More re chicken house porn - okay I am satiated, I've poured over it all, but I don't know what to get

[handlemecarefully]

Currently have a forsham ark which has seen better days. Atm have 3 hens but also have 5 chicks (don't know sex yet) and ultimately will keep a maximum of 12-15 chooks. So need some more accommodation

Have looked at this thread oooh I say, norty!

And some of you seem to have clear preferences but why would you opt for a particular model of hen house (what are its advantages)?

Also what should I get and why (not talking aesthetics but practicality)?

Not too worried about the budget

Just extraordinarily indecisive and completely thrown by the array of choices. I think Maggies Dozen Henhouse (Flyte so Fancy) and the Hargrave 4x4 (Hen-house)look good, but are they practical and sensible?

Oh help!

[tortoiseSHELL]

This is my favourite henhouse online - some time I will get dh to knock one up like it!

[ButterflyBessie]

Ha ha, I am stalking you cos I just read your post on pp

Good luck in deciding, whichever you chose something will come along after you have parted with your money which will seem sooooo much better

[psmith]

Im getting this but I'm worried about it as I haven't seen in in real life. I wanted a raised house with an integral covered run. Its coming mid August. I'm panicing in case its shite.

[handlemecarefully]

butterfly - now I'm scared!

[handlemecarefully]

That looks really cool psmith - how many chickens can it accommodate?

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

I want either a Smiths Sectional Thicket or Warwick House & Run for my meat birds - they'll go in a paddock with electric fencing to limit where they free-range. I'd like one for the quail too, but they won't be free-ranging as they tend to just bugger off!

My biggest considerations are the quality of the wood and the run size. I'd prefer a house on legs to deter rats but the bigger houses are too heavy for legs so they need slabs underneath instead.

[psmith]

It says up to 10 but I think that is really pushing it. Possibly they mean 10 bantams. The floor area in the house is 10sq feet so technically the min space for 10 birds but that includes the nest box. Maggies dozen is nearer 20 sq feet inc box.

I'm starting off with 3 and seeing how it goes.

[electricbarbarella]

i can't jopin in I am having the placky one

[ProfYaffle]

HMC - I've recently taken delivery of a coop from HenHouse, the coop is fab, great quality, and they undoubtably have a great rep as breeders .... however .... I ordered mine in February this year and it arrived 4 weeks ago! They've had problems with carpenters leaving and, sorry to say, I felt they told me what I wanted to hear on the phone ("it'll be with you in 2 weeks") and then never delivered on promises, they were also v poor on communications, ignored e-mails and never, ever, rang me back, I only spoke to them on the phone when I managed to catch them in.

I get the feeling they mean well but have too much work at the moment.

[handlemecarefully]

Thanks ProfYaffle - that's useful to know