[leebou]

Hi All,
I have my first ever hens arriving in May they will be about 7 months old(i am told this is point of lay) as you can imagine im frantically making the coup and run to house them in but have some questions i hope you can help with.

1 I am using creosote substitute to preserve the timber (and inside the coup if you say its ok) how long should it be left empty to get rid of the smell and to make it habitable(please dont say 12 weeks lol)
2should i put the hens in the coup locked in for 24 hrs as i ahve read or will they be ok as the coup is intigrated into the run.
3 does any one have a drawring of the inside of a coup,I have read the perches should all be at the same height and heigher than the nest boxes is this right.Also do the birds prefer to go through the pop hole and the down to a floor lower than the door or are they happy with the bottom of the pop hole being the level of the floor

I am sure there are going to be more questions and some point but answers to these would be fab. Thanks guys and girls
Lee

[Vember]

Hi leebou

I think 2/3 weeks for the shed to dry out and get rid of the smell should be ok

I always put my birds in the coop first for at least a few hours , it seems to help them to know where to go at bedtime Though you may still end up playing chase at night, there's always one that won't go in 

Have you had a look here :
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=32947.0

Loads of info there on making your own coop


Sarah

[cathangirl]

Welcome to the Forum leebou.
Vember has answered your question, re the housing and settling in, etc., so I'll not bother with that.
I am a little puzzled though.  P.O.L. chickens (hybrids anyway) are about 18 weeks old.  I believe pure breeds are more seasonal layers, so not so sure how old they are when they start, but 7 months seems a long time to wait.
Sure some one will correct me if I am wrong.   
cathangirl

[leebou]

Thank you Sarah that was very helpfull 
Im confused now cathandgirl i will ask the supplier again i may of misheard.
Thank you both..
Lee