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

[julieetroy]

Wow that last one (Innovation Pet Classic Red Barn, 15-18 Chicken Coop) is really expensive for what it is.

Of all the ones on TSC site the OverEZ is probably the most usable design but they overestimate how many chickens it'll hold (depending on climate). I'd say 6 large fowl would be the max for that based on floor space. Going strictly by the roosts (not sure on roost spacing, but that's an easy fix) it could hold 12.

For folks who have access to smaller independent feed stores/co-ops, some of them do offer locally made, ready to go coops that are better designed and made of better materials. The labor and materials should be reflected in the price.

A premade shed is a more suitable option in most cases and pricewise is a better bargain. It will take some alterations to turn it into a coop.

The overEZ is well constructed. You can buy the OverEZ coops directly from the company’s website, bypass TS and its markup, and pay less in shipping charges.

 

[julieetroy]

Wow that last one (Innovation Pet Classic Red Barn, 15-18 Chicken Coop) is really expensive for what it is.

Of all the ones on TSC site the OverEZ is probably the most usable design but they overestimate how many chickens it'll hold (depending on climate). I'd say 6 large fowl would be the max for that based on floor space. Going strictly by the roosts (not sure on roost spacing, but that's an easy fix) it could hold 12.

For folks who have access to smaller independent feed stores/co-ops, some of them do offer locally made, ready to go coops that are better designed and made of better materials. The labor and materials should be reflected in the price.

A premade shed is a more suitable option in most cases and pricewise is a better bargain. It will take some alterations to turn it into a coop.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Only thing I never will shop their company again .. Different view
totally unrelated could only be used as a sick bay or broody...
Yes they are very expensive compared to building a small one yourself

 

[rayrose]

I have the large Formex coop that you listed in your second link under the higher priced ones. I didn't buy mine form TS, but found it cheaper at my pet chicken. This is the review that I posted on their website.


Very easy to assemble by just one person and without any tools. Now the downsides. The base is
very flimsy, which requires you to place it on a stand. If you leave it on the ground, the bottom warps outward all the way around, which causes the rest of coop to warp. I'm currently building a stand for mine. If that doesn't fix the warped back panel, I'll have to call the factory to have it replaced. I've already had to have the roosting bars replaced, because they were cut too short, and were constantly falling down. This coop is entirely too small for 8 chickens. it might accommodate 8 pigeons. I asked the factory why they didn't make it larger, and would you believe I was told they made it the current size, in order to make it fit in the Fedex shipping box. Some reason. The interior is poorly designed especially when it comes to the roosting bars of which there are three. They are placed parallel to the nesting boxes, which means that the birds that perch on the two outside bars poop into the nesting boxes, making them useless. You'll have to clean them every morning or the hens won't use them. If they had placed them perpendicular to the boxes, the birds couldn't poop in them. I told this to the factory rep, who thought that was an ingenious idea and would pass it along to the owner of the company. DUH !!
I regret buying this coop, but it's probably beyond the return window. I'm using the box as a brooder, which is the only good thing about this product.
It's also promoted to be mite free, since it's plastic. Don't believe it. I've already had to spray mine twice with Raid, because the mites were so bad. Spend the same amount of money and hire someone to build you a proper coop. That's what I'm going to do.

 

[wolfinator]

I bought one a few years ago on sale at TSC, still cost me over $400. I had to add handles to the drawer because it was very difficult to pull out to clean. I was light weight for size and flimsy. Within 6 months it started falling apart. The roofing started peeling up on the edges, the bottom boards were showing signs of rot and the poop drawer was starting to get rust spots.

This was it brand new.

First month using we had a severe storm and my boyfriend was worried the coop could blow away in the predicted 60 mph winds so we strapped it down. I used a baby monitor for security and still do.

The nesting boxes fell apart and the bottom boards were showing signs of rot. I needed to fix it for my pullets. We redid the bottom strengthening with full length boards and added a floor. The drawer was removed and there's 3 roosting bars instead of the 2 it came with. I used it for my 21 pullets and 2 cockerels after moving them from the nursery. Now, they're about a year old but didn't want to move out to main coop. Since I have a 120 sqft main coop, this one is for roosting only. I normally don't keep food or water in it unless calling for a severe storm. Every once in a while I may find an egg laid on the floor but somehow the 15 +/- hens that choose to roost here, know to use the nesting boxes in the main coop. The metal roof still needs put on.


I actually don't recommend any of those flimsy built coops. If you are able to gather used/scrap boards, you can build a coop for a lot less. My main coop is 12x10 with a 6x10 storage/nursery and has 8 ft walls. We spent about $650 on the pressure treated frame but the T-111 siding, metal roof, doors, windows (3x3 in back) and floor boards were all upcycled materials. The roosting bars and nesting boxes are also.

 

[TSC chicken lady]

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!

TSC coops are GARBAGE!! I’ve put sooo many of them together. These coops are ‘cute’, but offer NO protection for your birds.

 

[CassieD]

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!

 

[xenorph]

My current coop is built out of my buddy's old deck. For some reason they decided to use 2x6s instead of decking and let me tell you, the thing is a beast, pretty sure you could hit it with a car. It's too easy to find free scrap for me to ever pay for one of those little things. The run is 20x24 plus a covered 8x6 section under the deck. I dont even want to know how much this would have cost if I paid someone for it.

 

[CassieD]

We bought a coop from Tractor Supply a couple of months ago. A great recommendation I saw online was to see any coop in person before buying. I went to look at a standard one they were selling and was really glad I did. It was only 4 ft. High which is way too small to get into to clean and very, very flimsy, any predator could have gotten through. However they had one that may have been specific to Houston that was “200 percent stronger wood” then competitors. The mesh is stronger too, but not as strong as hardware cloth. We created a 3” wide and 3” high foundation to place the coop on top of with hardware cloth covering the entire bottom. I covered that with sand for easy cleaning. We calked the coop to the concrete ledge we created. Long story short the one we saw in person was the only one I would have purchased. It was $300. The rubbermade looking one looks pretty study though. I’ll post a picture here. We created a run so to speak covered in hawk netting so the girls had space to spread out

 

[aart]

However they had one that may have been specific to Houston that was “200 percent stronger wood” then competitors.

I saw one of these at TSC, last year I think, definitely better materials.
Design was a bit better too, IIRC, better ventilation and roosts were up off floor.
Still pretty darn small tho.