Your opinions on my coop please!

[Nadilli]

Hi there! (Located in SE New Mexico)

First off, there are currently 8 CHICKS in this coop, soon to be 4, I bought extra so that I could pick which I wanted. I wanted female only silkies/bantys/bantums, but they where unsexed so I got 3 silkies and one banty, sexed them the best I could and hoped for the best; and I got 4 gold sex-link pullets for "backup". They are now 8 weeks old and it looks like I got pretty lucky, only one male silkie and the rest are female, so keeping one gold sex-link.
So, the coop will be housing 4 girls: 2 silkies, 1 banty, and one gold sex-link.

Now that thats out of the way, heres the coop! Modified from Tractor Supply I added an extra run from a critter cage that I am not using. (ps got the coop on sale)
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...IyvPPTARPamm4dimyG610iS59ltGt9ogaAk42EALw_wcB

Extension: 44 L x 34 W x 22 T inches
121 inches total length

It will be reinforced, along with the bottom being lined outside with brick, and the addition being more securely fixed once it is moved to its permanent location.

I am thinking of getting some parrot toys for them to put in.

The food and water gravity feeders are under the coop, and not in the picture.

And thinking about some sort of ventilation or putting in a fan. I have an indoor and outdoor thermometer and have the outside in the coop to monitor.

Thank you! Any comments welcome, good or bad, Id love to improve if I am able to (financially)

 

[Lemon-Drop]

Awesome! Generally, I probably would have built a coop my self, but if that wasn’t an option, this *should* work. You will want, for 4 chickens, 16’ in the coop (total) so you would want a 4’ by 4’ coop, or something similar. and 40’ in the run. (Total) (it could be something like a 4’ by 10’ run) those are minimum requirements. More space is usually better, and chicken math is real.

I’m not sure about parrot toys... chickens will easily dirty them up, and, chickens are chickens, not parrots. re’s some ideas of what I did to accessorize my coop and run. Only problem with a few of these ideas is that I have a 750 sq’ run and a 8’ by 6’ coop... much bigger than your area (I also have 13 chickens)

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/run-clutter-and-coop-‘extras’.76527/

Of course, parrot toys would work ok, I’m just not sure if they would be great for the chickens. Some other ideas are hanging bunches of lettuce for them to jump and peck at when they are older.

You will also probably want to add a lot more ventilation, open 24/7/ year round. Recommended is 1 sq food per bird in the coop.

Also, I’m not sure where the roosts are located. Are they on the bottoms, or near the roof? If possible, make the roosts as close to the ceiling as possible.

Do you have the dimensions of the coop (house) and the dimensions of just the run? That would be helpful for me.

I don’t know a ton about pre fabs, but modifications are usually required.

You may also want to upgrade the locks, as you probably don’t want raccoons to be able to get in. Here’s an article on predator proofing a coop.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/top-10-ways-to-protect-your-chickens-from-predators.76540/

This is a lot of information, but I hope it helps!

 

[Lemon-Drop]

I did some calculations... the coop is 3’ by 6’ approximately. So let’s say it’s a 3’ by 3’ coop. I’m not sure... is there any possible way to add an extension to the coop itself? I’m not good with changing things up...

 

[Nadilli]

I did some calculations... the coop is 3’ by 6’ approximately. So let’s say it’s a 3’ by 3’ coop. I’m not sure... is there any possible way to add an extension to the coop itself? I’m not good with changing things up...

Possibly, I will have to see what I can come up with when it gets moved to its permanent location. The roost is about 6 inches above the floor, but they arent going in at night, but they have only been in the coop for about 2 weeks with extremely mild weather.
Thank you, I will think about how I can make those modifications!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Ventilation will be your biggest need. I'd highly suggest looking at replacing the coop wall facing into the run with wire mesh, to provide a lot more ventilation that's protected by the roof.

Is that run extension going to be part of the permanent set up? How large is that? Other than coop ventilation, the small size of the run is my other main concern. You should consider reinforcing it with hardware cloth no larger than 1/2" to keep rats, snakes, etc. out, and apron it out at least 12" (18-24" would be better) to prevent predators from digging in.

 

[Ducklingguy]

I think it looks nice.

We’re building one soon! Hopefully go get the stuff from Lowe’s this weekend. I am building mine on the side of the barn.
For the ducks, we’re also going to install a small pool into the ground.

On the other hand, we’re waiting on a chicken coop to come in we ordered about a week ago.

Fortunately, a guy up the road sells hay for $5 a bail (sp?). Everything should be underway okay!

Going to make these feathered friends as comfy as possible.

Best of luck to you!
Ducklingguy

 

[rosemarythyme]

Oh and axe the parrot toys - they're not parrots. Chickens would rather have a pile of dried leaves or hay to dig through, perches to hop up on, clutter to go up and down and around (hence the run being an issue, you don't have space to add much clutter, if at all).

 

[Lemon-Drop]

Awesome! Generally, I probably would have built a coop my self, but if that wasn’t an option, this *should* work. You will want, for 4 chickens, 16’ in the coop (total) so you would want a 4’ by 4’ coop, or something similar. and 40’ in the run. (Total) (it could be something like a 4’ by 10’ run) those are minimum requirements. More space is usually better, and chicken math is real.

I’m not sure about parrot toys... chickens will easily dirty them up, and, chickens are chickens, not parrots. re’s some ideas of what I did to accessorize my coop and run. Only problem with a few of these ideas is that I have a 750 sq’ run and a 8’ by 6’ coop... much bigger than your area (I also have 13 chickens)

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/run-clutter-and-coop-‘extras’.76527/

Of course, parrot toys would work ok, I’m just not sure if they would be great for the chickens. Some other ideas are hanging bunches of lettuce for them to jump and peck at when they are older.

You will also probably want to add a lot more ventilation, open 24/7/ year round. Recommended is 1 sq food per bird in the coop.

Also, I’m not sure where the roosts are located. Are they on the bottoms, or near the roof? If possible, make the roosts as close to the ceiling as possible.

Do you have the dimensions of the coop (house) and the dimensions of just the run? That would be helpful for me.

I don’t know a ton about pre fabs, but modifications are usually required.

You may also want to upgrade the locks, as you probably don’t want raccoons to be able to get in. Here’s an article on predator proofing a coop.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/top-10-ways-to-protect-your-chickens-from-predators.76540/

This is a lot of information, but I hope it helps!

Not sure why, but the first link doesn’t seem to work... let me see if it works now. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/run-clutter-and-coop-‘extras’.76527/

 

[Lemon-Drop]

Not sure why, but the first link doesn’t seem to work... let me see if it works now. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/run-clutter-and-coop-‘extras’.76527/

Huh. It still doesn’t work.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Worked for me on copy/paste? https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/run-clutter-and-coop-‘extras’.76527/