[evie2]

Sorry evie2, 
But very lucky chooks, let us all know what it is like  :lol:IF you get one

It's the white one and it's WHEN 

[cochin chicken]

Iv had a white doodlehouse max for a month now, and my cochins love it. We had a ply coop we baught of ebay, but it was cheap and became infested with red mite. Doodlehouse's are so easy to clean im confident i can control red mites.  V happy!!

[Mulberry1990]

we've just ordered one of these, hopefully it will come today! =D

[daisy1990]

our doodlehouse finally arrived (they have been inundated apparently due to red mite infestations nationally).  It was very easy to assemble and looks lovely.  The hens are very happy!

[NormandyMary]

I put in Doodlehouse on Ebay but nothing came up. How do I find them. I looked at the plastic chook houses but still couldnt see that name! Am I having a senior thick moment?

[evie2]

Mary, try doodlehouse.co.uk

[joyfull]

only 1 doodlehouse on ebay at the moment (and that 1 is second hand) - type in plastic hen house.

[kopperdrake]

We've a couple of wooden coops and have yet another mite infestation, so finally looking at a plastic coop for our 7 hens, 2 banties and 1 cockerel.

I've looked at the large ark made by solways - my personal favourite as I quite like the mesh floor option, though I'm a bit nervous of damp. I do like the simplicity of the design, it looks solid, and the optional run looks great for the very odd ocassion when you know you'll be late back and our neighbour happens to be out (about twice a year probably). The norm is they pootle around on lots of grass. It also looked pretty easy to clean out.

I've also looked at the omlet cube but, apart from being rathery costly and ugly, I'm not sure about the bubble problem they've had.

The next up was the green frog design - I quite like the look of the thing, seems very well though out, but maybe not so easy to clean as the solway, and more expensive. I wasn't too sure it would be big enough either.

So whilst googling 'plastic chicken coop' I came across the doodlehouse site and my wife fell in love with it. I thought it looked a bit twee, but then I noticed the Christmas special and the fact you can stick two together and suddenly it looks more attractive. My questions for those who do have them though are:

Do you think two would be enough for my 7 hybrids (not particularly large girls, 2 banties, and 1 cockerel (found wandering the lanes with no forthcoming owner to own up to him, so he stayed - we think he's a buff orpington, but I have no idea! His adult feathers are only just starting I think - probably dumped when someone realised he was a cockerel, poor thing).

Is the chicken cutout air vent on the front permanently open? Would this not be draughty in the winter?

Does the paint scratch off easily?

Is there a gap at the front above the pull-out tray and if so, is there much of a draught through it?

Is there anyone near Derby who would mind me/us popping over to have a look at one in the flesh?!

Apart from the above I do quite like the idea of two them stuck together, and the fact you can add an automatic door opener at a later date is a nice idea, though I'd never trust a light-operated system at night time, what with some of our dafter feathered friends insisting on grazing by moonlight...

Thanks for any advice before we take the plunge - can't wait to retire the wooden coops!

[kopperdrake]

I'm going to answer some of my own questions, after more research.

I could fit between 8 and 12 birds in a double Doodle House coop, assuming between 20-30cm per chook on the perch. The total floor area would be around the same as the Medium Green Frog Loft, just over a square meter.

There is a gap above the droppings tray, and the hole above the door is permanently open.

They are made of the same Stockboard that the Solway is made from. At least a manufacturer of Stokboard shows their design in black plastic on their website, and Solway also say they manufacture Stokboard and use it in their products.

I've decided to go with the Solway Ark, mainly on overall internal floor space (just shy of 1.9 square meters so almost double that of the Green Frog and Doodle House. The fact I can attach a run is also a bonus, as I can spread a sheet over it as a winter/summer shade. Plus, after a call to Solway, they say they are looking into an automatic opener that you can retrofit to existing arks.

All that said, I do like the build quality and design of the way the Doodle House is constructed - hats off to the designers for a simple approach. Lack of run options (even for temporary use) and internal floor space did it - if only chicken keeping wasn't so addictive and we still only had 4 chooks!

[joyfull]

whilst I have 2 of the large solway arks I don't like their runs (have told them this) - the holes in the mesh are too big (rats, stoats, weasels etc could get thorough) and no mesh skirt although they did say they were looking into that, also the run is not that big considering how many hens could live in the ark (cant remember if you can buy run extensions).
I have the solid floors in mine which are easy to shovel out and sweep. As with the doodle house perches I did find mine bowed so simply slid them out and turned them the other way to straighten them out.
Do like the idea of retro fitting auto door openers though - just need omlet to design one for my eglus as well