately need to finish a bedroom build out in our unfinished attic - need the additional bedroom to accommodate the foster situation. This project is a considerable cost - but more than anything is occupying all my spare time for the next several months - doing the work myself.

I bought the chickens thinking I have 6 weeks to get a coop figured out. Thought it was simply buying a pre made one somewhere and putting it together in a few hours.

But, realized the number of chickens a coop specifies is usually incorrect AFTER buying my chickens. I did quick research before and saw several for 10 to 15 and figured I'd be good with 9.

Due to my limited time, I was really banking on the pre made coop solution.

I so wish I could find a large pre made coop for $700 to $800. I'd seriously buy it - but I don't think they exist - which I didn't know either before buying the chickens.

So - to meet my time crunch - I'm left with the coop from TSC. It's the largest one I found coming in at 9' long. I realize I'll likely need a different solution come winter, but will cross that bridge when I get there.

I was hoping someone had something positive to say about the coop or point me to a better pre made solution. If anyone knows a better pre made solution I can get up and running in an afternoon (counting buying material, etc.) for $750 or less, I'm all ears.

Maybe someone should make one - seems to be a market void.

Again, worse case, I'll give away some of my hens.

Thanks!

Brother if you lived close to me I'd build you a chicken mansion for $800 .. those premade sheds only have about 200 bucks of material in them and are stapled together .

 

[Beekissed]

I would too! For that much money I could put you into a chicken Taj Mahal. And would gladly do so...bless your heart for taking on foster kids!

Now that we know more about where you are coming from, it's easier to understand your decision. Sorry if I sounded jaded earlier, but we often deal with folks that want to use the prefab coops because they are cute and require little work to assemble and for no other reason, no matter what anyone tells them~ after they've asked for opinions on them.

Do you have any friends who could help you do a very easy coop build? I did an 8x10 hoop coop by myself in 10 days and for $200 and I'm not skilled at construction. And those weren't full days, just the total number of days from start to finish. Hoop coops can be as basic~ or as cute~ as you want them to be, so you can dress it up to suit your neighbor's snootiness if need be.

Here's a cute one that likely cost even less than mine to build and most likely took less time. Add another hoop or two to this design, another nest box, prettier paint job and you are golden for coop needs for your 9 chickens.

 

[Messica]

Just a suggestion, but perhaps with all that's going on in your life now isn't quite the time for chickens. It sounds like you have a lot on your plate, and although one wouldn't think so, they are a huge time commitment. The space you mention in the prefab didn't even contain my chicks very long, much less chickens. They need way more space than that of they *will* get sick and fight. Not to mention the stink, unless you are committed to completely cleaning that tiny space out on a near daily basis.

This is kind of the equivalent of getting a dog but not having the budget to vet or feed it. I'm sorry if that offends because I don't mean it to, but you sound really unprepared for the commitment these birds need to remain happy and healthy.

I searched Craigslist and prodded family members for cheap or free materials. My coop cost less than $200 and took 3 days to have it built from the ground up. Coop is 6'x8', run is 6'x15' and the five I have right now spend quite a bit of time free ranging. When I had 11 in there through the summer it was pretty cramped despite the fact they weren't fully grown.

Please reconsider what you're doing. You don't want to start this, have your kids become attached, and then lose them all because of their living conditions.

 

[Knoble Chickens]

Too bad you couldn't raise a couple hundred more. TSC does have that big coop that would"fit" your flock, albeit very tight, plus you could move it when you changed residence. The hoop coop idea is a sound one. What the experienced folks here are saying has a lot of weight in my book. Even though I am in the middle of raising my own first flock, I am listening to the advise they are giving.

Here is a link to the bigger coop.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-defender-chicken-coop

 

[thisjed]

That hoop coop is pretty clever. Thanks for sharing!!! I'll google a bit for something like that one. I'm fairly handy at constructing things and could probably figure it out - my wheels are turning for sure. No worries on anything either - greatly appreciate the help!

I don't plan on throwing in the towel before starting. I did recently change jobs and went from way too many hours per week to only 40 or so. It's great being home more and hanging with the kiddos! If it wasn't for adding a bedroom, I'd be swinging a hammer on the coop now.

I grew up on a farm too - no chickens though but plenty of others - so, the whole animal / livestock world doesn't scare me. I do want to do good to the chickens and promise to figure out a good solution.

The good news which will hopefully make everyone feel ok - I live in an extremely agricultural community - if I need to gift any number of chickens to get my numbers down, doing so will be easy and they'll live in great yards!

 

[Beekissed]

That hoop coop is pretty clever. Thanks for sharing!!! I'll google a bit for something like that one. I'm fairly handy at constructing things and could probably figure it out - my wheels are turning for sure. No worries on anything either - greatly appreciate the help!

I don't plan on throwing in the towel before starting. I did recently change jobs and went from way too many hours per week to only 40 or so. It's great being home more and hanging with the kiddos! If it wasn't for adding a bedroom, I'd be swinging a hammer on the coop now.

I grew up on a farm too - no chickens though but plenty of others - so, the whole animal / livestock world doesn't scare me. I do want to do good to the chickens and promise to figure out a good solution.

The good news which will hopefully make everyone feel ok - I live in an extremely agricultural community - if I need to gift any number of chickens to get my numbers down, doing so will be easy and they'll live in great yards!

That's good to know!! These hoop coops just involve a minimum of framing, fencing staples to attach the cattle panels to the frame and then just use your imagination on building in the end caps, doors, nest boxes, etc. If you go more than 2 hoops length, you'll want to reinforce the arch with some wood, especially where you live, as a heavy snow can buckle the hoops without more support if you have a 3 hoop or longer coop but the 2 hoops seem pretty sturdy for that issue as long as you have the end framing.

I LOVE the versatility of my hoop coop! Mine is more rough and not as cutesy~I live back in the boonies, so I tend to go for function over form~ as I used a lot of old scrap lumber and such, but it's very functional and great for doing a composting deep litter in. I added another hoop to mine a few years back and built in the end caps, so now I'm up to around $300 on this build but I have a 12x10 coop for that.

 

[aart]

Too bad you couldn't raise a couple hundred more. TSC does have that big coop that would"fit" your flock, albeit very tight, plus you could move it when you changed residence. The hoop coop idea is a sound one. What the experienced folks here are saying has a lot of weight in my book. Even though I am in the middle of raising my own first flock, I am listening to the advise they are giving.

Here is a link to the bigger coop.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-defender-chicken-coop

I believe that coop has already been suggested here.

That run is impressive looking....but the coop is still sub-par design wise.
Of course they don't give dimensions for the coop, but it looks to be 10' x ~2 maybe 3'.
3', even 4', wide can bring some logistical problems for chickens moving in the space.