What size coop would you suggest? (update)

[ShrekDawg]

I have a hoop coop up here in Vermont, and it works very well during the winter. It's really strong too and can hold a ton of snow. In the last big storm, we had three huge tree branches come down on it along with all the snow, and there was no damage whatsoever. It didn't even bow in a tiny bit. So yes, they do hold up well to winter

Wow that's really awesome. I guess it would definitely hold up to our MA winters then!

 

[ShrekDawg]

Where did you get the cattle panels?

Also, after watching some YouTube videos, I'm thinking it wouldn't necessarily have to be walk in as long as it was easy to clean and/or the run was walk in or at least easy to interact with them. Like for instance, I watched this one where their coop was on legs and all he had to do was open the cleaning door, rake the stuff out, and put new stuff in. Like a 2 minute affair. That's the kind of ease I need xD

Plus I'm thinking if it's on legs and smaller (might only get 4-7 now), then it wouldn't count as a "shed" and I wouldn't have to go through the town

 

[MeepBeep]

Where did you get the cattle panels?

Most all farm/fleet supply stores sell them... Also check craigslist, they pop up every so often...

 

[ShrekDawg]

Most all farm/fleet supply stores sell them... Also check craigslist, they pop up every so often...

Thanks for the info

 

[ShrekDawg]

I just found this and it seems like a pretty good deal but then again it looks sort of dirty so I don't know. I guess my own birds would make it dirty anyways? And I suppose it could be cleaned? I don't know. http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/grd/4790185250.html

Also found this, which I obviously wouldn't need if I got the first one: http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/zip/4811891514.html

And a lot of those tarp shed type things, which might be worth it if I got one of the smaller ones for a couple hundred bucks

 

[MeepBeep]

I just found this and it seems like a pretty good deal but then again it looks sort of dirty so I don't know. I guess my own birds would make it dirty anyways? And I suppose it could be cleaned? I don't know. http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/grd/4790185250.html 

A good start, it needs a lot more ventilation and some other tweaks though to be better suited as a coop, so it's not really ready... And yes your birds will have it looking light that in no time, but you still risk the transmission of disease when you buy a used coop so you should attempt to clean it as best you can, and after cleaning it I would seal all the bare wood with a good primer like Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3...

BUT, the price is WAY too high, I can go to Home Depot and purchase a brand new 10x10 wood shed kit for $800 (steel sheds are even cheaper) I would never pay $800 for a used smaller one, especially since you have to take it apart, move it and reassemble the dirty thing... Around me you can find sheds like that, that are 'Please take it away for free, I don't want it' or maybe few hundred dollars...

Also found this, which I obviously wouldn't need if I got the first one: http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/zip/4811891514.html

Well it's a pile of wood, and from my perspective not much, but if you have a place to store it and transport it, it might come in handy as you tweak or build a coop...

 

[ShrekDawg]

A good start, it needs a lot more ventilation and some other tweaks though to be better suited as a coop, so it's not really ready... And yes your birds will have it looking light that in no time, but you still risk the transmission of disease when you buy a used coop so you should attempt to clean it as best you can, and after cleaning it I would seal all the bare wood with a good primer like Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3...

BUT, the price is WAY too high, I can go to Home Depot and purchase a brand new 10x10 wood shed kit for $800 (steel sheds are even cheaper) I would never pay $800 for a used smaller one, especially since you have to take it apart, move it and reassemble the dirty thing... Around me you can find sheds like that, that are 'Please take it away for free, I don't want it' or maybe few hundred dollars...
Well it's a pile of wood, and from my perspective not much, but if you have a place to store it and transport it, it might come in handy as you tweak or build a coop...

Yeah, it would probably require a lot of cleaning and stuff. I mean, I don't mind adding more tweaks and stuff, but as you said, I'd have to disassemble it. But yeah, there definitely are cheaper, or at least better, ones at stores and stuff. At first I thought it was a pretty good deal but now that you mention it, it really doesn't seem like it, especially being so small and used. There's a couple that are free or way cheaper here too but most of them are really small or really old. aha

As for the wood, yeah, it really doesn't seem like there's much left but it might be a good start. But I think it's sort of far away and our truck just broke so that might not work..

I'll have to keep looking around, I'm sure I could find something.

Though I'm not sure I want a full shed, I'm starting to think one of those raised off the ground ones with an attached run might be good, I have a perfect place for one.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Another quick search on Craigslist revealed tooooonnnnsss of free wood (pallets, leftover scrap wood, etc. etc.) or cheap lumber, maybe I should go take some of that? I've heard mixed things about pallets though

 

[Free Feather]

Seriously, though, the hoop coop is a really good idea. I love mine.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Seriously, though, the hoop coop is a really good idea. I love mine.

I think I'm going to look into that further, unless I can find materials for really cheap, but I'm worried my mom or the neighbors might think it's ugly XD hahah