UK Newbie: Shed Coop

[chubbylegs]

Hi to all BYC'ers. This is a great website. I live in Cambridge,UK and have been wanting to get chickens for ages. Been through all the usual newbie problems: cheap coop off Fleabay, ready built ones too expensive, was going to build my own from the Univ of California free plan that's on this site but the timber quote from a standard timber merchant was £330!!!

Then I saw this at our DIY store:
http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.j...efview=lister&ts=1250018048126&isSearch=false

It's an overlap wooden shed 6'x4' with a window and single door for £99!

Would this be ok to use as a coop for 4-6 chickens? I know I'd need a pop hole, ventilation, roosts and nest boxes. I could lay some vinyl on the floor and make a run. I'm worried about the type of roofing as it says its felt and the issue of red mites!

It seems like a cheap, quick and easy coop to me!

I'd be grateful for any advice.
Thanks

 

[WitksChicks]

I have 6 chickens and I keep them in a 4' x 6' coop. Check out my page on this forum. It has some inside and outside pictures on the coop construction page. I designed and built it mostly by myself, with a little help from DH. If you are worried about the roof, you can always remove what it comes with and reinforce it with plywood and shingles.

Hope this helps, I'm a newbie as well. I've only had chickens since mid-April.

 

[chubbylegs]

Quote:
Thanks WitksChicks

Your coop looks great. My post was actually asking whether this shed would be ok to use as a coop. Your coop was specifically built as a coop and my shed is 6' tall x 4' wide and so I'm not sure if it would fit the purpose. I've noticed that most similar shed to coop conversions are from American members and american sheds are huge c/w our small box like versions.

 

[Hattie the Hen]

Hi there

I'm in the UK & use a shed like that as one of my emergency coops & it works just fine from Spring to the beginning of winter but I think you should insulate it for the winter weather (especially if it's anything like the last one). I moved my birds in together to keep them warm. My chickens seem to enjoy The hut but make sure it is well off the ground to be sake from rats!

Good luck!

Hattie

 

[NGT ANGL]

from Virginia! Good luck getting your coop set-up and chickens!

 

[cmom]

Quote:

I agree with the other posts.When I clicked on the link I got a blank page. I have a shed I use as one of my coops. It works great. Since you are planning on 4-6 birds I think it would be fine. Good luck and have fun.....

 

[ELLY1]

Hi to all BYC'ers. This is a great website. I live in Cambridge,UK and have been wanting to get chickens for ages. Been through all the usual newbie problems: cheap coop off Fleabay, ready built ones too expensive, was going to build my own from the Univ of California free plan that's on this site but the timber quote from a standard timber merchant was £330!!!

Then I saw this at our DIY store:
http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.j...efview=lister&ts=1250018048126&isSearch=false

It's an overlap wooden shed 6'x4' with a window and single door for £99!

Would this be ok to use as a coop for 4-6 chickens? I know I'd need a pop hole, ventilation, roosts and nest boxes. I could lay some vinyl on the floor and make a run. I'm worried about the type of roofing as it says its felt and the issue of red mites!

It seems like a cheap, quick and easy coop to me!

I'd be grateful for any advice.
Thanks

hi iv just got a 4x6 shed from wilkos, made a pop hole on side so they can go into the fixed run and another one on the door so they can get into their 14x14 foot run, i have 2 chickens at the moment but getting 4 more soon ,so you should be ok