Which house does everyone recommend?

[MrsPuddleduck]

Doodletoyou has got me into thinking that it could be visable to have a couple of chickens (previously had thought that our garden was too small).

I can see from my limited research that a iglu would probably be best (though very expensive). It looks easy to clean out etc.

If I bought a wooden alternative (eg an Ark (?) would it be more difficult to clean and maintain?

Also, as I would have to keep said 'henhouse' in what is currently a raised border do you have to dig a hole, lay slabs then put bark chippings over the top? ( we do not have a lawn big enough to rotate).

Wooden arcs can be very expensive too. You can keep chickens in anything as long as it is waterproof and fox proof and fairly easy to clean out. Try the local free ads/trade it for an old rabbit hutch or some such that can be converted.

You will need to provide a nest box (old drawer/cardboard box slightly bigger than chicken) and a perch.

BTW if you have a small garden get feather-footed chickens as they don't dig and won't turn your garden into a dust bowl.

My DH is the most 'unhandy' person I have ever met (he once put tippex on our ceiling to 'patch up' rather than paint).

I would have to get something he could build (in less than a day - that's how long the bbq took him) or that was ready built.

I would rather spend a bit more money on something which is easy to clean out.

I would still have a search around for secondhand coops first, otherwise try

www.ideas-4-pets.com/pages-main/category-174_197/just-for-birds-incl-poultry-chicken-coops.html?_${ja} =kw:chicken+coops|cgn:Chicken+Coops|cgid:442000825|tsid:2608|cn:Chicken+Coops|mt:Exact|nw:search|cri d:967998805&gclid=CNvWjfGlzpICFQW_1AodGRj2Gw

www.flytesofancy.co.uk/acatalog/Hobby_Henhouses.html

There are tons of other sites for chicken supplies too.

we have had an ark (when we had 4 bantams) - £100
a penthouse from the domestic wildfowl trust - £450 (gulp)
a maggieshenhouse from flytes so fancy - not saying - it was a lot (for up to 12)

i think eglus aren't so good as wood, they look good but i think they get too hot.

if i was starting afresh i'd get a secondhand one OR do what my mate did and adapt a cheap shed from the garden centre. something with an integral ocver/run means you can shut them in fora couple of days - good for a night or 2 away and keeps them safe when avian flu threatens.

If you're only having 2 or 3 hens, then I quite like these. They can have a dust bath in the covered area and the cleaning out is fairly easy - and you can easily pick your eggs out of the nest box on the side.

It comes flat-packed so should be easy to build. And £149 compares very well to some of the henhouses on the poultry sites. The felt roof might need occasional treating with mite powder but if you clean them out/change bedding and add mite powder to their dust bath regularly then it shouldn't be a huge problem.

I have 3 hens in one just like duchesses link. Except mine doesn't have the nest box bit, I've just bunged in an old wooden wine box for them. I did have to construct a perch for inside but that was pretty simple. Also rather than screwing roof on I've put a hook at each corner to hold it down but can take it off for proper clean inside.

I bought mine from same place as on link and had no problems. Ideally I'd have liked something much bigger and more expensive but needs must! The chickens are laying and seem happy...The run bit really isn't big enough for leaving them in for any length of time I don't think. It's "cosy" for 3. Mine cost £60 + delivery