[Sadgit]

Well since I now have my plot i will have space in the veg patch at home and I am looking to get a few chickens..

What do you think of this coop? worth that kind of cash? this has ended but I know they have loads of them for sale..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=012&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=220112033950&rd=1&rd=1

cheers
SG

PS everyone thinks I have gone mad.. allotment and now chickens plus being a "young" 35 year old..

[Aunt Sally]

I'm afraid I don't know much about wooden hen coops.  That one looks very posh though.  It has a very small run so I presume you are planning more free range space for them in your old veg patch.

[Sadgit]

I was going to let them out from time to time as I thought that run was quite small..

[richyrich7]

Nice looking sadgit, don't think I would want to put 8-10 large fowl birds in it, especially if they cant free range or roam into a bigger run.

1 area of concern for me would be the ramp arrangement in the coop, how easy would it be to clean behind, it I assume it removes? also I think a perch would be better rather than a board for roosting, for when they poo before roosting would they then be sitting in it all night. Just my personal view sadgit I only have 3 birds so no way am I an expert. Others may say different.

[Sadgit]

Nice looking sadgit, don't think I would want to put 8-10 large fowl birds in it, especially if they cant free range or roam into a bigger run.

1 area of concern for me would be the ramp arrangement in the coop, how easy would it be to clean behind, it I assume it removes? also I think a perch would be better rather than a board for roosting, for when they poo before roosting would they then be sitting in it all night. Just my personal view sadgit I only have 3 birds so no way am I an expert. Others may say different.

thanks for the reply Rich.. I would only be wanting 2 or 3 bird and I am just looking at different coops and that one looked ok to me, but the perch thing might have put me off this one

[babe]

PS everyone thinks I have gone mad.. allotment and now chickens plus being a "young" 35 year old..

your not mad, i love my chickens and ducks and i'm a very young 36 years old.

[Viv]

Bought a hen house and run from a supplier when still green about hens, what a waste of money! Buy one that you can get into easily so you can give it a good clean, make sure the floor is slatted so the droppings go through - makes it easier to clean.
Even with only three hens they need ;lots of space as they do make a lot of mess.
Mt hubby has made me a run and separate ark and he isn't by any means a diy expert, in fact quite the opposite. We got the wood from B&Q and made a basic arc frame and attached fencing planks to it. Two pallets went inside for the floor. The run was the same design but with wire sides. Really pleased with this at a fraction of the price  
I would also be careful with ebay - some goods are not what they seem.

[Fannyann]

I too am a "young" (in mind if not in body!) 35 year old, waited 30 years for my 2 chickens but well worth the wait :!:
My hubby built our coop and run after lots of research and basically borrowed the best bits of lots of designs :!:
Just think when you've sorted out the coop you'll have to decide what kind of chickens you want

[Sadgit]

thanks for the replies... I now have no idea what to do cannot see me building anything myself, as my hands are for keyboard bashing and pushing around bits of paper, not making things outta wood 'n stuff

[richyrich7]

To be honest sadgit they ain't that hard to make out of plywood, you could get most of the wood cut for you at your local B&Q or some timber merchants will cut to size.  

Have a peep at some of these to give you some ideas.  

[Sadgit]

I wouldn't have a clue where to start.... can you get maps of how to make them?

[Sadgit]

right found this... http://www.buildeazy.com/chicken_coop_1.html

*gulp* I think I might have a go at making it myself... I really don't need something this big, so

1, do you think this one would be ok?
2, for 2-3 chickens would I be ok to half the dimensions?
3, 4x4 150 lineal ft, would be 4x4in and 150 foot of it?

Cheers

SG

[richyrich7]

Cor that's a detailed plan how about a 2nd hand shed 6x4 cost you about £40 out your local paper? save you building  

[alan42]

i am a joiner by trade and know that by the time you have bought that amount of timber and fixings and felt and the time it will take you to make it you could have just baught a 6x4 shed like richy says and still had plenty of money left for drinkers feeders food wire ect
chickens dont care were they live as long as its warm dry and out of the wind flash £300 arks look good but in my book you carnt beat a walk in shed  plenty of room airy and with some easily made aditions man and chicken friendly.
one of my best chicken huts is a greenhouse  with the glass removed and replaced with plywood brill hut and best of all cost £5 for the screws.
drop me a pm if you want as i am very near you.
alan

[Viv]

Stop looking at those expensive supplier masgs, they know whats best for their pockets. Over the last few months we have become SKIP junkies. See a skip, is there anything we can utilise? if so ask whose it is and can we help ourselves. You would be amazed at our finds.
Our motto is can we get it free and recycle/
A shed is perfect for hens and there are lots that are going for a song.
Good luck, its a mind set change, I was the original lets get it from a shop, specialist company, now I'm a real skip junkie