All Metal Coop? Newby Searching Many Possiblilities

[MSgt Mike]

Wanted to get some feedback on this all metal and costly coop.

It's called the Chick Chick Coop and is $2550 all in with the wheel package to move around.

This is what got us even thinking about a small flock for our 1 acre abode. Saw it at First Monday Trade Days in Canton a few months ago. Since then the research has led us to this site and all the different possibilities.

This one has an all wire floor in the hen house and they emphasize ease of cleaning. Having raised rabbits in my younger days I'm not naive enough to believe that the poop "just falls through". Also not sure how the all metal construction would be in hot or cold. It does have some insulation in the roof area. Anyway, just wanted to get some opinions and feedback on something like this even though it is way up the price point. Thanks!

Mike

 

[ChicketySplit]

They put a lot of thought into the design... But the price - Ouch! We thought about a chicken tractor, but have more space (5+ acres), so settled on a stationary coop to house our flock. Do you have the tools/skills and are willing to consider building your own coop? I think you could buy the tools and materials for much less and customize to your needs/wants. Are you looking for eggs, meat, or both, and for what size family?

 

[naf_appaz]

Wow that's a cadilac coop! Very nice, should be a predator resistant fortress...Just wondering in temperature extremes if it would amplify conditons? To pricey for me, if you got the time and inclination you can build one for considerably less than half that price tag.

 

[nminusyplusm]

I personally wouldn't want to use it as a stationary coop because that area under the wire floor looks like it would be a PITA to clean being so low.

But it also looks like too much coop to be a great tractor, I'd want something lighter weight unless I wasn't going to move it manually and it had large wheels. The wheels it has look small to me for its size and it looks heavy (but who knows? is there a weight listed somewhere on their website?), I'm picturing myself trying to pull it on ground that isn't perfectly flat. Is there a video of someone pulling it? I'm always suspicious of sales pitches where they tell you something's easy but you don't get to see that easy thing demonstrated.

That said, I don't think the metal construction would make it too hot. With the wire floor and the cupola at the top, there's plenty of convection. If you lived somewhere hot like I do, keeping it galvanized and as reflective as possible would be the way to go. The coop I built has a corrugated galvanized roof with lots of ventilation and it stays nice and cool in the summer. I have no idea about cold... I always wondered how chickens in wire bottom coops fare in winter.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I think this looks pretty awesome compared to the price tags on other wooden pre fab coops.
You can definitely build something a lot cheaper if you have the tools time and skills to do so. . you can use a lot of reclaimed stuff also to save cash.
But if you are looking at buying something anyway I think it's worth the money. I showed it to my husband who puts up metal buildings for a living and he says the cost is probably about right considering what metal costs and welded wire. Plus wheels and door track are expensive as well.
As far as how it would work out for your birds I have no idea. I haven't kept chickens myself. I didn't see any way to actually enter the coop area if you needed to get in there for some reason. . that might be a pita.
Best of luck whatever you decide to do! Thanks for posting that was interesting!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Holy WOW Mike!

I think also that one could buy tools AND materials for less!

Have you been to the BYC coop pages?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/

Tons upon tons of great info in there.

 

[nminusyplusm]

I didn't see any way to actually enter the coop area if you needed to get in there for some reason. . that might be a pita.

Good point! I noticed that too. It looks like you'd have to crawl through the barn door window.

 

[MSgt Mike]

They put a lot of thought into the design... But the price - Ouch! We thought about a chicken tractor, but have more space (5+ acres), so settled on a stationary coop to house our flock. Do you have the tools/skills and are willing to consider building your own coop? I think you could buy the tools and materials for much less and customize to your needs/wants. Are you looking for eggs, meat, or both, and for what size family?

Could definitely buy materials and build a wooden one for much less from what I've seen on the Coop pages here and I could manage to do it. Just have to give up the time.
Only eggs and it's just my wife and I with 2 miniature dachshunds. I don't want to waste the eggs and could probably trade/sell some, although there are at least 4 other homes within 3 miles that sell.

I personally wouldn't want to use it as a stationary coop because that area under the wire floor looks like it would be a PITA to clean being so low.

But it also looks like too much coop to be a great tractor, I'd want something lighter weight unless I wasn't going to move it manually and it had large wheels. The wheels it has look small to me for its size and it looks heavy (but who knows? is there a weight listed somewhere on their website?), I'm picturing myself trying to pull it on ground that isn't perfectly flat. Is there a video of someone pulling it? I'm always suspicious of sales pitches where they tell you something's easy but you don't get to see that easy thing demonstrated.

That said, I don't think the metal construction would make it too hot. With the wire floor and the cupola at the top, there's plenty of convection. If you lived somewhere hot like I do, keeping it galvanized and as reflective as possible would be the way to go. The coop I built has a corrugated galvanized roof with lots of ventilation and it stays nice and cool in the summer. I have no idea about cold... I always wondered how chickens in wire bottom coops fare in winter.

I also don't think those little jack wheels are going to roll very well in most grassy/dirt areas. No weight listed but I'm sure he would post if asked on their FB page
No actual video of it being pulled but the handle in front can be hooked to a lawn tractor or ATV and pulled around.

I didn't see any way to actually enter the coop area if you needed to get in there for some reason. . that might be a pita.

Didn't really pick up on that! Now that you point it out I don't recall a way in except through the side window. Don't think it would be a good idea to put much weight on the wire but if something had to be repaired in there it would be a pain. Maybe the wire floor could be lifted out of the way.

Have you been to the BYC coop pages?

Have been scouring these pages daily and have found SO much info. Really can't get my head around spending that much on this coop. Thanks very much for all the replies!

 

[shawluvsbirds]

There are a lot of advantages I like about metal vs wood. No rotting. . easy to clean. But definitely more expensive.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I must say I was shocked at the price. There is a shed company here in Colorado that builds coops too.... Really really really nice coops and even they don't charge near the price of the metal one.

I know you will find a great design that will work for you!