[Pepperpincushion]

There are so many I am going round in circles trying to choose!
I want a house with attached, secure run, enough space for three birds (not sure what breed or size).
I found some good value ones on ebay but a lot of them are tongue and groove and I've read that this can increase the risk of red mite (I think?)?

Can some more knowledgeable people tell me what I need to look for and which styles are the most suitable and practical.

I don't mind if I can't "walk in" it as I am on my hands and knees cleaning out rabbit hutches anyway so I don't mind about that too much!

[Oakdalebirds1]

welcome to the mad world of chooks

My first coop was onre of those that you mention and it worked fine , i still have it and red mite was easy to control with carefull cleaning and a good red mite defence.

Just choose what you can afford or are willing to pay your hens will not expect a four bed detached !

whish you look

Scott

[Vecten]

If you are certain you will only be keeping 3 birds I would go for the ark, you know the A shaped one. Accomodation upstairs and pretty good floor area in a run underneath. Don't worry too much about tongue and groove, we have managed with it for a century or so and that was before we had all the insecticides we have now.

[PaulineM]

Hi
One more thing that might help you pick is to get one that does not have a felt roof as if you do get red mite I have heard it is nign on impossible to get rid off it with a felt roof.

[Pepperpincushion]

All the ones I have looked at seem to have felt roofs 

How does this one look? It seems to be the best value I've looked at as far a square footage goes
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330507124633&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[New shoot]

Hi

Most new coops have a felt roof so good housekeeping and prevention is key in stopping any possible red mite infestations.  The other option is to remove the felt and replace it - most people use Onduline sheets.

That coop has a pretty small run space for 3 chickens if you are going for full size birds, but if you are going to let them out as well that would be OK 

[Dominic]

I was looking at something similar, and that.
Its probably ok as somewhere for them to sleep at night and wake up in, but you couldnt keep three chickens in it all the time, witrhout them killing each other.

Personaly, I'm going for the cheapest eglu, and making a run myself.

[Casey76]

I'm afraid you're going to be hard pushed to find a coop with an integral run which is big enough.  For three birds you will need a run of at least 3sqm, and extra space for feedsers, waterers, a dust bath and other enrichments.

This would be just big enough:  Ark

[Dominic]

http://www.feelgooduk.net/10-egg-ark-4-all-in-one-chicken-coop-run-set.html
With the three additional runs would be somewhere between three and four sqms.

I nearly bought one.

[Pepperpincushion]

http://www.feelgooduk.net/10-egg-ark-4-all-in-one-chicken-coop-run-set.html
With the three additional runs would be somewhere between three and four sqms.

I nearly bought one.

That looks good. I can't see any dimentions though - am I missing it?

[karenjayne]

All the ones I have looked at seem to have felt roofs 

How does this one look? It seems to be the best value I've looked at as far a square footage goes
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330507124633&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

i have got this coop.  my 3 chickens live in it happily, although they do have a run they go into for a few hours a day.  Even when it snowed, they were happy being cooped up all day in it!

[joyfull]

Please remember the Defra minimum run size is 1sq mtr per bird and if they are in it for any length of time they should have at least 2 but preferably more. In that space you have to have feeder, drinker, dust bath area and scratching/stretching area.

[Dominic]

That looks good. I can't see any dimentions though - am I missing it?

81cmx187cm, with an additional 81*190 for the two extra runs.
Its not clearly stated, you have to dig through pictures for drawings
I think that might include a nest box at the back, naughty....

The extention runs are .75*.95, so I'd guess the ark and two extra runs are 2.8 square metres.

Please remember the Defra minimum run size is 1sq mtr per bird and if they are in it for any length of time they should have at least 2 but preferably more. In that space you have to have feeder, drinker, dust bath area and scratching/stretching area.

I'm fairly sure the none free range ones get a bit less than a metre each...

[Vecten]

DEFRA recommendations are here - http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/welfare/onfarm/documents/layerscode.pdf

[Pepperpincushion]

How does this look (obviously would have to get a run separately)?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Poultry-Bantam-Coop-Hen-Chicken-House-Nest-Box-007T-/290465972952?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Poultry&hash=item43a11f02d8


Also, I have three of these runs which I use for the rabbits;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/giant-rabbit-integrated-65hby-Doghealth/dp/B003R2UEHC/ref=sr_1_47?ie=UTF8&qid=1300281404&sr=8-47
Would that be suitable to extend a chicken run (ie not as a run on its own but for added space)?