It is indeed very well built although it is missing access ramps for the chickens to be able to get to the nesting boxes and also no access ramp for them to get up to the roosting bars and that is something every hen house must have, remember chickens cannot fly and tend to even have a hard time hopping up a couple feet depending on the breed. One more thing The main doors do seem to be adequate but for here in Santa Cruz California one would want to put a lock or good clip in through that hasp on the door because the raccoons around here make use of all their fingers and would have that thing opened up the first night as for the nest boxes you had better put some clasps on those too because underestimating the cleverness of a hungry coon will only lead to a sad ending for many of your hens. I assume that you do realize night time critters also know how to dig and skunks are pro at digging, they would dig under the edge within minutes depending on what kind of soil you have so do keep that in mind. Most of these floorless coops are really designed to be placed upon a concrete pad allowing an open floor design but when placed on soft ground it could be a recipe for disaster so all you viewers and readers please keep these pointers in mind. Over all it is a very high quality built coop and is very chicken worthy but a couple small mods would only make it perfect!.
I hate to tell you, but you're wrong there. Chickens have absolutely no problems whatsoever flying up to the roost bars or the nest boxes. Access ramps are not needed at all. Over a year and a half and no coon, fox, snake, or other varmint problems. Haven't lost a single hen yet.
where's protection from predators? In due time, there won't be a blade of grass left, and your chickens will dig out wallows all around the edge inside. And at anytime a fox, raccoon, or something will dig from the outside and get in very easily. I disagree, not the best chicken coop ever unless you do something about that. Here's a helpful idea, put heavy flag stone all around the outside edge. Or pour concrete. It's over a year later, hows it going? Not trying to be "nasty" but seriously there are tons of coop designs but if there's no protection from predators (cuz they will come sooner or later) then saying this is the best chicken coop ever is BS. I do hope all the chickens are doing great! Let us know how it's going. Been over a year.
***** You are correct in saying that there is no grass, BUT wrong in practically everything else. I have 16 chickens and the are all still alive and doing well after 2 hot summers (well almost 2). We have foxes in our area and not a one has gotten into the coop nor have the chickens dug out. The bottom is solid 4x4 lumber and built by a man with over 40 years designing and building these things. They are well ventilated and have kept my chickens safe.
Scoville Technologies Very nice coop, I mean it precious, just love it, but without predator protection it doesn't matter how nice or well built it a coop is. Very happy to hear they're all doing good. But all it takes is one night for the fox to come and dig right under those 4 x 4's. Or figure out how to open it. They're clever and good at digging (fox's dens).If you already know the foxes are around, you can be sure they're watching and waiting. Flagstones, concrete, or an electric wire at the base are good deterrents.
buckeyelady65, no coop is 100% predator proof, and he is right that we have foxes, hawks, snakes, neighborhood dogs, etc., and have not lost one chicken to any of them. The gentleman that built this coop was the only one we found in our state that even used hardware cloth, though, so that is a definite plus. Should we add something to prevent digging under and in the coop? Probably, and probably still will. Part of what makes this coop great though is how easy it is to make those little changes. For instance, the coop is great and well ventilated for our incredibly hot summers here in middle Georgia, and since we have moderate winters we simply staple a windblock to the bottom of the coop during those windy months. You are correct that there is no grass anymore, but we knew that would happen and use sand in both the coop and run area anyways. We bought this coop as first time chicken owners, after buying a piece of junk through the internet, and for any first time owners who are not up to building a coop yet, and live in an area where heat is a major concern, we highly reccommend this coop and know it is the best we can get prebuilt in this area. A year later? We still LOVE this coop, our hens are happy and healthy, and I'm already planning to purchase another in the future. Thank you for your feedback, and feel free to ask any other questions.
It is indeed very well built although it is missing access ramps for the chickens to be able to get to the nesting boxes and also no access ramp for them to get up to the roosting bars and that is something every hen house must have, remember chickens cannot fly and tend to even have a hard time hopping up a couple feet depending on the breed. One more thing The main doors do seem to be adequate but for here in Santa Cruz California one would want to put a lock or good clip in through that hasp on the door because the raccoons around here make use of all their fingers and would have that thing opened up the first night as for the nest boxes you had better put some clasps on those too because underestimating the cleverness of a hungry coon will only lead to a sad ending for many of your hens. I assume that you do realize night time critters also know how to dig and skunks are pro at digging, they would dig under the edge within minutes depending on what kind of soil you have so do keep that in mind. Most of these floorless coops are really designed to be placed upon a concrete pad allowing an open floor design but when placed on soft ground it could be a recipe for disaster so all you viewers and readers please keep these pointers in mind. Over all it is a very high quality built coop and is very chicken worthy but a couple small mods would only make it perfect!.
I hate to tell you, but you're wrong there. Chickens have absolutely no problems whatsoever flying up to the roost bars or the nest boxes. Access ramps are not needed at all.
Over a year and a half and no coon, fox, snake, or other varmint problems. Haven't lost a single hen yet.
How much?
fattybgood from the website: "The Coop D Villa Deluxe 8′ x 12′ x 7′-4″ Very Nice all-in-one coop and run *price $2,200.00"
where's protection from predators? In due time, there won't be a blade of grass left, and your chickens will dig out wallows all around the edge inside. And at anytime a fox, raccoon, or something will dig from the outside and get in very easily. I disagree, not the best chicken coop ever unless you do something about that. Here's a helpful idea, put heavy flag stone all around the outside edge. Or pour concrete. It's over a year later, hows it going? Not trying to be "nasty" but seriously there are tons of coop designs but if there's no protection from predators (cuz they will come sooner or later) then saying this is the best chicken coop ever is BS. I do hope all the chickens are doing great! Let us know how it's going. Been over a year.
***** You are correct in saying that there is no grass, BUT wrong in practically everything else. I have 16 chickens and the are all still alive and doing well after 2 hot summers (well almost 2). We have foxes in our area and not a one has gotten into the coop nor have the chickens dug out. The bottom is solid 4x4 lumber and built by a man with over 40 years designing and building these things. They are well ventilated and have kept my chickens safe.
Scoville Technologies Very nice coop, I mean it precious, just love it, but without predator protection it doesn't matter how nice or well built it a coop is. Very happy to hear they're all doing good. But all it takes is one night for the fox to come and dig right under those 4 x 4's. Or figure out how to open it. They're clever and good at digging (fox's dens).If you already know the foxes are around, you can be sure they're watching and waiting. Flagstones, concrete, or an electric wire at the base are good deterrents.
buckeyelady65, no coop is 100% predator proof, and he is right that we have foxes, hawks, snakes, neighborhood dogs, etc., and have not lost one chicken to any of them. The gentleman that built this coop was the only one we found in our state that even used hardware cloth, though, so that is a definite plus. Should we add something to prevent digging under and in the coop? Probably, and probably still will. Part of what makes this coop great though is how easy it is to make those little changes. For instance, the coop is great and well ventilated for our incredibly hot summers here in middle Georgia, and since we have moderate winters we simply staple a windblock to the bottom of the coop during those windy months. You are correct that there is no grass anymore, but we knew that would happen and use sand in both the coop and run area anyways. We bought this coop as first time chicken owners, after buying a piece of junk through the internet, and for any first time owners who are not up to building a coop yet, and live in an area where heat is a major concern, we highly reccommend this coop and know it is the best we can get prebuilt in this area. A year later? We still LOVE this coop, our hens are happy and healthy, and I'm already planning to purchase another in the future. Thank you for your feedback, and feel free to ask any other questions.