Expanding a store bought coop

[Herls]

HELP!
This is my first attempt at raising chickens and all is going great except for one thing. We bought the coop below from TSC a few weeks ago as it was advertised for 6 hens (we have 6 RIR's). Once we put it together, we quickly realized that it would be too small for our ladies. After spending $300 on the coop we thought that maybe we should just take the existing coop and expand it. Has anyone tried this before? We really should've done our research when it came to coops but the staff at TSC reassured us that it would work. Our ladies seem comfortable in it now (they're only 8 weeks old) but I'm sure that, that wont last too long. Please share your thoughts, Thanks in advance.



P.S
Big brother Rocky loves spending time with his sisters.

 

[Tumbling K]

you let them free range?

 

[Herls]

Only when I'm outside with them. We have a ton of hawks/bobcats/coyotes in our area.

 

[Birdydeb]

I would think you could do something like turn the whole thing into the coop....meaning the run part of it and adding your own run to it. Basically cover all the wire parts with wood and build your own run part out from it. Roosts are already in one end. I have no idea how difficult or easy that would be. Maybe some one else can give a better explanation or better idea.

 

[teach1rusl]

Oh yeah...those prefab coops are just AWFUL for exaggerating how many birds they will hold!!! Grrrr... Although, if they're looking at factory farm standards (those concentration camp type facilities that only allow about one square foot per bird), then they are not lying in their advertising... But thankfully backyard chicken keeper don't house chickens that way.

If it was mine, I would remove the floor and front wall of the housing, and box in the wired areas to make the entire structure the housing. I'd build a simple, table looking platform (maybe 18" high) the same size as the structure's footprint and set the entire thing on there.

I'd add a simple, box frame run (with a people door) that butts up against the structure... How wide is the entire structure??? I'd make the run that width, and box in enough in length to give the birds decent space... Or you could set the entire thing inside an 8x10 or 10x10 chainlink dog run (find them on CL often, used)...and wire over the top????

 

[Birdydeb]

Oh yeah...those prefab coops are just AWFUL for exaggerating how many birds they will hold!!! Grrrr...  Although, if they're looking at factory farm standards (those concentration camp type facilities that only allow about one square foot per bird), then they are not lying in their advertising...  But thankfully backyard chicken keeper don't house chickens that way.

If it was mine, I would remove the floor and front wall of the housing, and box in the wired areas to make the entire structure the housing.  I'd build a simple, table looking platform (maybe 18" high) the same size as the structure's footprint and set the entire thing on there. 

I'd add a simple, box frame run (with a people door) that butts up against the structure...  How wide is the entire structure???  I'd make the run that width, and box in enough in length to give the birds decent space...   Or you could set the entire thing inside an 8x10 or 10x10 chainlink dog run (find them on CL often, used)...and wire over the top????

And here is your better explanation. ^^^^^^ basically what I was thinking. Turn the whole thing into housing and make a run to set it in. A dog run to set it in with the top covered would be even better or at least the easiest.

You should see the very common style that is sold around here a lot and advertised as holding 12-15 chickens. Personally I would put no more than 6 in it and when I told that guy that he tried to argue. I just laughed and walked away.

 

[wickedlees]

I have the same issue, I have a huge yard but hawks, eagles,owles, coyote, and fox. I'm thinking of doing the chain link fence with the top and adding 4 more hens and raising the top of my crappy store bought coop & 2 more nesting boxes.

 

[Jheff1983]

Oh yeah...those prefab coops are just AWFUL for exaggerating how many birds they will hold!!! Grrrr... Although, if they're looking at factory farm standards (those concentration camp type facilities that only allow about one square foot per bird), then they are not lying in their advertising... But thankfully backyard chicken keeper don't house chickens that way.

If it was mine, I would remove the floor and front wall of the housing, and box in the wired areas to make the entire structure the housing. I'd build a simple, table looking platform (maybe 18" high) the same size as the structure's footprint and set the entire thing on there.

I'd add a simple, box frame run (with a people door) that butts up against the structure... How wide is the entire structure??? I'd make the run that width, and box in enough in length to give the birds decent space... Or you could set the entire thing inside an 8x10 or 10x10 chainlink dog run (find them on CL often, used)...and wire over the top????

I'm in the same boat as the OP. I added an extra run to the end, but the coop is way too small. My 6 girls aren't even big breeds, Sapphire Gems and EEs. I am inspired by your idea. Thanking you, even two years after this post was put up, haha.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

I have a very similar coop from TS. We have 4 chickens, so they actually do fairly well in the actual coop at night, but the run was way too small. I added a run extension, and bought a portable run for them to use in the yard when I am home, but can't be outside with them to free range. Mine free range for at least an hour or so each day, longer if I am home.

I will warn you that the wood will swell when it rains. I painted mine with exterior paint. I didn't paint the inside of the door to the nesting box area and it swelled shut at the first rain storm. I had to sand it down, as it warped, and repaint it. The sliding window covers will also warp when wet. I finally just keep a small tarp on mine, as we get a LOT of rain.

At least I know better for the future. I am planning on building one next time.

 

[MrsWayne]

Glad to know I am not alone in this!

I got a similar setup from Rural King because my roosters were beating the snot out of my ducks. I read all the comments on every website I could find so I knew to get one that "should" hold many more than I have. But still, the coop is too small for continual housing.

We have a really large run, almost qualifies as free-range on its own.