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Chicken keepers

Meet others keeping chickens on our Mumsnet Chicken forum.

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Original poster

Any Chicken Keepers can you have a look at this coop and tell me if you think its ok or a load of rubbish?

18 replies

TurkeyLurkey · 21/04/2008 20:34

here

Have been after one for a while as have a large garden and would love some chickens. Looks quite cheap but where would the chickens nest to lay eggs as there don't appear to be nesting boxes?....also would I have to treat the timber to prevent mites?

Thanks in anticipation!

OP posts:

MaloryTowersTraditionalist · 21/04/2008 20:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

TurkeyLurkey · 21/04/2008 20:39

It does seem cheap doesn't it which made me wonder if it was crap.

Could I make nesting boxes for them to sit in inside? (DH is a builder and could knock some up)

OP posts:

TheDuchessOfNorksBride · 21/04/2008 21:02

The wood looks like it needs a preservative - if you do, check the one you use is non-toxic for animals.

Mites can be deterred by scattering a bit of powder under the bedding and putting powder in the chickens dust bath.

It's not a big hen house, OK for 2 or 3 hens. They'd manage with one nestbox. A wooden frame about 12" square and 6-8" high to keep the straw 'nest' in place would do. The nest frame doesn't need a bottom and would be easy to lift out and clean round properly. They might sleep in it as well but as long as you collect eggs regularly, it's not really a problem. You would probably need to fit in some perches as well.

But if you're DH is a builder, could he not build the whole thing? One of the chicken sites has downloadable henhouse plans - might be Practical Poultry Forum. ??

TheDuchessOfNorksBride · 21/04/2008 21:06

Also, the runs on hen-houses look OK until you see chickens in it. To give the chickens a good, healthy lifestyle, you'd need to extend the run or let them out to free-range for part of the day.

I hope I'm not putting you off! Once you have a well-built house & run, it's all quite easy!

mrspink27 · 21/04/2008 21:12

No where to roost either, need a pole for them to roost on.

Original poster

TurkeyLurkey · 21/04/2008 21:18

Thanks Norksbride. Yes DH could make me one but I'd be waiting a few years I reckon for him to pull his finger out and do it You know what they say about Coblers children and all that..i've been waiting 18 months for lights in the bathroom...but thats a whole other thread I assure you!

Anyway back to the chickens, I'd let them roam about the garden most days and put them back in at night...I only wanted about 3 hens and thought that one seemed a good price. If I get DH to make a nesting box to fit inside and treat the wood like you said I think it may be a winner then.

OP posts:

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 22/04/2008 12:43

I think it would be a bugger to clean out if the only access is via the roof.

You'd need to build/buy a nesting box and also install perches. Remember a nesting box is going to be about 30cmx30cm so that will cut down on space inside the house.

debbiedlemur · 22/04/2008 14:52

Also it looks like the roof could be covered with felt which red mites love to hide under so that could be a problem as well. If you do choose to buy this one I hope his building is better than his spelling! lol. It is a good price though so probably with some adjustments it would be fine.

tortoiseSHELL · 22/04/2008 14:59

Definitely would need a roost and nesting box - if you want kids to help then an external one is best. And the felt is bad news as far as red mite - you should avoid felt like the plague!

Tbh I would go for a more expensive but better quality one I think.

Madlentileater · 22/04/2008 19:04

we got one off ebay quite cheap, it was new and looked fine in the pic, but the wood when it arrived was very light, not very good quality. It's OK but i don't see it lasting long. And that's the sort of thinf you can't tell from a photo. If I was you I'd guilt trip DH...I'm sure he'd hate to hae a poor quality shoddily builtitem in is garden, wouldn't he?

honeybrown · 22/04/2008 19:08

Avoid a felt roof at all costs ! We have one and are battling the dreaded red mite. This coop has no nest boxes (although they could be attached to the outside with holes cut through for access) and the wood lokks like it would need treating. Coop has no perches .

To be honest, by the time you have altered coop to make it fit for purpose, you may be better off buying a better quality one. HTH

Original poster

TurkeyLurkey · 22/04/2008 19:17

Hi everyone and thanks for all your advice, its great to get all your thoughts,oooh how I lurve this site!.

Anyhow, I have nagged told DH what you've all said and hey presto, he told me to print some pictures of the ideal hen house from t'internet so he could build it!

Yeah right, I'm thinking, but you never know..he seems keen so lets see if he gets his arse in gear and does it..how long shall I give him before endless nagging reminding him again do you reckon?

OP posts:

Madlentileater · 22/04/2008 19:19

looks like a result- get back to us in a week and we'll sort him out if no action!

Original poster

TurkeyLurkey · 22/04/2008 19:22

Madlentil- I've just told him what you said and he looked quite pleased at a load of women sorting him out. He says he has dreams like that.......

OP posts:

Madlentileater · 22/04/2008 20:43

tell him think again! we are chicken keepers! Have just clipped 6 chicken's wings!!!

aefondkiss · 23/04/2008 10:13

turkeylurkey, order your chickens now, tell dh that he has 4 weeks until they arrive, then he can have a deadline to work to...it is up to you whether you actually order the chooks, my brother gave us 4 hens last year, so dh had to build a hen house in time for their arrival.

LoopyLena · 23/04/2008 10:39

We got one off ebay, handmade by a retired carpenter, it wasn't cheap, but was delivered, fully erected, it's more then big enough for our 3 chucks and has nesting boxes and perches, plenty of access for cleaning and it's really solid. My friend bought one from ebay and it's quite thin and poor quality, I don't think Mr Fox would have much trouble getting in hers. We built our own run, using fox proof wire, dearer, but well worth it, and sinking it 2ft into the ground to prevent the foxes digging underneath.

We use a powder to control mites and other crawling nasties, and we have a felt roof. I've never seen any mites when I clean them out, so it must work!

Recommended sellers on ebay

search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQfrtsZ0QQsassZchickenfee for powder

myworld.ebay.co.uk/hillsofdevon for wire

myworld.ebay.co.uk/elitetimberhutches07 for the coup - although he has no listings at the moment.

Original poster

TurkeyLurkey · 23/04/2008 17:37

afondkiss - brilliant idea! and yes I'm quite happy to stoop as low as not actually ordering them . I shall have to practice a surprised expression of "ooh well they should have been here by now, oh dear what must have happended?"

LoopyLena - Brilliant advice and links thank you. Thats what I would worry about, the quality of it for £100. And it would really pain DH to have something shoddily built in his garden. He'd stand around tutting at it and muttering about how crap it was.

Thanks everyone!

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