Hi Hillfooter. The sizes are the floor space with of the coop/roost within the run. The choice is between the Smiths Sectional Buildings Thicket or the woodenart Super James houses. Both have about 20 to 24 inches clearence underneath the coop. All meshed in as part of the build in run.
Going to see the woodenart one next week and have been able to have a good look at the Thicket one locally. The size of the coop area on the Thicket did seem a bit excessive but has adjustable ventilation, then again I don't know anything much about chickens (yet)
Hi Birmancats
Both these houses look very good from the photos.
Do you have to have a caged run to confine the birds all the time or do you expect them to free range and only be confined when you aren't around? If the latter check out the Forsham Cottage Arks Lenham 405 (£465) which I use with my own design run. Forshams Rye run is expensive and it's easy to make your own.
Going back to the ones you've selected I like the Smiths one and the materials seem robust enough 12mm tongue & groove is good. The nestboxes are felt roofed so a bit of a negative point for that. The internal design and access looks OK. The perches are a little far apart which means the birds can walk in the droppings. I'd like to see them closer and a little higher off the floor to give more droppings space. When the perches are removed is there a completely flat floor so the litter can be easily swept out with no ledges to trap it. The externals of the Woodenart looks good too but there's no pictures of the inside (why do people do this it makes me think this is a weak area or they don't think it's worth a mention. Big mistake.) Two nestboxes are adequate for about 8 birds but not excessive so just hope none of them go broody. Also the materials aren't spec'd but I'd expect a min of 40mm framing and 12mm tongue and groove. Check this out. It says two perching poles which if that's all there is inside isn't any good. Might be easy to modify if the rest is OK. I usually do a few tweeks to suit my preferences. Check for absolutely flat floors so they can easily be swept and lift out fittings. Ask about presevation treatment and nails and fixings used . Are they all zinc plated and rust resistant/ proof and no staples or nail brads.
Basically nearly all aviary type houses have inadequate run space for the number of birds they claim can fit in the house. Personally I like at least 2sqm per bird if they are confined for long periods which neither house can provide. Not an issue if they range outside and are just confined part of the day though.
My system is designed to utilise alternate runs and makes use of the acre or so of ground I have available. A movable house with covered small run which houses feeders & drinkers within a large external run bounded by an electric net. see attached photos
HF