[jacob and Georgina]

i am a carpenter/joiner living in Devon and as a bit of a side earner to make a few extra quid i would like to produce hen housing, They would be bespoke made to suit peoples requirements. I am curious to know how much you people would pay for a coop. this is not an advert such such just a bit of research to see if this is a viable idea. any replies would be greatly appreciated 

[jameslindsay]

I think you get what you pay for. The first coop I bought was around about the £100 mark and for 6 hens if I remember. It arrived and to be honest was not worth the money but would have been perfect for maybe 4 hens. Unfortunately my Pygmy goats liked to climb on it so it didn't stand a chance. I then bought one for 12 hens but it was much more substantial and obviously 5 times more expensive. I think there is a market for what you would like to do, I wish you well.

[doganjo]

I bought a 6 x 4 garden shed from Focus DIY, put in some dowels across the corners for perches, a shelf along one side, a pop hole in the door, an old drawer on the floor for nesting, vinyl on the floor bigger than the shed, straw to absorb mess.  Clean it out once a week, hose down the vinyl, fresh straw in.  Housed 12 birds at one point with room to spare although I have less now. Easy to clean, can stand upright in it, cost about £125 delivered.  Took me and my son a couple of hours to set up.

[knightquest]

I think that there are people out there who will pay big money for bespoke items and hen keeping is becoming more popular. The Chinese are mass producing now so the bespoke market is the best way to go I feel.

Providing you have good plans to work from i'm sure that if you know what you are doing, you will be fine.

Good luck to you.

Ian

[Castle Farm]

Hi Jacob.

If you could produce a 'hen house' like the old fashion ones used to be that were tried and tested over the years by countless poultry keepers I am sure they would sell.

They were made of decent timber and had a window with a slider to control ventilation. A pop hole and a door and usually external nest boxes.
They could come in half size versions and full size versions.

The other great need is for a field or grass run.

Flights of fancy have just brought out a Gypsy bow top type all nicely painted up...£3000+ though

[shetlandpaul]

or strip out half a dozen pallets and build your own. it will only cost a few quid in nails and bits and pieces.

[doganjo]

I suppose in the end of the day you need to find out what your market wants, Jacob.  On here most folk already have poultry or know someone who has, plus most are on a tight budget so would either do as I have or make their own.  What your market is I don't really know - Joe Bloggs who hasn't kept chickens before maybe, and how you find out what he/she wants I'm not sure.

[egbert]

I paid about £300 for one on Ebay as my 1st one - it was flat packed and easy to put together, houses about 12 birds and has a large run. We can pick it up and move it about easily, BUT it feels a bit flimsy. It has a pull out floor for easy cleaning, 3 nest boxes and removable perches and sides for cleaning BUT the door latches have broken off. My OH has put a 2nd strut across the run to strengthen it, and we removed the wire across the bottom front so the chickens can get underneath it for shade etc. The design is great - the strength maybe not so good.

On the Omlet website there is a couple of long threads with pictures etc about runs and houses people have paid for. Some look quite fantastic. I am looking at making a permanent run to put my house in, but need to make it look nice as it will be a large part of the view  so would pay more, than if I was just wrapping chicken wire around a pole. However I got a quote from the builder used on the Omlet board for a 4x3m run and it was about £900      I priced up the materials to do it myself and it was about £300.

[Shnoowie]

We recently bought one of these:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280486552045#ht_1103wt_1137

£149.  It does the job...had to put a stop on the door so it didn't open inwards, and a latch on the nest box lid, but well made!

[jacob and Georgina]

thanks for all replies, have looked on flyte so fancy and will be making ones similar however much bigger and with extra features as i personally think that their recommendations for how many hens you can get in their houses are far too high. i think there is a market for such a product all be it a small one but as it will only be a side earner for me that would not be a problem 1 a month would be plenty to keep me busy in evenings and weekends. I have seen so many cheap alternatives on the market but even the ones for sale at my local agriculural supplier look as if they would blow over in the wind  and the prices are unbeliveable!! I have priced up several i have seen on the market which to make myself would cost much less than these companies are charging and i have no doubt mine would be more sturdy and would last a hell of a lot longer.  :

[joyofchicks]

Good luck Jacob.  There is certainly a market for a quality product.  Word of mouth amongst hen owners will  bring you more business I think once you get started.

I have had hens for 8 years and we made our first hen house out of an existing shed.  It did well but this year became beyond repair and I looked at buying a new one.  I have several friends locally with hens (and a larger budget) so was able to compare Eglu, Flytes of Fancy and a fab shed conversion plus we also weighed up building one ourselves.  Eventually purchased from local agricultural supplier as product seemed ok quality for price (little over £100).  Also being made in Scotland (by Gibb of Galston) was important for me and no delivery charge.  I researched recycled materials as well but too small for my 5 hens and very expensive!  A good quality house was available at another outlet near me in Aberdeenshire (The Millers at Echt) but it was £600!!  All the best with your venture.