What do you think of this coop?

[accoladryn]

Hey everyone!

So i'm looking for my first coop... i have 4 chicks right now and will probably end up with closer to 6-8 total when all is said and done. For price, and functionality, what do y'all think of this one?

https://houston.craigslist.org/for/5524361579.html


i'm not set up to free range/forage right now, though we have a couple acres. Eventually i would like to be but we would have to do some work on the fence line around the property first (we live near a busy road).

So for now they would be on grain primarily. And we were thinking of building maybe a light-weight run that be added onto this one.

I am also able to build something myself, but for the price it seemed like i'd probably pay close to this in lumber and material, what do y'all think? I wanted a coop that has two ramps on either side so if we can figure out a good rotation system we can ultimately switch sides to give the other side time to "recover".

How do people do with just runs and chickens? it seems like it would get to a muddy point where it couldn't come back... what do you do at that point to keep it from just getting worse and worse?

thanks in advance!

adryan

 

[Ourpeeps123]

It looks good. I think your chicks will love it!

 

[Tumbling K]

I think the roosts are too low in elation to the nesting boxes. I think the roof will leak. I think they have either made a typo on their run dimensions, or what they are selling isn't what is pictured.

the coop size would hold possibly 5 full size hens, but the run, wouldn't even hold two. I'm strongly suspect of the treated pine they claim.


here are my additional thoughts.....if you are handy, it may not be a bad place to start, especially at the price listed.


But I'd be prepared to make some modifications:
You will absolutely need more run space.
I would raise the pop door and the roosts.
I would raise the poop pan. This would allow additional run space under the roosts.
I would address the roof issue, by sealing the seam, and never opening it up.
The nesting box is too big for so few birds, and there isn't a divider, I'd consider making it two nesting boxes with divider.


that was just my first impression, I'm sure some other knowledgeable folks will chime in.

 

[Eggsoteric]

My honest opinion? Cheaply made and will not stand up to harsh weather or predators nor will it hold the number of birds they claim it will. You'd be better off looking for a large doghouse, playhouse or small shed (some folks do offer sheds for free off CL) and converting it into something much more safe and less likely to fall apart within the year. Lots of great coop ideas (that won't break the bank) on this site under the coops tab. Good luck!

 

[BleuSaphir]

If you can meet this seller in person, bring a measuring tape to see it it accurate. If not, walk away.

If you like the hen house, I would modify the roost. And make your own run. Both sides for run area look small.

 

[junebuggena]

It's going to need more ventilation. And the latches are too simple. A raccoon will get in there eventually.

 

[AllynTal]

I think if you can build one yourself, you'd be better off. For the money they want for that set-up, you can make yourself a nice coop that actually will hold 8 chickens. That one is too small for 6 or 7 birds. The ad says it can hold 6 to 7 chickens, but it's been my experience that if I cut in half the number of chickens it allegedly can hold, I get a more accurate number.

 

[wamtazlady]

I think that coop and run are way too small for what you need. Each chicken should have 4 square feet of inside coop space. For 8 birds that is 32 square feet or an 8 by 4 coop. If you plan on keeping the food and water inside the coop then the area those things take up needs to be subtracted from the 32 square feet you need. Each chicken should have about 10 square feet of run space which for 8 birds is 80 square feet. That coop gives you nowhere near that space. If you don't give the birds room you'll have problems. Some birds might bully others. There could be feather picking. Then as others have pointed out, it needs a lot more ventilation and better latches just to start to make it a usable coop.

My run did turn into muck this winter. It was my first year with this new coop so ran into a couple glitches that have to be solved. For a temporary fix the house sitter put pine shavings in the run. This summer I plan on adding 4-6 inches of sand to raise up the run so it will drain better.

 

[limited25]

Hey everyone!

So i'm looking for my first coop... i have 4 chicks right now and will probably end up with closer to 6-8 total when all is said and done. For price, and functionality, what do y'all think of this one?

https://houston.craigslist.org/for/5524361579.html


i'm not set up to free range/forage right now, though we have a couple acres. Eventually i would like to be but we would have to do some work on the fence line around the property first (we live near a busy road).

So for now they would be on grain primarily. And we were thinking of building maybe a light-weight run that be added onto this one.

I am also able to build something myself, but for the price it seemed like i'd probably pay close to this in lumber and material, what do y'all think? I wanted a coop that has two ramps on either side so if we can figure out a good rotation system we can ultimately switch sides to give the other side time to "recover".

How do people do with just runs and chickens? it seems like it would get to a muddy point where it couldn't come back... what do you do at that point to keep it from just getting worse and worse?

thanks in advance!

adryan

Buy a bale of straw and put it in the run, leaving it intact. The chickens will scratch it up and will love to climb on it and peck at it. It will get on the grass and help protect the ground from becoming all muddy. Also, once in a while, flip the bale over so they can get bugs that are on the underside. When you move their run, you can just rake up the straw and put it in your compost pile. Our chickens love playing on straw bales and it helps keep them entertained. Leaving a little space between the side of the run creates a space where a hen can escape if another chicken is chasing her. Good luck with your chickens, and