Too small for temporary coop?

[Farmer Shell]

Hello everyone!
So… had my first chicks for three days now and have essentially decided to rethink almost every coop/run decision I made even though I’ve been doing research for a year now!

The coop - I wanted to build one (like in all the awesome posts on here) but thought maybe I’ll start with a pre made one from TSC. I figure that would do until I learn more and can build the one I really want to. Well now I’m pretty sure it’s WAY too small… I have six Australorps (4 days old) and I don’t understand how this coop said it was good for six chickens. I think it would be ok for two… maybe…?

For the run I’m going to build something of wood and hardwire cloth since I have lots of predators (Northeast Mass). I’ve always planned to have a run at least 10’x20’.

Their brooder is inside but once they’ve moved to living outside can they live in this coop until I can finish their new coop? I plan to reinforce with new locks and HC. Or is it way too small for even a little while?

Ventilation seems inadequate also?

Michelle

 

[nuthatched]

Prefab coops are always a hot mess, if you can return it, I would do that and turn that money into lumber for a good coop. Any large animal can flip that over, I've also personally see coon pop through the bottom of the nest boxes on them.

 

[Farmer Shell]

Prefab coops are always a hot mess, if you can return it, I would do that and turn that money into lumber for a good coop. Any large animal can flip that over, I've also personally see coon pop through the bottom of the nest boxes on them.

Oh dear… I do have lots of raccoons that show up in groups and have attacked my compost bin so I can only imagine what they’d do to the coop.

It’s already put together but I maybe I can figure something else to make out of the pieces. Oh well :-/

thank you!

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

You can use it as a hospital coop for a sick chicken or as a grow-out coop for pullets. Thats what I use my old prefab for. Its a piece of junk but my husband built an 8' x 4' run that attaches to it. Right now my special needs chickens are living in it and in all the years I've had it nothing has broken in. I have a crate under the nesting box and caribiners on all the latches (cause those are garbage too) and we stapled hardware cloth under the entire bottom of it so it can't be burrowed under. Alternatively, you could sell it to some other poor sap. But definitely a homemade coop and run is in order for six australorps. You can buy a shed and convert it to save time.

 

[Farmer Shell]

You can use it as a hospital coop for a sick chicken or as a grow-out coop for pullets. Thats what I use my old prefab for. Its a piece of junk but my husband built an 8' x 4' run that attaches to it. Right now my special needs chickens are living in it and in all the years I've had it nothing has broken in. I have a crate under the nesting box and caribiners on all the latches (cause those are garbage too) and we stapled hardware cloth under the entire bottom of it so it can't be burrowed under. Alternatively, you could sell it to some other poor sap. But definitely a homemade coop and run is in order for six australorps. You can buy a shed and convert it to save time.

Oh that’s a great idea!! Thank you!

 

[3KillerBs]

It will do fine to brood chicks in and grow out juveniles if you secure the weak points and add ventilation.

If you need something quick consider a hoop coop:

Hoop Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-tractor.69336/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-coop-brooder-with-roll-up-sides.75720/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-biddie-bordello-a-hoop-coop-run-combo.72189/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/permanent-hoop-coop-guide.47818/

 

[Farmer Shell]

It will do fine to brood chicks in and grow out juveniles if you secure the weak points and add ventilation.

If you need something quick consider a hoop coop:

Hoop Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-tractor.69336/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-coop-brooder-with-roll-up-sides.75720/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-biddie-bordello-a-hoop-coop-run-combo.72189/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/permanent-hoop-coop-guide.47818/

Perfect! At least I’ll be able to get something safe and secure for them while I finish the final coop/run. Ok I feel much better now, the panic had started to set in real quick!
Love this site so much!!