EsqChick
Songster
Hi All,
Inspired by this thread from @JerryR708 ( https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/pawhut-chicken-coop.1219726/#post-19503657 ) my husband and I spent about 4 weeks working on our Pawhut 144" coop with attached run (we have limited time so spent a few hours here and hour there). We painted/sealed the coop and all run parts, built a 4' extension which is covered on the side that faces our heaviest sun (we have a western facing backyard so from noon on LOTS of sun), covered the rest of the run with UV protecting clear panels, changed the hardware (including putting hinges on the ramp for ease of cleaning), bought an automatic coop door (Chicken Guard is awesome!), sealed all gaps with caulking and used hardware cloth under the entire run plus made an apron (that's on top of our coop being on a raised planter bed which is half full with old logs for drainage and bulk - we have an EXTREMELY sloped backyard). I am really pleased with the coop and it seems like it will be great for our 4 ladies even when they are full grown. I cannot imagine having more than 4, maybe 5 chooks in the run even with the extension.
I know some day we'll need/want to build a bigger, better coop ourselves, but for those with limited time, skill and bravery to take on the task, I feel that the prefab coops can be a good option, at least for a bit. Thanks Jerry for your help and guidance!
Inspired by this thread from @JerryR708 ( https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/pawhut-chicken-coop.1219726/#post-19503657 ) my husband and I spent about 4 weeks working on our Pawhut 144" coop with attached run (we have limited time so spent a few hours here and hour there). We painted/sealed the coop and all run parts, built a 4' extension which is covered on the side that faces our heaviest sun (we have a western facing backyard so from noon on LOTS of sun), covered the rest of the run with UV protecting clear panels, changed the hardware (including putting hinges on the ramp for ease of cleaning), bought an automatic coop door (Chicken Guard is awesome!), sealed all gaps with caulking and used hardware cloth under the entire run plus made an apron (that's on top of our coop being on a raised planter bed which is half full with old logs for drainage and bulk - we have an EXTREMELY sloped backyard). I am really pleased with the coop and it seems like it will be great for our 4 ladies even when they are full grown. I cannot imagine having more than 4, maybe 5 chooks in the run even with the extension.
I know some day we'll need/want to build a bigger, better coop ourselves, but for those with limited time, skill and bravery to take on the task, I feel that the prefab coops can be a good option, at least for a bit. Thanks Jerry for your help and guidance!
Hopefully you have better luck!
