TSC Coop/run modification/design thoughts?

[L2fly]

After looking at it.. I think I can remove just the side panels top board. (one singular screw holds it in place) flip it on each side panel.this should allow me to move the run door to the other side without needing any more modification. This will be very easily done before assembling.

I can already tell that I will need to use my hardware stapler and put some real 16 guage galanized staples in to secure the hardware cloth screens.
I also plan to repaint with good exterior paint before assembeling anything.

I think I will follow the advice on this post and only put in one or two of the nest boxes instead of 3. I plan to have 4 hens if everything turns out the way I imagine... still need to do some reading to figure out if one box will be enough.


I also have a question about the way the box door let down... why is this? It would seem falling down and open would not be a good thing... why aren't the door lift up that way if the latch fails or your kids don't shut the door properly atleast hangs shut...instead of hanging wide open? Is there a reason the box doors open down?

Sounds like a good plan! And yes, painting BEFORE putting together is really something I wish I had done... I'm having so much fun climbing inside the coop to paint, lol!!

I used 1/2 inch screws with washers to reinforce the screens at the corners and every 12 inches, then followed up with 3/8 staples. And I added a 12-18 inch hardware cloth 'apron' around all sides.

From the reading I did on this board, I think 1 box per 4 birds is fine, apparently they all want to use the same one anyway? I wanted the extra room to add water inside the coop, although I'm not sure if I'm going to add a pop door or just a dog door type of flap, as I live in a very temperate area, in a neighborhood with few predators, and I think with the reinforcements I've made the entire run should be just as secure as the coop itself... but, if you do decide to add a pop door to make the coop more secure at night, you'll have to add some hardware cloth along the top of the coop where it meets the roof, as that opens right into the run.

Looking forward to seeing your mods!!

 

[Dayrel]

I have this same coop. I'm currently painting it. Additional modifications to come:

• Reinforce the hardware cloth as others have done.
• Mount a PVC feeder and PVC water system (with nipples). This will allow for easier refilling and should be comparatively clean.
• The following three are all related to converting the entire coop into a chicken tractor.
  • Add 2" angle brackets at key points to reinforce the frame for moving.
  • Add a 2"x4" wood base both for frame reinforcement and to prevent any potential rot from the main frame.
  • Adding 8" wheels

I'm not sure what to do about the door yet.

 

[donaltman3]

This has been such a fun experience so far. I picked out the coop online and found the display in the store.. even better it was on sale for 199 and just so happend we caught the friends and family event and got additional 25% off and free in store pickup
( They were out of stock ) so I don't feel bad modifying some. This wait gave me plenty of reading time. I got the water nipples and will be hanging a 5 gallon bucket with fitting to screw in a hose going inside the coop attached to 1 inch PVC tube with the nipples on it. Should be able to keep the water clean and not have to refill but once a week or more. I'LL make a feeder out of 2 inch PVC with the main body outside the coop, also with a five gallon hopper on it (I think.) The coop will be secured to a platform raised about 6 inches in the air. The run will be safe and used like the coop itself. If all this goes well I plan to use a picket fence and gate to separate it from my garden and make them thier own outside area. I want to use bird netting and give them about a 10x15 foot area as thier free range area. Once bigger they probably will come into garden itself and into the main, backyard but this way I can go out of town and they be safe and have plenty of room. I'm super afraid of predictors cats hawks and coons, I'm researchig solar motion light and motion sprinklers. Who knows. Just all imagination now. Sooo much fun.

 

[donaltman3]

I highly prefer when theyopen this way (rather than roof) since kids and short people like me can use them.

Opening down prevents litter/eggs/whatever the chickens shove up against it from falling out.

Oh, preventing the eggs from falling out, makes perfect sense now...

 

[donaltman3]

More modification needed than I originally thought to get all the doors and windows on the other side. I am flipping doors of the coop and run around but the nest box still needs to be against the side door to get the eggs.. I will also flip and swap sides on the house part of the coop. Doing so will have the window and the pull out tray in the wrong locations.. Flipping the door also leaves the hardware cloth on the outside of the pen.... good thing is all I have to do is remove the door hinges/latches and such and flip the whole window and screw them back down the correct way. I will also pop off the bottom half hardware cloth and put it back on the inside and staple it back down. Seems like a lot of work and probably is confusing not actually looking at it, but it shouldn't take 10-15 extra minutes of work.. and I wanted to use heavier staples anyway on the hardware cloth.

I'll take a few pictures when I start to disassemble it.

I plan to do your mod with the one nest box and larger roost area l2fly Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[L2fly]

More modification needed than I originally thought to get all the doors and windows on the other side. I am flipping doors of the coop and run around but the nest box still needs to be against the side door to get the eggs.. I will also flip and swap sides on the house part of the coop. Doing so will have the window and the pull out tray in the wrong locations.. Flipping the door also leaves the hardware cloth on the outside of the pen.... good thing is all I have to do is remove the door hinges/latches and such and flip the whole window and screw them back down the correct way. I will also pop off the bottom half hardware cloth and put it back on the inside and staple it back down. Seems like a lot of work and probably is confusing not actually looking at it, but it shouldn't take 10-15 extra minutes of work.. and I wanted to use heavier staples anyway on the hardware cloth.

I'll take a few pictures when I start to disassemble it.

I plan to do your mod with the one nest box and larger roost area l2fly Thanks for the suggestion.

Looking forward to seeing your mods, sounds like a good plan!

 

[donaltman3]

[/IMG]. Paint alone was a HUGE upgrade to this coop.

 

[donaltman3]

Used rustoleum enamel machine grey and light grey. Heres the difference in the dark gray it comes with versus a real paint.

 

[L2fly]

Huge difference!! I painted today, too, it was really 'thirsty'
I changed the color, to match my other shed.

 

[L2fly]

Here's the inside with the single nesting box (I thought the darker color would make it more peaceful!)


You were so smart to paint BEFORE assembling, it was a pain, climbing into the coop!