Thoughts on this coop?

[ValerieZ1984]

https://overezchickencoop.com/product/large-over-ez-chicken-coop/

Obviously not for 15 chickens, unless theyre talking about bantams. I only want 6-8 LB hens. I would be adding on a very large run. For the price including shipping, its not bad at all.

My other option would be modifying this shed, although Im not sure how much it would cost to have Lowes put it together if hubbys dad cant get down to help him do it. Once again, Id have to add windows, pop door, run etc etc etc. But it is larger. Hmmm...

http://www.lowes.com/pd/Heartland-B...nterior-Dimensions-7-58-ft-x-7-36-ft/50115725

This is what Ive narrowed my choices down to, after asking about resin and metal sheds. Id love to hear peoples input about both. No rush, I wont be picking up chicks until March 2017. I want to do it right the first time around.

 

[sebloc]

Hello
Here are my questions:
-Are you planning on adding a run?
-What type of predators are in your area?
-What type of money are you looking to spend?

We were originally planning on buying a shed from home depot/lowes, but the prices were too expensive and we were worried that there would be a lot of safe-proofing we would have to do. In the end, we custom built ours.

The first link (actual coop) is decent, but expensive. The main reason I didn't buy a prebuilt coop was because the cost of them, and the fact that we wanted certain things in our coop.

The second link, the shed, seems more trouble then it's worth. Adding windows can be expensive, particularly if you want to get the coop well insulated. If insulating the coop is not a top priority, some type of place like ReStore or Goodwill may have old windows you can put in the walls. Upon making our coop, we put hardware cloth over all the windows, and added lots of vents with more hardware cloth over those. The louvers in the shed may need to be covered in hardware cloth depending on how strong a predator may be. In our area, we have tons of dangerous animals (skunks, fox, hawks, raccoons, etc) that will do anything to try to get into that coop. Make sure the shed is well protected from predators (inside and out). If you are putting the shed on concrete blocks, something may try to get itself in through a poorly designed floor under the shed.

If you want a quality, well designed coop, and are ready to spend the money, choose the first one.

If you want to get something quick and easy, but don't have to worry that much about predators, go with the shed. You may end up spending between $750-$900 all together trying to safe proof it.

If you have the time, and/or live in an extremely predator filled area, and are handy, custom build it.

Thanks for any help I have given, if I were you, I would custom build it. But if you have to choose, buy the already made coop.
-sebloc

 

[Howard E]

On the first coop, size appears to be 5' x 6' or 30 SF. Not sure if that is interior or exterior dimensions, but that is more like room for 5 or 6 birds max, not 15. That they would suggest that many birds makes the whole thing suspect. I have no doubt they are honest folks and mean well and it is well built, but to be so far off on the obvious suggests that while they may know how to cut lumber and swing a hammer, they may know nothing about raising poultry.

FWIW, I built an 8' x 12' Woods colony house that really does house 15 birds and I have less than that invested in the whole thing. If you have someone with the skills to build your own, you will be miles ahead and much happier with the outcome if you do.

 

[ValerieZ1984]

Husband has the skills (With help from his dad who lives in NY, so its hard for him to get down to NC) to put a ready made shed together, but Id say thats about all. Hes not super handy. Here we have fox, hawks, raccoons. Im actually not sure about skunks, I havent seen one but that doesnt mean much. This will be in a fenced yard, and I do have a dog that would probably help during the day but not night. I was going to build a run, thinking 24x8 maybe more. Covered for sure. I have a picture in my head, its just executing it.

The shed, I was thinking windows covered by hardware cloth in and out, with shutters outside and inside something along these lines, but plexiglass in a frame or something that can latch?
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/0a/0a/a5/0a0aa5cff5d45102814a2ee62c40770a.jpg
Also installing more vents, predator proofing them. Winters arent terrible down here, but summers... this one has been brutal. Triple digits with heat index up to 112 degrees.

I had planned on 2x4s as roosting bars fit into brackets for easy removal, as well as simple nesting boxes. It would be on a deck, and Id be installing a laminate floor or similar. The bottom would be surrounded by hardware cloth with some buried of course.

Like I said, I can picture everything, its just doing it that might be the entertaining part. The shed, if we put it together even with alterations and supplies would probably end up cheaper overall but need a lot more work, a daunting amount really but it can be done. (I hope haha)

Money wise, I think $1300 would be the top. My ideal Amish coop is over $5000

Way out of my budget right now.

 

[ValerieZ1984]

Did just discover a local builder, who has reasonable prices and dropped him a line on what I was looking for: A fairly simple 8x8 shed type coop with 2-3 windows, pop door, human sized door, 2 roosting bars, a few nesting boxes, etc. So we will see what his prices are.

https://www.facebook.com/AllCoopedUpRaleigh/

 

[speedy2020]

Have you consider go with hoop coop?

 

[junebuggena]

For the money, choose the shed. You won't be sorry you have 'too much' coop.

 

[TalkALittle]

I say go with a shed if you can. Forget about space for chickens, a shed gives you space for all the chicken STUFF. With a shed you'll have space for metal barrels of feed, an extra bag of shavings or bale of straw for bedding, a bucket with the extra oyster shell or grit, and any pest control supplies you want to keep on hand. It's far easier to have these things within convenient reach rather than having to lug them back and forth from some secondary storage area.

If it were me, I'd get a shed large enough to divide into 2 spaces--one side for chickens and one side for storage.

 

[ValerieZ1984]

I looked at hoops coops, but really love the look of 'garden shed' coops. Ive been working with a local builder who makes amazing looking coops, I posted the link above. Outlining what I want, fairly simple 8x8 or 8x10 coop, the looks, basic design, colors, and so forth. I told him my budget and hes coming up with some sizes and ideas and will send them to me with prices. Very excited, its kind of the best of both worlds. I dont have to do any modifications, yet I get a large coop bigger than the one prefab I had chosen. I am going to build an 24x8 run, since thats simple enough to do.

 

[Hokum Coco]

Short answer. I would go with the shed also your plans sound solid.