[joyfull]

Well it has arrived and a day early - I chose the colour and the type of flooring on Monday when I paid over the phone and here it is today (Wednesday). I thought it would come flat packed but no it is mostly built up and arrived strapped on a pallet. The delivery man was most worried that I would be on my own to move it as it weighed 67kgs, however I removed it from the pallet and slid it onto a sack barrow. It needed the pop hole door sliding in, the two perches and the two pop holes putting in.
Not got it done yet so no chickens in it until tomorrow.
If you look at the photo you will see it is rather large and certainly wouldn't be in keeping in a small back garden whereas I live in a rural community so it certainly looks the part. They do several smaller sizes though so if I get on with this one I will look into getting a small one for the sabelpoots and another large ark.
Will let you know later on in the week what the chickens and I think about it.

[Lindeggs]

Ooh that really does look like a farm building.  Very solid and practical.  I like it.

[joyfull]

No wood to rot, no wood preservative needed and no redmite treatments - just water and a drop of washing up liquid  .

[rachelr]

how many hens does it hold?

[compostqueen]

It looks huge    More like a pig pen    I'm sure the hens will love it. I certainly would if I was a hen 

[Casey76]

I really like the look of the solway arks.  The "mini coop" would be perfect for poots

The only think I don't like is the flooring, and I prefer to have the houses raised a little, to make cleaning easier.

[joyfull]

they say it holds 10 I think allowing 12" of perch space per bird but as a lot of mine are bantams it could hold more.
Got the nest boxes fitted this morning with a little bit of help with Jimbo  and he was impressed even saying it is big enough for us to sleep in.
It is the same size as their pig arks and I have now told Jim when I get pigs then they will have one of these too.
The girls have been investigating the inside this morning so tonight I am going to take some of the old coops out of use.

[compostqueen]

They're going to love it! Do they try and go back to their old coops though or do they learn where home is right away? 

[joyfull]

I thought about one of those doodlehouse things for the poots but then thought bright white would stand out like a sore thumb in a rural setting - very good for back gardens but not for my garden. So it is going to be a mini ark I think  .

It will be a bit of bribery tonight I think - either that or wait until they have gone to roost then pop them in  .

So this weekends job is to clean and treat the old coops ready to go 

[Ice]

They look like value for money.  Might get a small one for the girls later this year.

[joyfull]

well so far Ice I am impressed but going to see how it goes afterall I only got it yesterday. I didn't get the run with this one as I don't need one but it is made with very thick weld mesh, however IMO the holes are too big - not weasel/stoat/rat proof and there is no skirt to prevent digging. I have informed Solway my opinions regarding these things and they tell me that they did try the mesh under the run but it wasn't too succesfull. They are now looking into putting an anti fox skirt around the outside. The mini ark - which would probably be great as a broody coop - has a finer mesh so would be good but again not sure about anti dig skirt.
having said all that I do know you made a large run for your hens so one without the run would suit you anyway 

[Ice]

I also wasn't impressed by the runs.  What is the optimum size for holes in weldmesh?

[joyfull]

I wouldn't go any bigger than 1/2" x 1" but others may say a different size. 

[rachelr]

joyful can you point me to the site as i really wanna know how much these are and cant find a price???

[alancane]

Hello Joyfull,
Is there a way to put an auto door on at all?