Which coop to buy... help!

[JacinLarkwell]

Nearly all prebuilt coops are not worth buying; to small, too flimsy, pretty useless, especially for five or six standard birds.
A garden shed modified with added ventilation/ hardware cloth covered window openings makes more sense, or a hoop coop, made predator proof, or that wonderful Woods coop design.
Mary

I can testify for this. Have a homemade coop that is lasting 10 years so far without even having to redo the wire (I've never had an animal break through like a lot of people havw, I guess)

Paid 275$ for a coop that holds 1/5 as many birds, stretching it. Less than 6 months later, the window door is gone from one window and part of the door for the other one is gone. Less than a year later the wire starts popping off the frame. 2 years later I have several doors that only have one lock close so I have to keep my hen and babies in the house and not let them to the run until it's broad daylight

 

[RobertaD1]

You will easily find someone in your area to help in converting a shed.... (lots of people are currently out of work and looking to make a buck under the table)
but start with a shed and a list of ideas from here... type "converting a shed" into the search. You need only a few things to get it started... roost ideas, nest box ideas and ventilation. Its really not hard to throw this together.
Have faith!

 

[RobertaD1]

Home Depot has several reasonably priced plastic sheds!
https://www.homedepot.com/b/Storage...door-Storage-Sheds-Plastic-Sheds/N-5yc1vZbu8z

 

[RobertaD1]

This is a thread where someone converted a plastic shed
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/plastic-shed-chicken-coop.67752/

 

[Percheron chick]

Start with CL. Look for coops, sheds, playhouses... Look at the free section. There is an 8x6 free shed in Boulder right now. Hire someone to move it and with a $100 in remodeling, you are set for life. Check out FB. There are chicken groups. Someone knows someone. There is a reason you see tons of prefab coops on CL. They are crap. Learn from others and don't buy a coop twice. 6' dog panels make a nice dog run. Easy to expand when you find more or add chickens. I'm E of Brighton and can show up with tools if you need a hand.

 

[New2COchicks]

Thanks everyone. Will a shed be warm enough in winter? also what about those walk in Amish ones people have talked about? I’m kinda on the fence whether already pre made Amish one or a plastic shed and repurpose

 

[RobertaD1]

Thanks everyone. Will a shed be warm enough in winter? also what about those walk in Amish ones people have talked about? I’m kinda on the fence whether already pre made Amish one or a plastic shed and repurpose

Yes, they are warm enough... and if you can do the amish built ones... go for it. They're nice

 

[New2COchicks]

Ok I just found a tool plastic shed with sky lights and a window. At this point would I just need to put in more vents and if so how do you Saw into plastic and do that?

 

[RobertaD1]

Any saw would work. I always start with a jigsaw until I cant use it anymore especially for creating holes. And adding more ventilation is always advised.

 

[RobertaD1]

And grab yourself a dog kennel for a run... just need to predator proof it