What do you think of assemble yourself coop kits?

[dianneS]

I'm thinking of buying a small coop that comes shipped, flat in a box to assemble myself. Its supposedly all T&G treated lumber. The photos look nice, but my fear is that it will be some cheap, flimsy piece of junk. The price is really good, but I worry that its too good to be true!

Ever purchase one of these? Are they worthwhile? Its only $279 and holds up to 10-12 banties, which is what I want it for. Its got a ramp, nest boxes, roosts etc. Do you think its too cheap to be any good?

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

I haven't but I've considered it.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

I actually have thought about the local H.S. kids in wood shop class. They made us a tack shed (complete with metal roof, insulation, a cat door and painted to match our house, delivered to our house for $800). This is a NICE shed, too...I think it's 8 x 8. I'm thinking of doing a lean-to off the back for my free-range (eggs & meat) birds next spring. I just need to decide on a breed...and I'm leaning towards Buckeye! LOL

Another kid made me a nice rooster cutting board for $20

I was thinking of asking them to make me 4 bantam coops (4' x 4') just the frames. Then next spring, I can finish them out & do the runs myself. OSB is back down to $5.87 a sheet here and we have a lot of metal roofing left over.

The only thing that makes me nervous about those coop kits is the quality. Some of the ones I've seen at our local feed store are like composite wood or something...very flimsy.

 

[TaLani]

We made this little pen for roughly $100.00. I keep our 4 bantam EE's in it.

 

[DarkWolf]

Quote:
How about a link to it, so we can see?

chances are the "up to blah chickens" number is inflated.

Food for thought, you could see if the local highschool shop wants to take on a project. Often times they will build for cost of materials. Be way cheaper. That or a local vocational school.

They like quicky projects..

 

[dianneS]

Here's the link to the ebay site.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110435217191&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

It doesn't include a yard, and that's okay, it still seems cheap though. Our local builders want $700 for a tiny little coop, but that includes the yard.

 

[dianneS]

Quote:
That's a great idea! My nephew's building trades class has nothing to work on at the moment. They've been playing around with auto body detailing to occupy their time!

Its wood shop, not auto shop!!

I'll have to get in touch with him asap!

 

[Jess N Jeff]

It looks cute and all feedback seems positive. You know how people can be on ebay...if something sucks...everyone will know about it via feedback.

I would say give it a try. Worst case scenerio you can add on to it to make it work for you and your babies

 

[DarkWolf]

Sheeting material is just a hair under half inch thick, which isn't so bad.

I'm going to say the main body is 4' x 2', given the dimensions they state and removal of the next box out of those.

At 4SF per bird, it will hold 2 standards... At 2SF per banty, it will hold 4 banties...

Granted, you can fit one or two more in, but I wouldn't push much more than that.

Actually.. Per their specs the main body is only 5.98 square feet of space. So I would not go more than 4 banties, tops.

How they figure their capacity is beyond me.

-- edit--

That said, for what it is, it's a good price.. Just need to understand that it should not hold near as many as they say.. Which is [sadly] typical.

 

[chookchick]

32" by 42" for 6 large birds! Pulleeeez!
I think even 4 banties would be tight in there. I built a 3.5' by 4' by 2' tall mini coop form young ones before integration with the big ones. I used about two sheets of plywood, some 2 by 2s for sides and 2 by 4 for base. Roll roofing for the top, front flips down for cleaning, sits on a 2 by 4 base. I probably spent $50 for materials and 4-6 hours, and I'm a bad carpenter. Please consider building something yourself, and save a few bucks!