Help me decide which coop

[dobby2001]

Hi all
Finally decided after several years delebration to get meself some chooks have cleared space in the garden for the coop, which will have to have an integrated run as can only allow them out of an evening and weekends when around to keep an eye out for Mr Foxy.

Now I have started to look at coops though I find myslef torn between 3 differant models, so need your advice oh wise chicken ones Heres the shortlist.

chicken coop 1

coop 2

or coop 3

I am looking to keep 3-4 hens. Budget up to £200 and as I say, hens will have access to rest of garden when I am around.

Would appreciate your advice, am itching to get the coop and then my girls!

Oh and any advice on how to prepare ground that coop will be sited? It is going where there was a raised bed so currently just dry compacted soil.

thanks

I can only speak for coop 1 as that's the one i have (but coop 2 looks very similar?). It was fantastically easy to put together, all the screw holes matched up to the screws!

Easy to clean but in the winter the nest box got a bit damp from leakage at the top join with main house - I've nailed some stiff plastic over this so the nest box lid just hinges up rather than lifting completely off.

My chooks settled in very well and seem very happy. The run isn't very big, though, so mine have a wider fenced off area to roam free.

Enjoy! I love my girls - they're the only one's I get any sense out of in this house!

The soil should be fine, by the way, they'll soon scratch it up. Gets a bit damp and muddy in winter though - I'm putting lots of grit in mine this year.

thanks for that Lilalien. That was our first choice but then I got worried about red mite and all that felt roofing which was when I spotted number 2 - similiar but mesh run. Only problem there is the main issue with negative feedback seems to be poor build quality oh and there is a waiting list for it - I want mine now!

Third one has the most run spac and I have seen one at my local graden centre - £100 more tho but might be a non starter anyway as I noticed there are no perchs or nesting boxes in photo have e.mailed seller as i am sure the one I saw had these - and it was the same thing as I took a photo to check.

DH is releived he dosent have to do anything to the garden to prepare the ground - although we were thinking of some buried mesh to deter foxes?

number 1. it has maximum headroom for you, the ramp is easily acessible and it has good floor space. number 3 and number 2 both have ramps which come very close to the wire at the bottom. this gives you a corner where a dominant chicken could stand to prevent others acessing the house, and where a timid hen could be cornered and bullied.although i have just spotted number 2 can have a run extension, but would still need to get in there on your hands and knees!
Another point is, all 3 have felt rooves, which could harbour red mite. in terms of the info given out re bird flu a while back no 2 doesnt have a covered run. whichever one you get, if its to be in permanent situ, put a layer of replaceable hardwood chippings in the floor otherwise you will end up with sour mud which can spread disease! you could also wire underneath this for extra security.