[hedgewych]

I've seen these and they look good.  Does anyone have any experience of them?  I want one for 4 hens.

[ANHBUC]

Is this the one you have seen www.chickencoopsdirect.com/chicken-houses.htm
If it has a felted roof it can harbour redmite which you don't want.  It might be alright for 4 bantams but probably too small for 4 larger hens.  If you can get one that has a detachable run it is easier for cleaning out the run. 

[viettaclark]

"With over 17.6 sq. feet of secure area"
I bought a similar wooden coop when I first got chickens. I was shocked at how small it was. You need to see one "in the flesh" to gauge how big it is. That's only about 2 sq. meters by my reckoniing and may include the area of the actual coop.
It all depends on if your chooks will be let out during the day. Even so....that area is really only suitable for 2 hens.
We built a 3x1 meter run addition for 3 girls but I have now got 6 and have spent a fortune over recent years on an Eglu Cube and now a walk-in run and extension which is all combined with the original 3x1m run to give 11 sq m.
My girls get to free range when I'm in the garden only (which is luckily quite often now it's Spring!) because we had another fox attack.
My set-up is pretty fox-proof now and I DON'T get red mite. A wooden coop is more likely to harbour mites because of the natural crevices in the wood and under the roof felting.

[hedgewych]

The girls will free-range during the day.  I did see one of these at Hornby Castle a couple of weeks' ago and it looked well-made and sturdy, that's why I chose it. Yes, it's the one on CCdirect.  Isn't the felted roof good when it's chucking it down as it frequently is here in North Yorks/Pennines?

[viettaclark]

Looking at the reviews it seems ok quality but you may need an extension.
Are you planning on free-ranging in the garden or have you got more space?

[ANHBUC]

Mine has a wooden roof which I keep treated with ronseal fence paint which is waterproof.  Much better than roofing felt.

[Sassy]

A correctly made coop roof will not leak if well maintained. It shows a lack of knowlwedge on the side of the manufacturers to offer a coop with roof felt, I would then question what else is wrong with the design!!

[Diddy Gardener]

Found on the site we bought our chicken house from:

We offer a full range of chicken coops in our chicken house category and you will soon see we do NOT EVER sell chicken houses with felt roofs as this really will come back to haunt you if you do as felt roofs on a chicken house are 'insane'. They create the perfect breeding ground for mites that can seriously weaken if not kill birds.

That's why we didn't get a felt roof 

[hedgewych]

Thanks all, that has been very useful.    I'll have to keep on looking.

[hedgewych]

Hi again, I have found the Dell Midi made by Smiths, well made, no felt.  Any opinions on this one?
http://www.smithssectionalbuildings.co.uk/products/midi-dell_chicken-house-and-run.php

[ANHBUC]

It has felt on the nest box.

Seems expensive but hard to tell without seeing it up close.  You could try your local shed builders, I believe some do coops or will make one to order.

[hedgewych]

Oh dear, I hadn't noticed that.