Thank you for bringing this to our attention and allowing us the opportunity to comment.
As a small business owner, I am naturally devastated by the comments that have been levied as to the way we conduct our business. As an experienced chicken owner, the welfare of the birds we supply is of the utmost importance to the point where we have declined certain clients who are not adequately prepared or have the right environment to keep chickens. Please note that we do not rear birds for supply, they are delivered directly from the supplier.
We insist that clients have a secure garden and discuss at great length the exercise required by chickens and how to best ensure they get this. With regard to the number of hens kept, it really is up to an individual if they only wish to keep two, we point out that three is better and one will be lonely but make the assumption that adults can make this decision themselves.
I am disappointed that we are being targeted on the forum when we are being responsible and reiterate that our business is focussed merely around packaging together the very same items that are readily available at any outlet or internet store where, indeed, no advice is given pertaining to exercise and free ranging and the assumption that the house and run is sufficient for permanent residence of the birds is far more likely. Sites such as ebay have suggestions that most certainly do not comply with our, or your, thoughts on sensible marketing – please see this link
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Poultry-House-Coop-&-Run-or-Rabbit-6-to-12-hens-CC007HR_W0QQitemZ270342533085QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090210?IMSfp=TL090210177002r17411 With regard to the size issue, please can I respectfully point out that a hen requiring 1sqm would therefore equate to a run 3m x 1m (and not 3m x 3m as has been suggested in an email to me). I reiterate that we stress the importance of allowing hens to have as much exercise space as possible and that the runs are used to assist with the safety of the hens.
I have amended the website to compliment our discussions with clients regarding free ranging and hope this goes some way to demonstrating that we take this issue as seriously as you. You run an article on 'down the lane' – this site states that a 'traditional ark' is suitable for starters and for keeping two hens. Is this not the same as we are suggesting?
Hopefully the above helps explain what we are doing and that we naturally expect individuals to do the very best for their pets – whether they be hens or any other animal but at some point the responsibility does pass to the owner.