Which Coop Design - I Can't Decide!?

[EricaD]

Ok, so I've purchased 2 sets of coop plans and can't decide which to build!!!

I bought TheGardenCoop and CleanCoop's "Shiloh" plan. We plan to keep around 15-ish chickens, so TheGardenCoop plan needs to be modified to accommodate more chickens, if I go with that one.

Here are the 2 designs:

TheGardenCoop. I was thinking I'd extend the length by 1 section and add a second mirror image hen house on the right side, with exterior egg boxes on both, plus modified with some windows in the front for ventilation and to watch the chickens, lol. But even that may not be large enough? And it'll be EXPENSIVE!




The "Shiloh". On its own it's big enough (6 x 10), but has no attached run. So I'd need to add one.





Help me choose! I'm still debating free range/pasturing all day (auto door), maybe within an electric chicken fence (we have hawks, but lots of hiding places in our wooded area, and we'll have a roo), versus an enclosed run most days with some supervised free range. I know with pastured birds we may lose a few, but they'll be healthier and happier and, if predators turn out to be too large a problem, we can always enclose them in a run later.

We also have 2 dogs that MAY be good with the chickens. We'll have to see. If that's the case, we can put them on a wireless invisible fence to help scare off predators in the immediate vicinity (won't help any chickens that wander too far away, though).

Lots of ideas swirling around, lol.

I guess I want to be conservative with the spending and building, and can always increase security as needed.

Right now I'm leaning towards the Shiloh plan with a small enclosed run (for emergency use) with auto door and letting the birds free range during the day. I may have a different plan tomorrow

 

[3LilBirds]

Me, I would go with the first one just so if I'm not going to be home my birds can still be outside safely. I still be afraid of a hawk swooping down and getting them, but I have no trees or bushes. They are both nice though!

 

[chickundercover]

It depends on how much experience you have.
The first looks like it would be easier to build, but you would have to extend the "indoors" space quite a bit for 15 birds.
Adding a run onto the second one shouldnt be too big of a deal, but I would think the second one would be more expensive.
Both look like they would make some chickens very happy!
Let us know which one you end up doing!

 

[TonySorrento]

The Shiloh!!!!!! Gives you room for the inevitable chicken math and it is beautiful! Just add a covered run and your birds will be in paradise!

Also, how happy and healthy is getting eaten by a predator? Lol

 

[EricaD]

I do worry about predators, but have been reading a lot about permaculture and paddocks for pasturing (can be electric, to ward off ground predators) and our property is wooded, so plenty of opportunities to hide from airborne predators as long as they have warning. And they'd be locked in the coop at night. I'm not married to the idea of pasturing, just playing around with different options.