[Chablis Dog]

Hi, I am a new member here and am looking for some advice about chicken coops.  I have been trawling around looking on the internet and find the choice pretty bewildering.  I want a hen house for about 6 hens and don't want to spend much more than £200.  So, I would like to know what would be the best for my budget and also of course, what I should avoid.  Thanks

[joyfull]

Avoid the cheap (cheaply manufactured but not always cheap in cost) imports. Really you would be best buying a shed and converting it. Ideally if you want to buy one ready made then go and see it in person, if it has a run attached remember that also in that run you will have to add the feeder, drinker a dust bath as well as the chickens. The minimum run space should be 1 square meter per bird although we recommend at least double this. the coup size should allow 30 Cm's per per of perching space. Wooden playhouses also make good coups if you know of one locally and then make a run out of weldmesh and wooden panels. Consider how easy it would be to clean out the coup as well. Raised coups make this so much easier 

[Chablis Dog]

Thank you for this advice.  I was thinking about getting a shed and adapting but have been somewhat beguiled by some of the hen house designs out there.  I am going to get one with a run but just to increase my options as I don't really need it.  The coop will be kept in a barn and my new hens will then have access to a large outdoor area during the day.  I should say that I live in France but am coming to the UK for a shopping trip and the hen house is high on my list as they are twice the price here (and the build quality doesn't look great).  So, of course, I am looking for something flatpack.  I really wanted to know what other people use and what they could recommend.

[nicky d]

have you thought about contrusting your own, im sure there are some examples on here of wot people have built, might work out cheaper, especially if the coup is being kept inside a barn, it only needs to be basic, install some perchers and some nest boxes, ventalation and your good to go.  With it being kept inside the barn its not gonna be exposed to the eliments as it were.   nickyx

[Chablis Dog]

Thanks Nicky.  I had thought about making my own but have so much else on hand and I don't really have the skills.  I am also thinking longer term inasmuch as if we move in the future, there might be less barn space for the chooks so the coop might end up outside after all!

[joyfull]

I would get a flat pack shed then whilst over here 

[rossivale]

I agree with joyful, re the flat packed shed.

My father "dumped" his shed for burning at my place last year, 2 weeks ago me and my sister decided to salvage parts of it to make a new duck/hen house.

We are rather pleased we did not burn it now :-)

Will take some pics if you like.

We also built a hen house out of pallets, so completely free, bar buying a few hingers and a bolt.  And it is great fun, and you feel so proud when your hens love it. 
Jo

[Hennery]

We made ours out of our kids unused play house. I think these may be better than sheds as they are not too tall and you can make better use of the floor area. I had to relocate it and re-felt the roof also replace the boarding on one side as the old stuff all split when removing it to make the outside nest boxes. The expense of making the coop was not very high, most money being spent on the run ( timber and mesh etc ). Overall the whole project cost about £180. You could probably get a play house locally on Freecycle.

[joyfull]

Don't know if they have freecycle in Normandie Hennery 

[Chablis Dog]

Thank you all for sharing your experiences and wisdom!  I am thinking now I will go down the 'adapted' shed route.  Not as attractive probably but I do like things to last a long time and can't face the prospect of lugging it all the way back here only to find that it is all form and little content!

[luicejony]

As I want to share my experience with this article of chicken coops. It was wonderful and knowledgeable experience with this text through which I have learn that it is very important for chickens to have house just like we i.e humans have.

[pekinpete]

take a look at cocoon coops english made and in flat pack, bought one for my 15 birds and plenty of room you can get in size to suit the number of birds you have and at a very good price .

[grinling]

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/CHICKEN-COOP-RUN-HEN-HOUSE-POULTRY-ARK-HOME-NEST-BOX-COUP-COOPS-RABBIT-HUTCH-/161548365878?hash=item259d087036:g:aEcAAOSw1vlUwjUh

Mine is similar to this, but is kept undercover and raised up on bricks. I have had it for at least 10 years with no probs.
 You could always build some extra roosting bars outside by using a ladder with supports.
If there is a fox, quite a lot of people in France tend to have a cockerel or 2 on hand.