Trixie Chicken Coop with Outdoor Run

Comments about Trixie Chicken Coop with Outdoor Run:

This coop is excellent with all its doors & hatches. You can gain access from the front screen door, coop screen door, egg area hatch, or raise roost area top, or entire top. You can also clean roosting area out by pulling the drawer out. HOWEVER, it appears bigger than it is. It is really better for TWO full size chickens, instead of the 4 that i got. The roost stick upstairs is best for two full size, and has 2 nests. Of course, multiple hens will lay eggs in only one or two nests, but the scratching room on ground is tight for 4 grown hens- unless they're Bantams. I have Rhode Island Reds. We may have to order one more coop & divide them up in 2 & 2. Chicks are so small when they are little, don't be fooled! They get big! One other important detail; Chicks can NOT walk up the plank- it's too smooth! their legs slip. I got a large piece of peel & stick grippy for a regular step & cut in four pieces. (see my picture after grippy) It was perfect size, pushing onto each step for the chicks & they started running up & down within a few minutes. This was a MUST!! Even for full size hens, their feet might slip. I used hay in laying area & other areas inside. Also, you are able to hook a red warming lamp to the step area for night time- pushing up towards open doorway- when chicks are still needing heat at night. There is a SLIDING door to close at night at nights if you want to. But important to open it up first morning light or hens will not be happy! Again, house is not SPACIOUS, but smaller than it looks. The picture on the Hayneedle site are adolescent chickens, not fat full grown size. And if you have a feeder & waterer- which i have, it takes up some room also; If they are on ground, they'll get dirty quick, if you hang them, it still takes up hen's walking space. I keep water up & down & food down in daytime since that's when they do most of their eating.
One more thing. If ground is not exactly level, snakes can flatten themselves to get under coop! So, i bought a life size owl to perch on top, put moth balls in a large circle around coop (don't put where rain will run into coop from mothballs) and spread a circle of powdered LIME in large circle too. Snakes don't like these things. And small chicks are very vunerable to snakes. After chicks are full size, snakes can still sneak in & steal eggs, without some prevention measures. I also put heavy bricks around edges that had a small space (where you could get a finger under)I also keep a board or brick in front of the front screen door- in case i (or someone else) doesn't latch it back well- it could easily come open!! Yes, i'm a good MOTHER HEN! One other thing, we are attaching wheels on one end & handles where we can move the coop around every few days. They need fresh grass area to be content & healthier. If you try scooting house without such, the screws will pull loose & you will tear up the coop. It's not made for moving unless you lift and carry- one person on each end. That is easy enough also!

Comments about Trixie Chicken Coop with Outdoor Run:

From the pictures, I thought I was getting a much bigger coop. This one is SSMMAALL! It is nice, but small. That's my only beef. I think the 2 hens I plan on purchasing will be housed OK but right now I don't know that.

Comments about Trixie Chicken Coop with Outdoor Run:

This is a great coop, well planned out, great quality and a fantastic value. I couldn't be more happy for my "urban" chickens. :)

Comments about Trixie Chicken Coop with Outdoor Run:

Easy to put together. My grandaughter put it together in a
couple hours. Materials seem to be good quality. Perfect for the 3-4 small chickens we are getting. I would suggest not more than 2 if larger breed. It is smaller than the picture looks.

Comments about Trixie Chicken Coop with Outdoor Run:

I ordered the chicken coop for our 3 baby chicks that are growing quickly and loved it... so I ordered one more! We are in the process of enjoining them by building a large running area between both. That way when we have to keep our chickens inside, they will have lots of space but at night they will also have the space they need as they grow. We need to reenforce the latches each night due to racoons though. It will also be important to place some chicken fensing deeply undergound and around the coop for extra protection..... so far, so good!!!