UrbanNorthern Resort Coop

[abigailb]

Hi Everyone,
My husband and I and our four children live in the Northeast. My husband and I kept chickens many years ago, before we had kids, but it has been a 13 year break! My husband and my dad built an amazing coop for our first flock, but we've long since moved from that house and it stayed behind as it was a significant structure, not really moveable. This time around, building one wasn't an option so we decided to go the pre-fab route. We ended up getting the Resort coop from Urban Northern, based on all the great reviews on their website. Of course I ddin't discover all the negative reviews here, or the fact that it truly isn't large enough, until much too late. It is now built and in our yard, and our six chicks are in a brooder in our basement (six different heritage breeds, full sized chickens). We have experienced great customer service with urban northern so far, and it has been upgraded with an asphalt roof since some of the original postings. They sell the run separately so we are also planning on getting a second run to double the space in the 12 foot run that it comes with. My question is, has anyone had a positive experience with this coop, and/or done any hacks to make it better for a flock of six chickens? Raising the roosting bars for example? I'm not sure how to use it in the beginning when we first move them out. I've read we need to block off the nesting boxes for the first few/several weeks so they don't start sleeping in there. There isn't any actual floor space- it is all roosting space and nest boxes. Where do you keep your food and water for example? Any helpful feedback is MUCH appreciated.
Thank you!
Abby

 

[rosemarythyme]

Food and water is going to have to go outside when they're older (under the coop is a good spot). While they're little you'll still have room for them inside, if you plan to lock them in for a few days at the start.

I'd recommend removing one set of nests entirely, needless to have that many nests for that size of unit. Just remove the interior dividers on side, and you can use that space for feed, water, or just as open floor space.

Roost bars should be above the nest box height (also they look too close together just from eyeballing it), so I'd probably put 2 bars up across the top of the nest box framing. I'd also get more substantial bars (at least 2" diameter). Again, just from eyeballing it, they don't look wide enough.

 

[abigailb]

Thanks so much for your reply! Yes, I've read that it is preferable anyway to keep the food and water outside of the coop, so we will hang it underneath. We have eliminated one side of nesting boxes to convert that to coop space. We also removed the roost bars it came with and replaced them with two, wider roost bars up above the nest box framing. So its a little better now. I'm thinking about using sand as litter, including on the poop tray, so the poop tray will also serve as coop floor space. Then I can scoop daily with a kitty litter scooper and replace weekly. Does this seem reasonable?

 

[aart]

This coop?
Hate they don't put real dimensions in there somewhere.

We have eliminated one side of nesting boxes to convert that to coop space. We also removed the roost bars it came with and replaced them with two, wider roost bars up above the nest box framing. So its a little better now.

Pics of your improvements, please?
Have you had a good hard rain since assembling?

Oh, and.... Welcome to BYC! @abigailb
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[abigailb]

Thanks for your reply and the great links! Yes, that is the one! (your link to the resort coop), I will post pics of my improvements -- don't have any now. We are in the Northeast, where it will get cold. Yes, we have had steady rains, and it has stayed dry inside. I fear it will be too drafty in the cold though. I was thinking of closing off all gaps, but then worried about ventilation, but we have some ideas for that too. I totally get it about the subtraction point. We plan on doing a lot of supervised free range. Our neighbors do the same, and they have gone from 6 to 5 chickens (over the course of a few years, so not too bad!). Of course we are already attached so I hate to say it, but it is the perfect sized coop for four chickens....

 

[Frankiegirl]

Hi there... I wanted to check with you to ask how things are going with your coop? I ordered the Farm Coop last week from Urban North as an interim coop while building a coop at our new house. As someone mentioned, the reviews here are not complimentary, but obviously the site has all fabulous feedback. I would appreciate hearing any additional thoughts as I am waiting for my coop to arrive later this month. Is there anything redeeming about the product?? Thanks

 

[kaylagrey]

Hey Abby! I am also curious to know how things turned out with your coop, as I am in a nearly identical situation (saw the good reviews, the nice photos, the sites good SERP) and placed an order. I don’t know how I came upon all the bad reviews, but I’m really worried that I threw away my money now.

 

[kaylagrey]

Hi there... I wanted to check with you to ask how things are going with your coop? I ordered the Farm Coop last week from Urban North as an interim coop while building a coop at our new house. As someone mentioned, the reviews here are not complimentary, but obviously the site has all fabulous feedback. I would appreciate hearing any additional thoughts as I am waiting for my coop to arrive later this month. Is there anything redeeming about the product?? Thanks

How did your coop turn out after all? I’m in the same position now!

 

[Frankiegirl]

How did your coop turn out after all? I’m in the same position now!

Hi there! I used that coop for about 6 months and it seemed to be fine for the time I used it. It never saw snow and I put a coat of varnish on it to protect it.

I ended up building a larger coop so it is not sitting in my garage. I don’t think it fits any more than 3 birds total and that is pushing it along with allowing for free range time.

If you are gingerly with it, and keep an eye on weak spots I think it could last a couple of years. It’s decently made but realistically not something I would expect more than a couple of years with.

I would highly recommend some sort of sealer to keep the wood from the elements. I also used a tarp over the run with carabiners for the rain.

Good luck.