Adequate Chicken Coop?

Hello,

Although i'm new to this forum, i have noticed that some Chicken coops bought on the internet are criticised as being cheap inadequately made products. I am thinking of purchasing this one, and was wondering whether it is a good quality coop?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Poultry-Hen-Coop-ARK-chicken-house-Rabbit-House-072_W0QQitemZ180435607129QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Pet_Supplies_Poultry?hash=item2a02ccde59

I would only be housing 2-3 chickens

Thanks for your time,
Jack

p.s. Am i allowed to put that link up?

I have that one - I got it for practically nothing. I ONLY use it in the summer for my broody hens. Normally I use heavy robust henhouses and sheds for my birds.

It is made of a really soft wood. Interestingly I had the pressure washer on it at the end of the summer, while being over zealous ended up shaving the wood. Looked like I had taken a plane or saw to it! The cats have used it as a scratching post, so they have made deep scratches in the side.

The toggles used to close the nest box at the end would have to be replaced with a bolt, I was finding it hard to use them as the damp made the wood swell. The side falls down towards you so if you kneel on it accidently you will go straight through (like I did!) This makes is hard to clean, you are practically on the floor!

However, it is very light, which is good, bear in mind a fox would have no problem lifting it off the ground as I can pick it up with one hand. For a broody house it has been good, easy to take apart to disinfect for subsequent  mums and the small mesh makes it safe fr chicks. I had it in an electrified area with the edge protected from vermin.

I wouldn't put full size birds in it though, maybe a couple of very,very small bantams!

On the plus side it was simple to build

My advice would be go to a specialist maker, get a decent house and make the run yourselves - there are a few places that sell good sectional aviary type panels which you can with little effort fit your house and garden. If you make the run "walk in" height all the better!

Aidy put a link on for pads4pets recently.  I am going to have one from them.  It looks very sturdy and, although it doesn't say, it has a large side door for easy cleaning.  I sent them an email asking about the door and they sent back some photos.  

It' s worth paying a bit more for quality.  My ebay coop is rubbish.  Poorly built from what could be tissue paper, poorly designed and as draughty as hell.

http://www.pads4pets.co.uk/epages/es112520.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/es112520_shop/Products/%22Cambrian%20stand%22

Look for a Lenham on ebay.  Yes, they aren't cheap but they're built like tanks and are so easy to get at and clean out .. and have so many useful features for your chooks and for your ease of use !  There are stands available for them so that you gain back the floor space from under them, which the girls love to dust bathe in .. but the stands retail at over £120.  My sis made one with met-post joins and chunky wood which works perfectly and cost £20.

You may want to consider buying a small garden shed, adding a perch and adding a nest box cunningly constructed from a box... so much cheaper than buying a bespoke hen house and easier for you the hen owner to clean.  U can also keep food and water inside and away from birds and vermin. I've bought 2 cheap hen houses and they are disintegrating after one year of use whereas the sheds are in great nick (including my daughters' old playhouse which is currently home to my Rhodies!!).

I do have a proper hen house which I was given and it houses about ten large fowl with three nest boxes on the side.  It must be 30 years old but regular application of wood preservative and replacement of the roof has kept it going really well - so buying the best quality you can afford does pay off.  I also have an old foresham ark and it is still going strong after about 20 years, with care.

Good luck and enjoy your chickens :-)

You're so right Chooksbury - it looks a complete mess from the outside but inside it's bone dry and warm as toast.  Am saving for another ark as this one has been great for hens with youngsters in tow - safe as houses