Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: Catsmuvva on June 12, 2011, 16:54

Title: changing from ark to house
Post by: Catsmuvva on June 12, 2011, 16:54
I've been thinking for some time that I ought to get a house for the girls instead of the ark they've been used to.

I've spotted one on eBay that looks like a Forsham copy (should've bought an original Forsham when they were on 1/2 price offer at Scats - doh!), but suspect this won't be as robust.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180654273946&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

What do you think?
Title: Re: changing from ark to house
Post by: OpiumEater on June 12, 2011, 17:02
* to clean  :dry:
Title: Re: changing from ark to house
Post by: GrannieAnnie on June 12, 2011, 17:06
Personally also, I wouldn't keep 12-20 chickens in it.  8-10 max, although it does comply with the Minimum requirements.

Yes, * to clean, but so are a lot of wooden coops! 
Title: Re: changing from ark to house
Post by: Catsmuvva on June 12, 2011, 17:08
I haven't got 12-20, GA, only 9 and a tiddler, but I'll probably keep the ark for overflow anyway...just in case   :lol:
Title: Re: changing from ark to house
Post by: GrannieAnnie on June 12, 2011, 17:11
Aaaaaaahhhhhhh, you may have 9 and a tiddler now, but coops are like cupboards, get more and you keep filling them up!!   :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: changing from ark to house
Post by: OpiumEater on June 12, 2011, 17:11


Yes, * to clean, but so are a lot of wooden coops! 

That's why I have plastic :)
Title: Re: changing from ark to house
Post by: Catsmuvva on June 12, 2011, 17:15
Alternatively this one struck a chord

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130528031887&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I've made enquiries and they'd be prepared to use Onduline instead of the dreaded felt and would round off the top edges of the perches.

BTW I've just checked the dimensions - 3000mm long? Can that be right??
Title: Re: changing from ark to house
Post by: curries on June 13, 2011, 09:58
Looks lovely, 3m including the nest box probably is right, it does look pretty big.
Title: Re: changing from ark to house
Post by: Shop Keep on June 13, 2011, 12:10
The floor is a 8'x4' sheet of ply. so 2' for the nest box would make it about 10 foot.
I still work in old money ;)
Title: Re: changing from ark to house
Post by: GrannieAnnie on June 13, 2011, 13:44
Bit more expensive, but it does look a bit more robust.  I like the big doors for easy cleaning, but that felt looks a bit loose.

Going off topic slightly, when Joy, Brian and me went to the Heckington Show last July, the chicken houses for sale had what looked like grey fibreglass on the roofs instead of felt.  That looked good and no way would a red mite get under that.  It was moulded to the roof of the coops.