We have set out a buying guide here for you – things to look for, consider and avoid.
While circumstances and needs vary from coop to coop, and person to person, there are some basic things you need to look for.
Not all coops will have everything you want but remember, chickens are fairly simple creatures.
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When I first started keeping chickens, Lisa insisted on buying a henhouse/coop kit. I forget what I paid for it, but it was in the neighborhood of 300 bucks.
What a piece of shit. It's made out of soft wood and started coming apart after the second year.
When I got my second batch of birds, I took that asshole dog Jack's kennel (HERE) and moved it downwind from the house out by the shed.
I bought two pieces of trash plywood to line the walls halfway from one end to the other, as well as the far end. That way they've got part of the run to keep them out of the weather, but it still allows circulation and a place for them to get some sun. I used the plywood that was left to build a long nesting box at the enclosed end. Then I wrapped the roof in chicken wire to keep the RACcoons and possums out.
In the long run, it cost me close to what I paid for the first one, but it's been 4 years and is still going strong. I know I'll eventually have to buy another cover or build a roof for it, but that ain't no big deal.
