If you prep it to last,you can get a longer life out if it than you hear. I'm using a fam members small coop for a quarantine area. She's had it 4 yrs. it's a small one,holds my 4 orps.there is an attached fenced in area but its small. I'd say fine for at night or to get out of bad weather,but not to live in just that. Now her coop door hinge broke away from
The wood,and the slats fall out of the side wall. So knowing ahead that
tsc are cheaply made,I prepped mine to hopefully solve the known issues the coops have.
First,I raised the entire coop up on chimney cinder blocks. It prevents the wood from rotting on the wet ground. I added a run.the coop says holds up to 8,it will hold 5 in the end.For 3 now til the 2 youngest get added.I water sealed it. I used Armor All water sealer i had laying around. I did EVERY nook and cranny you could possibly think of! I crawled inside and underneath and everything! Even the underside of the roof panels,and leaked the sealer on top,between the pieces to get it to flood through the gutters. They're wood and can rot over time. I also reinforced with extra screws. The chrome screws came with it,and you can see my dark drywall screws EVERYWHERE! Lol! Even on the roof! I also added insulation inside. I intend to house my chickens in this over winter,and they were fine in their homade coop now,but the wood is much thicker,so i decided some insulation would help. I painted it red to deter pecking.i haven't moved them in yet,so I don't know how well that will work,but will put really thin board over if needed.i used liquid nail to attach the foam board,and hope the glue will not only hold the foam board,but the slats together so they don't fall apart like the other coop.
I got this coop with 10percent off and used a gift card from a bday present,so only cost about $250. Screws were $6,and the foam board was $10,I already had the sealer,and liquid nail,but the point is,for the cost of materials to make another one it would have been $239,so not much difference,so just got this kit. Time is not my friend,so this was much better. If it lasts 4-5yrs,that'd give me time to make another one if i need to.
