We need a larger coop.

[KatyH]

Hi,
I'd love some coop advice. The one we have for our hens will not be large enough when they are fully grown in a few months. The roosting area, not including the one nesting box, is 2x3, or 6 square feet. The run area is only 20 square feet. (We have 4 girls.) It's a tractor style. It's very well built (by an engineer 20 years ago) and is in excellent shape but isn't large enough and the poop is a bear to scoop! We let them roam the yard when we're home but I know they'll be spending more time inside in the winter. (We have pretty mild winters. We're in the Pacific NW.)
It's such a well built coop that I hesitate to get rid of it, but I want them to be as happy as possible. My husband and I are not handy and I don't have $500 to spend on a new coop and run. (I was actually dreaming about the Chicken Saloon's Tavern but will stay away from it based on reviews I read here.) I do have Amazon Prime so could return something if it wasn't good quality but the reviews on most of the coops available are not very favorable and I'd hate to have to repack something like a coop if I did decide to return it.
I have looked at tons of coops on Pinterest, Amazon, Craigslist and manufacturers websites. I love the idea of reusing materials but can't find anything I'd like to or be able to build.
I'd love it if someone had advice or plans on how two non-handy people could affordably build a new home for our girls.
Thanks in advance,
Katy

 

[3riverschick]

Hi KatyH

, and

I'd love some coop advice. The one we have for our hens will not be large enough when they are fully grown in a few months. The roosting area, not including the one nesting box, is 2x3, or 6 square feet. The run area is only 20 square feet. (We have 4 girls.) It's a tractor style. It's very well built (by an engineer 20 years ago) and is in excellent shape but isn't large enough and the poop is a bear to scoop! We let them roam the yard when we're home but I know they'll be spending more time inside in the winter. (We have pretty mild winters. We're in the Pacific NW.)
It's such a well built coop that I hesitate to get rid of it, but I want them to be as happy as possible. My husband and I are not handy and I don't have $500 to spend on a new coop and run. (I was actually dreaming about the Chicken Saloon's Tavern but will stay away from it based on reviews I read here.) I do have Amazon Prime so could return something if it wasn't good quality but the reviews on most of the coops available are not very favorable and I'd hate to have to repack something like a coop if I did decide to return it.
I have looked at tons of coops on Pinterest, Amazon, Craigslist and manufacturers websites. I love the idea of reusing materials but can't find anything I'd like to or be able to build.
I'd love it if someone had advice or plans on how two non-handy people could affordably build a new home for our girls.
Thanks in advance,
Katy

How much room do you have for expansion? are you on 1 1/0th acre or?

Do you intend to hatch chicks?

Where are you in WA ? what is your climate?

What kind of predators do you have?

What breeds do you have?

Karen in western PA, USA

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! You might check out pallet coops, there are quite a few threads on BYC about them, they are usually made or recycled pallets/wood and can be as plain or fancy as you want ie. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/792316/my-4x6-pallet-coop-build-completed-pic-heavy/10 and https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/550804/pallet-chicken-coop-ideas

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

You might consider a prebuilt wooden shed from a lumber yard or hardware store. They come as kits with instructions, flooring, shingles, the whole nine yards. Some of these hardware stores will even deliver the kit to your door. I am not sure what they cost, but you might also take a look at your local craigslist for a used one or something similar.

Good luck with getting a new coop for your chickens and welcome to our flock!

 

[KatyH]

Thanks for the welcome and great questions, Karen. I'll have a look at all the things you mentioned.

 

[KatyH]

Thanks for the idea and links, Kelsie. I'll check them out.

 

[KatyH]

Great idea, TwoCrows. I'll look into it. Thanks!

 

[gander007]

This our nesting box and the lady's just enjoy it ...




One of them even hatched out some egg's on one end .....




Nothing wrong with re-purposed materials and the poultry don't care a bit as long as they have a safe place to live and it provides shelter .......

 

[drumstick diva]

Glad you joined the flock

 

[Michael OShay]

Welcome to BYC! You have gotten some good advice from other BYC members. Keep in mind that for the coop, you need a minimum of 4' sq. per bird and for the run, a minimum of 10' sq. per bird, which means that for 4 birds you need a coop of at least 16 ' sq. (almost 3 times what you have now) and a run of at least 40 ' sq. (as Karen pointed out, twice what you have now). These are all bare minimums (more is better), and I would expand both the coop and the run as much as you can afford to, or can find materials to, or have the space to (whichever is turns out to be the limiting factor). Overcrowding can quickly lead to feather picking and even cannibalism. Good luck with your coop, run, and flock.