Are Chinese-Made Chicken Coops Any Good?
Chicken Coops – The Good – The Bad
Are Chinese make chicken coops any good you ask?
Well…
Not all chicken coops are good, and there are some that are just junky.
That’s why I have always built my own.
Well nearly…
But that’s just me.
So what about you then…
If you search on the Internet or eBay these days.
Yes buying a chicken coop on the internet.
Or even by just visiting your local pet store.
You will most likely stumble across one of the many various styles of timber chicken coops available for sale now.
And there are a lot…
Many potential chicken coop owners do question whether these styles of imported chicken coops are good for the money you spend.
We all want to get value for money with any purchase, don’t we?
But!
Are these humble chicken coops really as terrific as the sellers claim they are?
You know…
Those salespeople, watch the ones with the shifty eyes.
So let’s look at the most important areas of consideration shall we, when looking to buy your chicken coop.
You may have other criterias when looking to buy a chicken coop, everyone’s different.
But these seem to be the most common areas of consideration.
- Is the product suitable for the purpose you are buying it for – eg: you can actually keep your backyard chickens in the coop happily.
2. Value for money – Now here we go, is this chicken coop worth the money you are about to spend on it – hold that wallet just a moment longer.
- Durability and longevity – will this product not deteriorate over the short term and just fall to pieces every time you come out to see your chickens.
- Looks – does this chicken coop looks physically appealing to you – or your chickens of course. After all… They are the ones who will be living in it.
Are These Chicken Coops Really Suitable For Your Chickens?
There are some customers who have found that the area inside these types of coops could well be too small for your chickens, depending on how big they are.
And is it suitable for the number of chickens that the sellers…
Claim these coops can house.See also Automatic Chicken Coop Door Solar Powered Review
In fact, most of the photos that you see on the internet do NOT show the chickens actually in the coop, do they?
If this were apparent, then you can quickly assess how small these chicken coops actually are compared with your average-sized backyard chicken.
Said buyers of these chicken coops have also found that the dimensions they have been provided by many sellers are deceptive!
With the overall length, including the external nesting box not as it might seem…
Also, the section under the sleeping area could be so close to the ground that your chickens can not get to it at all!
And…
Customers have also found that the perches that are provided inside these chicken coops are positioned just too low to the floor.
Will most probably be rejected by your chickens as too low, resulting in your chickens perching on the higher positioned nesting box.
How Long Will These Coops Last?
Did you know that one of the most commonly reported complaints about such chicken coops is that they tend to warp and basically fall apart very quickly?
There have also been complaints including:
- Leaking roofs (the ‘asphalt’ simply peels away over time)
- Latches and hinges rusting
- Rain getting in the windows
- Nesting box leaking
- Coop warping after a short period of time being exposed to the weather
Some customers have actually suggested that unless you want your chicken coop not to fall apart in less than a year.
You need to spend an additional $100 or even more to additionally protect the coop from the weather, as soon as you take it out of the box.
Not good!
In fact, you would need to apply many coats of marine-grade varnish to the wood and also apply silicon to all the gaps that you see.
Some have even said that the first time their newly bought chicken coop was in the rain it warped.
And that could lead to you not being able to open the door of the chicken coop anymore.
What a nightmare…
So you would have to lift the door to get it back into the frame properly every time you open it.
Others have claimed that the colour of the coop kind of leeched straight out of it.
See also Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener Review
And…The hinges and latches just rusted straight away from the elements.
It literally didn’t hold up a week!” says a dissatisfied owner of one of these chicken coops.
It must have been some elements!
Are These Chicken Coops Pleasing To The Eye?
Let’s face it…
One of the main reasons why these coops are purchased is for their attractive looking styling, right?
And that you did not want to put the effort into building one yourself…
And with that cute looking little ladder going up to the upstairs section of the chicken coop, and with a window to view the chickens.
What can I say?
It just seems like an ideal addition to your backyard landscape, doesn’t it?
While purchasing a chicken coop for its looks is nice, and is an important consideration for many, as with myself.
This really does need to be weighed up with the other important, practical factors as well.
Are These Coops Value For Your Money?
Value for money…
Isn’t that all about weighing up what you pay for a product, and the quality of goods that you are provided with?
If you only want to spend a small amount on a chicken coop.
And you don’t really need it to last for many years for some reason.
Maybe you are planning to build another one when you have the time.
Then perhaps you will find that these chicken coops provide you with the value for the money that you expect.Because you essentially get what you pay for, don’t you?
Now…
If you are wanting a chicken coop that is more durable and will house your chickens for many years to come.
Then, a timber chicken coop may not be the way to go.
Are These Coops All ‘Made In China’?
It is worth noting is that some resellers do not make it absolutely clear that their chicken coops are actually made in China.
While as a seller they may be based in your said country and their product is said to be ‘designed in wherever’.
This does not actually mean that the product is manufactured in your country.
They could well be made in the same factory in China as the rest of these styles of chicken coops.
So, buyer beware…