Tractor Supply Walk-In Prairie House Chicken Coop

[AllenK RGV]

I'm sorry but at 500 how many 4x8's does it use? https://www.homedepot.com/p/1-2-in-...act-Pressure-Treated-Plywood-131876/206970940

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

Hi, I am Noelle, I have a differing option on prefabs. Yes, prefab coops get a bad rap here on BYC, but I am a voice from the other side of the fence. I built my first coop, The Kuntry Klucker. I will say it was the hardest most dangerous project that I undertook. I was new to chickens and followed the advice of more experienced keepers, one of which was don't buy a prefab coop build your own. Not knowing much this is what I did. I found through this endeavor that I have no business using power tools. I nearly killed myself twice and spent $1500 more than I had intentionally set out to spend. After I cut the wood too short or at wrong angels it got expensive. I had never built anything before, so this was my first and last experience with wood work and carpentry in general.

So how did I come to love prefab coops. Well, as the saying goes you cannot have just one. I feel in love with chickens and wanted more. I knew from my past experience that building my coop was a suicide mission so I looked elsewhere. I began to entertain the thought of prefab coops against the better judgement of other poultry keepers. The fact was simple, I can not build a coop so I had to seek out better options.

To start I read reviews, most will say that it looks good but the quality is poor. This is a general across the board review that you will see for a prefab coop. Don't let this bother you, the coops when given a little love will do just fine. Anyway, Knowing that I ordered one with a plan in mind. When it arrived I put it together and was actually shocked at how well it was actually made. Drawing from my experience from my coop building disaster I updated the hardware cloth, updated the latches, and gave the wood a good coat of barn paint followed by a good water seal. The results were stunning!!! No only did I not kill my self building the "kit coop", all I needed was a screwdriver inserted of a power saw. But after I made my adjustments is held up well, and I mean well. I live in the steamy south in East Tennessee. We get hot summers with lots of humidity, nasty spring storms, and ice in the winter. Mother Nature throws it all at us. Through this my prefab coops have held up very well. I do touch up the paint about every other year, the hardware cloths and latches are still fine.

After my experience with my first prefab coop which is now has 5 years under its belt, I ordered more as my flocks grew. I now have 5 coops currently in operation, 4 of them are prefab coops. I have not had any predators get into my prefab coop, nor have I had any problems with the wood rotting (hence the paint and water seal). The Roofs hold up well and the durability of the structures have withstood evening mother nature has thrown at it so far. I can honestly say that I would take a ditserouls weather event to tear them down like a tornado. But if I get a tornado here I will have more damage than just my coops.

So this is my story, I learned from experience that building your own coop as many suggest it just not feasible for everyone. I did it and nearly killed my self and I will never build one from scratch again. I have enough experience with prefab coops to honestly recommend them as a viable options for others who cannot or do not know how to built a chicken coop. They are a very good option. I will say that I will only get mine from Tractor Supply or a local co-op. Reason being... if it arrived damaged (so far none of mine have) they will replace or exchange it for me. If I order from Amazon I might be a bit screwed there. That would be my only advice. Prefab coops are great, but get it from TSC, Rural King, or local co op that sales them. If you have problems you can get help.

I am a small voice on this site with prefab chicken coops in general. But I like to think that my experience and opinions will help others understand that there are options and that prefab coops make great homes for your chickens.

Here is a pic of my back yard. In fact I put in a new coop just a month ago. A prefab from Tractor Supply. My silkies love it as do I!!

Here is the new one that I just put in last month!!!

 

[Joyschickens]

I saw this one at TSC a month or so ago.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-hill-country-coop
It's about the same size as in the OP and less expensive.
I was pretty impressed with it, being a longtime and ardent criticizer of all prefab coops, that's saying a lot.
The biggest plus is the metal roof with decent overhangs.
It also has taller space inside and some ventilation.

How many chickens could actually stay in this coop? The TSC specs say 6, they are usally way off on that important detail. It is hard when local TSC doesn't carry what they sell online.

 

[bald Rooster]

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Here is my little prefab coop that I got on clearance from TSC a year ago. It has held up in two blizzards and some heavy rains. It will need some work soon. I'd like to replace the latches and add another vent, primarily. A few screw holes have worn out, and it is easy to turn it a bit warped if you try to move it single handedly. Our shed was destroyed in the 40 mph winds we just had so I'm going to use the pavers that surrounded it to elevate it off the soil/deep litter. Prefabs have their place. I only use mine as a brooder and extra set of nest boxes, but if I found a big one on clearance cheap enough I'd probably buy it for a bantan breeding pen.

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

View attachment 1311664

Here is my little prefab coop that I got on clearance from TSC a year ago. It has held up in two blizzards and some heavy rains. It will need some work soon. I'd like to replace the latches and add another vent, primarily. A few screw holes have worn out, and it is easy to turn it a bit warped if you try to move it single handedly. Our shed was destroyed in the 40 mph winds we just had so I'm going to use the pavers that surrounded it to elevate it off the soil/deep litter. Prefabs have their place. I only use mine as a brooder and extra set of nest boxes, but if I found a big one on clearance cheap enough I'd probably buy it for a bantan breeding pen.

View attachment 1311683

I have that exact coop! It had held up really well. Mine is two years old going on three next month. It has been a great little coop for my white crested polishes.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I have that exact coop! It had held up really well. Mine is two years old going on three next month. It has been a great little coop for my white crested polishes. View attachment 1313271

I love the star! Did it come in red or did you paint it? I need to make a run extension after we move. I wish it had a door to the run at the part under the coop. Sometimes I have to almost crawl into the run to get running chicks lol. I keep telling myself to buy a net and then I forget.

 

[Blue Eager]

Have you ever thought about searching your local craigslist? Search under "Farm & Garden" or "Materials". I am sure you can come up with inovative ideas to make a great coop with little or no building experience with items sold there. I'm sorry but Tractor Supply with regards to coops are cute but appear to be constructed using spent materials.

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

I love the star! Did it come in red or did you paint it? I need to make a run extension after we move. I wish it had a door to the run at the part under the coop. Sometimes I have to almost crawl into the run to get running chicks lol. I keep telling myself to buy a net and then I forget.

I painted it. I paint all of my coops so they all match. I got the star at an Amish store on vacation a few years ago.

 

[SwampyChicken]

I saw this one at TSC a month or so ago.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-hill-country-coop
It's about the same size as in the OP and less expensive.
I was pretty impressed with it, being a longtime and ardent criticizer of all prefab coops, that's saying a lot.
The biggest plus is the metal roof with decent overhangs.
It also has taller space inside and some ventilation.

Thank you Thank you Thank you!!
You have no idea the aggravation you've saved me by saving my husband from making one from scratch.

We'll have this inside a large pen. It's perfect for starting out, which we are.