Tractor Supply Co. Chicken Coop Reviews Thoughts Feedback - Why and Why Not ?

[JaneyPabc]

I purchased the large snap lock coop from Tractor Supply about a year ago and love it! Easy to put together with nothing more than a rubber mallet. We also built a stand using plans from snap lock that raised it about 18 inches off the ground. The coop is super easy to clean through a door and two slide out trays in the back, easy to secure from predators, and provides enough room for my five hens. Although the description says it can accommodate more chickens I would hesitate as it could get rather crowded. The coop is set inside of an 8x8 foot covered poultry pen (also purchased from TS). That pen proved too small to house the five hens, as pecking started and got ugly! We built a yard around the pen which solved that problem. I just unlock the pen, unlock the coop, and let the chickens roam about the fenced chicken yard for the day. Happy flock!

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

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I purchased the large snap lock coop from Tractor Supply about a year ago and love it! Easy to put together with nothing more than a rubber mallet. We also built a stand using plans from snap lock that raised it about 18 inches off the ground. The coop is super easy to clean through a door and two slide out trays in the back, easy to secure from predators, and provides enough room for my five hens. Although the description says it can accommodate more chickens I would hesitate as it could get rather crowded. The coop is set inside of an 8x8 foot covered poultry pen (also purchased from TS). That pen proved too small to house the five hens, as pecking started and got ugly! We built a yard around the pen which solved that problem. I just unlock the pen, unlock the coop, and let the chickens roam about the fenced chicken yard for the day. Happy flock!

Thanks for the info! I was JUST looking at that one: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/snap-lock-large-coop

(updated my first post since the other one I listed is gone)

It does look pretty tiny. It's hard to get a feel for the size online.

I love how you raised it! Very smart!

 

[goldenyears]

I just recently got a coop for free that came from TSC (my friend is such a blessing)... Here's my opinion

After a few years they start to come apart unlike one you can make yourself out of good lumber.

They are quite small, I put nothing but bantams in mine. Mine said up to 6 chickens, but there's no way. I'd say only 2 regular sized chickens could fit and it would be cramped.

The one I received is few years old and slowly coming apart, but it was free. It needs to be repaired on the bottom and needs new barrel bolts.

They're very flimsy especially once you move them a few times.

They are easy to move though because they're very light.

I say $300 in lumber would build something way more efficient than spending $300 on a prefab coop that's built from compressed wood that slowly deteriorates. You can make a more spacious coop as well with $300 in lumber.

We made a coop out of pallets for only $100. I like it a lot more, but the bantams do love their TSC coop. But it's bantams not standard size chickens.

TSC coop after a few years. We still need to reinforce it a bit better. Plus paint it.

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Coop made with only $100 in screws and such. Everything else was free that businesses throw away. My husband isn't a builder either, but he made a chicken palace inside and out!

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I started with the same coop as wifey came home with four chicks one day. It worked well enough for us, placed on a concrete slab. I built an 8x32’ run and incorporated the coop into it. The run was not predator proof, but I had no issue with the coop being broken into. One night I left the coop door open and lost all the chooks. As a result, I’m in the finishing stages of a coop with an 8x12 run, two automatic doors - one door will allow access to 8x12 run only and the other will adjoin to big run. I’m keeping the original coop for times when a chick may need to be separated from the flock (illness, injury, brooding). Hope y’all have continued success and fun with your chicks.

 

[FortCluck]

I started with the same coop as wifey came home with four chicks one day. It worked well enough for us, placed on a concrete slab. I built an 8x32’ run and incorporated the coop into it. The run was not predator proof, but I had no issue with the coop being broken into. One night I left the coop door open and lost all the chooks. As a result, I’m in the finishing stages of a coop with an 8x12 run, two automatic doors - one door will allow access to 8x12 run only and the other will adjoin to big run. I’m keeping the original coop for times when a chick may need to be separated from the flock (illness, injury, brooding). Hope y’all have continued success and fun with your chicks.

I have a new coop coming that's 6.5 ft X 6.5 ft. My pallet coop is 8 ft X 8ft. Only my bantams are in that coop and I may let them free range during the day and move their coop to the other chicken run, we will see. I'm not sure how my roosters will react so it's a process I'm working on. My husband is thinking about building them a big run that goes around that little coop so that I can just let them out and they can pretty much free range but in the fenced in area.

 

[bethgsd]

I bought one for $200 on Amazon. I'm not handy and I'm pushing it having chickens here so I didn't want to spend a lot of money until I know my one neighbor won't make a stink. I hope I haven't made a big mistake with the Amazon coop.

 

[aart]

Seems like every time I paste a link, it breaks and goes straight to search results. I wonder if they are quickly selling out of products or just changing inventory around?

This started quite awhile ago, a year or so(?).
Not sure what they were thinking, I had to get links for products on different sites for my notes and articles.
It seems to have improved somewhat, I think they realized their mistake...maybe
Who knows what site managers are thinking?!

 

[William RainCrow]

I don't see any I like and I shop TSC quite often. I built my own from scrap lumber, based on pictures of the so-called Amish coop. Holds about 12 well, attached to a large pen. I do have one similar to the Chikn Cottage, small light weight, that a friend gave me. Not sure I would try 4 hens in it as shown but it's just right for starting chicks after I did some modifications on it. We have a good dog that seems to discourage any large predators. One of the best coops I had on a previous property was an older 10x10 metal storage building that I retrofitted. Made a dandy coop! I cut windows and screened them, replaced the metal sliding doors with wire and a gate. That one also was shaded all day and opened into a decent size pen, perhaps 50x50. Dandy coop, actually!

 

[Thomas70]

I've had a few people recently reach out to me asking which coop I suggest they buy from TSC (Tractor Supply Co). I obviously have my own ideas & thoughts, but I worry I might also be biased. While I think some of the chicken coops at TSC are probably total garbage, I'm hoping others might be respectable options.

I thought I'd reach out to the hive... er... flock-mind and get a good discussion going.

Take a look at some of the coops at TSC, copy a handful of links to coops and post them here with your thoughts / comments.

Here's a direct link: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/catalog/coops?cm_sp=Fly_-_-SubCategory-_-Coops

Some are as low as around $300:

• https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/innovation-pet-chicken-homestead-coop-222-87
• https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/petmate-superior-construction-chicken-coop-70401d

... while others are a bit higher:

• https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/coops-feathers-classic-red-barn-15-18-chickens
• https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/snap-lock-large-coop

So, check out their site and post some links and comments. Hopefully we can help save some peeps some headaches and get them (and their flocks) to a happy-place!

You did not state how many chickens you want. Most of the coops at TSC come from China so need I say more. If you want a real coop get some plans and go to the home improvement store and get the lumber, siding and roof. You can get the cage wire from TSC. I built a 6 x 8 walk in for $600 and it is quality.

If you don't think you can build one then these will work for 3-4 hens.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/cumberland-cottage-coop-dus200120-dus200120

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/ware--premium-chick-n-cottage?cm_vc=-10005

 

[Debby R]

I've had a few people recently reach out to me asking which coop I suggest they buy from TSC (Tractor Supply Co). I obviously have my own ideas & thoughts, but I worry I might also be biased. While I think some of the chicken coops at TSC are probably total garbage, I'm hoping others might be respectable options.

I thought I'd reach out to the hive... er... flock-mind and get a good discussion going.

Take a look at some of the coops at TSC, copy a handful of links to coops and post them here with your thoughts / comments.

Here's a direct link: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/catalog/coops?cm_sp=Fly_-_-SubCategory-_-Coops

Some are as low as around $300:

• https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/innovation-pet-chicken-homestead-coop-222-87
• https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/petmate-superior-construction-chicken-coop-70401d

... while others are a bit higher:

• https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/coops-feathers-classic-red-barn-15-18-chickens
• https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/snap-lock-large-coop

So, check out their site and post some links and comments. Hopefully we can help save some peeps some headaches and get them (and their flocks) to a happy-place!

None of these pens appear to be built with predators in mind which means none of them would work for me. 1x2's are not substantial enough to hold up to weather or non-bird predators. I would quickly tire of not being able to stand up inside the coop or pen to do daily chores. Some of them may work for some people but for the money, I'd build one myself (which I did) or check Craig's List for homemade.

 

[leslielbk]

My local tractor supply has some on display already assembled. I don't like the idea of keeping them in such a small pen so I am not a fan. people who think it would be cute to have a couple of chickens want to buy those. My feeling is they would quickly realize they are just flimsy doll houses for chickens. I hate the idea of people seeing those and how cute they are and then putting chickens in there. They're way too small for anything other than bantams. It'd be like keeping a hawk in a bird cage.
I built my own coop, without a full workshop of tools or a man to help lift the heavy stuff and it's pretty awesome if I say so myself. I realize most people wouldn't want to take that on but I had enough foolish confidence to give it a try.
When I lived in Wisconsin I bought a gable roofed shed for my coop, but it was expensive. Everyone is different, and wants different size breeds which is just as important as how many birds when choosing a coop.
There are so many youtube videos and great articles here and another websites that I would encourage anyone to consider building one themselves. It's great to do with kids, it's good to stretch your ability, learn new things, and gain confidence. So much cheaper, too. With so much out there to draw from you can actually build the perfect coop for your site and what you envision.