[ellied]

Has anyone tried this company http://www.henhouseworld.co.uk/coops.htm and if so would you recommend the coops for use in Fife, Scotland?  The prices seem really reasonable and I'd struggle to make my own but I had been hoping for something I could move around the orchard on my own and they look heavy.  Better that than tiny lightweight blowing away ones that cost three times the price tho

There is a sale on and I am looking at the 5-6 bird range with a run because I am next to a main road so don't want them completely free range tho that would be the ideal if/when I move..

thanks for all opinions, for or against 

[BlueDaisy]

Hi Ellie,
They seem very reasonable price wise - I have a house like the large 103 which I got from Ebay for £65 delivered but it seems the prices for all these cheap Chinese imports have gone up in the last year. They are okay for the price and I think that if they last 2-3 years and then I have to burn them I am happy with that as you don't have to worry about getting red mite in a super expensive house. But they are cheap and you get what you pay for. To make it last longer treat it again with a pet friendly preservative, and keep it in a larger roofed run, both would help prolong the life of the house.
As for their attached runs, they are far too small to keep hens in on a permanent basis, especially 5 or 6 hens. You would be better buying the house you want and buildng your own run, using 6 ft chicken wire bought from Hills of Devon (as they seem to be the best range and price online).
Hope that helps.

[OhLaLa]

I agree with BlueDaisy. Treat the wood to give it a bit of extra life and they def need a larger run so would go for the 'buy the hen house and build a decent sized run' option. I bury run fencing about 6" into the ground for a bit of extra security and cement underneath the gate opening.

    

[CameronS]

I to am in fife, i have one similar to the Ch-106 for my ducks and it is still standing, and my gran (also in fife) have one like the Ch-105,

my only faults is the trap door is poor quality, and the root bars are a bit too low down but that is just my opinion, i to would treat the wood, and maybe felt the roof.

[bucketman]

Hi All
Came on this site years ago. But have finally ordered a chicken house. Plan to get 4 chickens (pol) but the previous post says add some roof felt to the house but this site says dont as use roof felt as its harbours mites who's right.

[jacob and Georgina]

people often avoid using felt as it gives another great hiding place for mites as the conditions are perfect for them between the layer of felt and the roof material, however i have a felted roof and no problems yet, (touch wood) just sprinkle some diatom or something similar around every now and again to help keep them away!   

[OhLaLa]

When I began keeping chickens their first hen house was an old dog kennel with a felt roof which I was given. I cleaned out the inside and converted the roof so it hinged open.

After feeding in the mornings and checking the inside for eggs I kept itching on my arms. After a few days of this I looked at them properly and was COVERED in red mite by the hundred. Big juicy red ones (my blood!). I had never seen them before, didn't even know what they were. Upon closer inspection they were packed tightly into every crevice of that kennel, poor birds. It was quickly taken out of use, birds treated and the ex-kennel creosoted to within an inch of it's life.

And from that day to this a big no no no to felt.

Scratch, scratch... anyone itchy yet?

 

[CameronS]

All of my huts have felt rooves (minus the new one), i have wooden roosts, i have straw on the floor and nestboxes all of which people say attrtact  mites

i have been doing so for 5/6years now and have NEVER had an infestation

[benkt]

I built a new one last year, the main problem I was hoping to solve with this one was the rats that always come in from the fields to nest under my old coop in the autumn. Sticking it up in the air has solved that problem and its dead easy to clean too - at a much less back-breaking height.

[OhLaLa]

Hen houses are definitely best raised up from the ground. Underneath gives a nice place to shelter from the elements and a dry place for a dust bath.

 

[ellied]

Definitely one at a height that doesn't break my back is a bonus - feel free to come and build me one but I might have a go with one of these ones as a first henhouse so if I mess up I can do a better job next time around

Thanks for the ideas..

[benkt]

Yup, I forgot to mention the shelter benefits of a raised coop but on a wet and miserable day they will spend pretty much the whole time under the coop looking out at the weather outside.

[knightquest]

My chooks spend all day outside when it's raining. They get absolutely soaked! Are they abnormal?

Ian

[CameronS]

My chooks spend all day outside when it's raining. They get absolutely soaked! Are they abnormal?

if they are thne mine join them 

[MarriottsSH]

Why not try one of the units we sell here: http://www.marriotts-smallholding.co.uk/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=9 they are made from high quality recycled plastic and are easy to put together, move and clean.

Hope this helps.