[walker]

I've been thinking of buying one of these chicken houses to make cleaning less time consuming I like the idea of jet washing the house clean and it not absorbing the water, anyway what do people think about these does anyone have one has it stood the test off time.

[JaK]

I have the standard Eco Hen House from Solway Recycling.
http://www.solwayrecycling.co.uk/recycled-shop/pig-poultry/hen-houses/standard-eco-hen-house
I think they are great value for money and very well made products. Customer service from Solway was great too.
I find the hen house very easy and quick to clean out. It also dries quickly after a good wash down too. I have 11 hens who share a run which also has an Eglu classic and a small wooden house in it and ALL of my hens choose to sleep in the Solway hen house every night. All but 1 of my hens (who uses the Eglu) choose to use the Solway hen house for laying in too.
If I need to buy another coop in the future I would stick with the plastic Solway recycling houses. I would never go back to wooden chicken coops again either.

[Prod]

I looked at some when I bought mine last year & I thought they were expensive for what they were. They are supposed to reduce/eliminate red mite  but I wanted something more traditional. In the end I bought one from a guy in Cardiff (on Ebay)  which is traditional T&G wood, raised off the ground, but has a solid plastic floor and an onduline roof. It also came with an automatic door.  Touch wood, I have never seen a red mite anywhere in th coop or on the birds (now tempted fate)   There is another guy on Ebay who sells plastic coops that look exactly like traditional wooden ones. He very often sets a start price at 99p but they usually retail bewteen £200 -£300. Hope thats of help.

[pepsi100]

Who is the seller on ebay ?
Might be worth a browse see what is on offer

[ANHBUC]

I started with wooden coops and moved to plastic at the end of last year.  I managed to get an eglu cube and an eglu classic both second hand.  I also got 2 eglu classic rabbit (they are a cheaper second hand option than for chickens) which I use for broodies.  

The only thing I don't like in the Cube is the girls using the nest area to sleep and poo as it is on the same level as the roost bars.  I have to block off the entrance to stop them doing it but it is a bit of a pain remembering.

[ANHBUC]

Who is the seller on ebay ?
Might be worth a browse see what is on offer

Probably this one pepsi100   

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/pet-housing-direct?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

[pepsi100]

thanks, this looks very impressive

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plastic-Chicken-Coop-Hen-House-Run-Cats-Rabbits-Ferrets-10-Year-Warrenty-/150996963687?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Poultry&hash=item23281ed167

I wonder how many hens this could house ?

[Prod]

Is a minefield really as I think they all lokk much bigger in the photos (especially with th erun added) than they do in real life. I dont know how to paste the link (D'uh)  but if youe search for Chicken coops from £195   his comes up  His ebay name is wenvoelandscaping....

[pepsi100]

That looks like its made of timber and could take about 6, maybe more if it could be moved about a bit

[arwen]

We also have the Solway recycling one. Again, bought because we used to house in timber houses, but suffered an infestation of red mite. All my birdies (bar the three that live up the tree *sigh*) will sleep in it and all of them nest in it. It's a piece of cake to clean too.

One word of warning though, ensure the plastic one you buy has ventilation and that you keep it in the shade if you live somewhere where it gets hot in the summer. They can get very hot on the inside. Obviously, this is a benefit in the winter, but not so much if temps get high in the summer and they're in direct sunlight all day.

I'd never use timber again I'm afraid and I don't feel guilty about using plastic either as this is recycled - win/win imo.

[pepsi100]

When you say its recycled, does that mean its made from recycled plastic ?

.

[joyfull]

I have two of the solway chicken arks (they look like pig arks) - these are the largest of their range.
They are made from plastic that farmers send back to them - this plastic is what their bales are wrapped in etc.
You can still get red-mite but it is far easier to get rid of.

[snow white]

pepsi100
That coop will probably only take 2 normal sized layer comfortably.  Anymore would be a squeeze..