Are there any good pre-fab coops?

[Logar]

that plus I had to add pallet wood to keep betting in, get a new roost as the one they provided was horrible, add hardware cloth, and I should have painted but I didn't. it doesn't sound that bad but when you look at everything plus working inside a coop with not enough ventilation with the windows open and having to keep the coop door closed because of giant dogs being too curious AND not being able to drive so having to convince your parents to go spend another $100 extra for the second time that day then having your parents freak out when they see what you did to their gorgeously crappy coop it is a lot lol. it really wasn't that bad but for a $2000 coop that's only big enough for 6 chickens it is such a pain

and the windows only had window screen so it was completely useless without adding hardware cloth. I think that pissed me off the most cause it is such a simple thing.

Oh and I may be slightly biased cause building the coop sent me to the hospital because I was building it by myself in the dark barefoot and I stepped on a 1.5 inch hawthorn

 

[Chikn-Wisperer]

I just got my first 5 chicks, about 3 weeks old now inside and growing fast. I need to get going on the outdoor plans.
I am not very handy and don't have time to build, so i'm looking for a pre-fab unit.

They all seem to have very poor reviews.

Does anyone know of a GOOD brand? i'm not looking to spend a ton, but i don't want to waste $200 on crap either. Appreciate any brand names or suggestions.

We do have a lot of predadtors here (coyotes, fox, hawks, bears? etc) so it needs to be pretty secure.

I just got my first 5 chicks, about 3 weeks old now inside and growing fast. I need to get going on the outdoor plans.
I am not very handy and don't have time to build, so i'm looking for a pre-fab unit.

They all seem to have very poor reviews.

Does anyone know of a GOOD brand? i'm not looking to spend a ton, but i don't want to waste $200 on crap either. Appreciate any brand names or suggestions.

We do have a lot of predadtors here (coyotes, fox, hawks, bears? etc) so it needs to be pretty secure.

We were in the same boat as you, but then the wife kept buying more chicks during the pandemic. We had about 16-17 living in our garage in a hastily built chicken cage. She built temporary enclosures outside to keep the hawks at bay.

Meanwhile, I decided to build a proper coop. There was some guy that made a lookalike carolina chicken coop on youtube who had plans you could buy for around $20. It turned out nicely: 20'x8'. It was good for our chickens. I made some modifications to the roof and windows. They could stay inside during the day once I got enough built. It took me mostly off-and-on from about April/May thru Sept/Oct to have something they could live in. I finally finished the roof by Jan 1st. I put a metal roof with plywood, and waterproof underlayment, and it has never leaked.

The only other recommendation is to get a carolina chicken coop, but those cost a lot. Our coop cost a lot to build, as well: tools, material, and time building it, but the results are so much better than most prefabs since they are so secure from predators, and the weather. Plus, we built a 30'x8' chicken run next to it. There is predator aprons around both structures. People call it a chicken resort.

 

[Beword]

I just got my first 5 chicks, about 3 weeks old now inside and growing fast. I need to get going on the outdoor plans.
I am not very handy and don't have time to build, so i'm looking for a pre-fab unit.

They all seem to have very poor reviews.

Does anyone know of a GOOD brand? i'm not looking to spend a ton, but i don't want to waste $200 on crap either. Appreciate any brand names or suggestions.

We do have a lot of predadtors here (coyotes, fox, hawks, bears? etc) so it needs to be pretty secure.

 

[Beword]

and the windows only had window screen so it was completely useless without adding hardware cloth. I think that pissed me off the most cause it is such a simple thing.

Oh and I may be slightly biased cause building the coop sent me to the hospital because I was building it by myself in the dark barefoot and I stepped on a 1.5 inch hawthorn

Search : Leonard’s chicken coop that’s where I purchased mine 18 months same as cash with no interest

 

[Bawkbok]

Really, keeping chickens is not cheaper than buying eggs.

so true.

Have you all seen the new business called Rent a Coop? It includes a tiny coop with tiny attached run, 2 or 3 laying hens, and feed - cost - a whopping $500 for six months! I did the math - it's cheaper to stick with store bought eggs. Nor do they address any issues, i.e.,, sicknesses, proper care, nutritional supplements, etc. This guy is making a killing. It's been all over the local news - national as well. I wonder where he's getting his chickens from.

 

[WingItRanch]

so true.

Have you all seen the new business called Rent a Coop? It includes a tiny coop with tiny attached run, 2 or 3 laying hens, and feed - cost - a whopping $500 for six months! I did the math - it's cheaper to stick with store bought eggs. Nor do they address any issues, i.e.,, sicknesses, proper care, nutritional supplements, etc. This guy is making a killing. It's been all over the local news - national as well. I wonder where he's getting his chickens from.

I saw that!! "Rental chickens..." absolutely ridiculous.

 

[aart]

Have you all seen the new business called Rent a Coop?

That's been around for several years.....maybe 4-5.

 

[Bawkbok]

That's been around for several years.....maybe 4-5.

I just saw it for the first time this past week. They must have invested a bunch of $$ in marketing as it never presented as a google option 18 months ago when we were researching this whole chicken thing and it's been all over local news. Interesting.

 

[Bird Mama 6]

Let me add one more requirement : It must pass the wife's req: "it needs to looks nice". I think that rules out every hoop & fabric type option out there.

I think what I'm doing might work for you and your wife and it would be within your price range. For reference, I live in the equivalent of planting zone 4b. I have 3 chickens and 5 ducks so have two of the following coops/runs set up, one for ducks and one for chickens-they don't get along.

I bought a 9.5'x6.5x6.5'high metal chicken coop run. I spray painted it black. On Amazon they now have a black one for $136. Don't use the wire or the plastic zip ties that come with it. Rats chewed through my zip ties so I used 20 gauge wire to make my own ties. Reviews said these cheap units won't hold up and will collapse. Mine haven't. I bought a 100' roll of 4' high 19 gauge 1/4" black coated mesh (very little will be left over). Wrapped up the short wall side, over the top, down the opposite wall and under the bottom. This made one seam. Had to do this twice to cover the 6.5' width, leaving a 1.5' excess. I laid the two lengths needed to do the above, side by side, with a 1" overlap and twist-tied them together. Installed them with the sharp ends of the ties inside of the coop so they wouldn't rip the roof tarp. The excess 1.5' was wrapped (like wrapping a Xmas present) and then pieces were cut to fill in the long sides. Be sure to make the mesh when cut long enough so that the mesh fills in the space above, below and along the sides of the door if you want to keep out voles, mice and rats. The all-black looks nice. I have a white roof tarp for summer and bought a black tarp for the roof for winter (so it melts the snow). I tie ropes in a big X over the top of the tarp and stake the rope to the ground. If in high wind area, add a couple more ropes over floppy areas and use the twist-into-ground stakes. This keeps the tarp from flopping and tearing. Add an 8' T-stake to the center of the back at the peak and attach to the coop with wire every 6-8". Add t-stakes at each of the corners and attach to the coop. All of this makes a very strong structure. We had several days of 24-hours+ sustained winds over 45mph with gusts over 65mph and no issues. And this was with the walls covered in black tarps, causing more resistance. Tarps are ugly but necessary for me because I placed a resin doghouse (with a homemade roost stand) that has no door inside the run for the house/coop. Temperatures were down to -29F (not windchill) and my Americaunas have done well with this set up. I used river rock for the interior floor on the mesh but wish I had just used the deep pine and straw bedding I use for my ducks. It's more cost effective and absorbent. But river rock or sand would look a lot better than pine shaving and/or straw. I have many types of predators and rodents but no bears. None have gotten into coop. I use odor control in the summer. Best price for odor control is Tractor Supply, Sweet PDZ $13.99 for 25 lbs. Hope this helps. (I'm 72 and built these by myself so anyone can do it.)

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[MROO]

I just got my first 5 chicks, about 3 weeks old now inside and growing fast. I need to get going on the outdoor plans.
I am not very handy and don't have time to build, so i'm looking for a pre-fab unit.

They all seem to have very poor reviews.

Does anyone know of a GOOD brand? i'm not looking to spend a ton, but i don't want to waste $200 on crap either. Appreciate any brand names or suggestions.

We do have a lot of predadtors here (coyotes, fox, hawks, bears? etc) so it needs to be pretty secure.

IMO, the best prefab coop you can find is an outgrown wooden playhouse. They're sturdy, easily predator-proofed and best of all, they're often offered "Free - You Move it!" That's not as hard as it sounds. A pick-up or small flatbed and a few strong backs works great. If you can find a raised one (sandbox underneath,) you're even further ahead ... instant covered run!
Search "playhouse coop" here on BYC and in Google. You'll find all sorts of neat ideas!