rick
Active member
I like the chicken wagon, its so cool!
Hello from Buckingham
- Thread starter Kimbab71
- Start date
That certainly looks a much better-made coop, bigger and much more solid, and it doesn't have a felt roof for redmite to breed under. Plenty of space, in fact, more than you need for four hens, unless you have room and plans eventually to get more birds. If you intend to stick to 4-6, you really don't need all those nestboxes, two would be fine, and having four means more places to clean and for redmite to breed. However, it does have the disadvantage if being made of wood - nice to look at, but much harder to keep clean and much more likely to be infested with red mite because you could never get into all the cracks to eradicate them if you get an outbreak.
As Chris suggests, you could usefully look at plastic coops before making your decision. I've got a Green Frog and they're really good. Ever so easy to keep clean, much less likelihood of redmite because of their smooth surfaces and few places for redmite to live, and if you need to, it all comes to bits for a really through clean in a way that's impossible with any wooden coop. If you move house it all breaks back down into a flat pack, and if you want to sell it, it doesnt deteriorate like wood does. And no need to treat it with creosote, ever! I would suggest the Medium Chicken Lodge, which I have - room for my six girls and up on legs with space underneath. Mine is green and black, which blends in nicely out of doors but you can get all black or other colours as well. Very reasonably priced for a long lasting coop. I got mine from Bevs Rare Breed Poultry and they were very helpful but if you google Green Frog Coops you may find out more. See
http://rarebreedpoultry.webs.com/poultryhousing.htm
Also, there's wuite a lot about plastic coops, and Green Frog in particular, on past posts if you use the Search box.
As Chris suggests, you could usefully look at plastic coops before making your decision. I've got a Green Frog and they're really good. Ever so easy to keep clean, much less likelihood of redmite because of their smooth surfaces and few places for redmite to live, and if you need to, it all comes to bits for a really through clean in a way that's impossible with any wooden coop. If you move house it all breaks back down into a flat pack, and if you want to sell it, it doesnt deteriorate like wood does. And no need to treat it with creosote, ever! I would suggest the Medium Chicken Lodge, which I have - room for my six girls and up on legs with space underneath. Mine is green and black, which blends in nicely out of doors but you can get all black or other colours as well. Very reasonably priced for a long lasting coop. I got mine from Bevs Rare Breed Poultry and they were very helpful but if you google Green Frog Coops you may find out more. See
http://rarebreedpoultry.webs.com/poultryhousing.htm
Also, there's wuite a lot about plastic coops, and Green Frog in particular, on past posts if you use the Search box.
That's brilliant, well done, what good luck!
valeriebutterley
New member
Hello Kimbab and again, welcome.
I like the coop, I had one of them as my second coop, warning here about chickens and the way they tend to get into your heart! Yes, bits did fall off it, screws came loose, and it needed fixing, but I took great care of it, pressure cleaned it and in the end, and sold it for more than I paid for it!!
I started off with 4 brown hybrid girls, the best natured and friendliest girls ever, then rescued 2, who were an absolute delight to watch doing things for the first time, especially dust bathing in the garden.
I now have an assortment of girls, but have gradually become aware of the advantages of purebred hens, especially utilities, and will now change over to them as and when there are "vacancies"!
I like the coop, I had one of them as my second coop, warning here about chickens and the way they tend to get into your heart! Yes, bits did fall off it, screws came loose, and it needed fixing, but I took great care of it, pressure cleaned it and in the end, and sold it for more than I paid for it!!
I started off with 4 brown hybrid girls, the best natured and friendliest girls ever, then rescued 2, who were an absolute delight to watch doing things for the first time, especially dust bathing in the garden.
I now have an assortment of girls, but have gradually become aware of the advantages of purebred hens, especially utilities, and will now change over to them as and when there are "vacancies"!
Hello Kimbab
You do realise these are going to be the most expensive eggs in the world! Plus the endless hours just watching them - it's all very addictive. Anyway, just to add to the melting pot, I have a wooden Framebow coop which although quite expensive are VERY sturdy and imho very pretty. See www.framebow.co.uk/chicken_coops.html I have the Bow chicken coop with the run extended by one section with a solid roof for shelter (Framebow will also custom build and make modifications for you), although you won't need this if you are building your own run. They are great though as they lift up for access to the whole run, which is quite unusual. I only have one cockerel and 2 hens at the moment and they free range most of the day, but if they are going to be in a run it should obviously be as big as possible, not least because they produce a huge amount of poo! The roof of the house is double skinned so the ventilation comes up through the eves, so no draughts. As far as I am aware I have never had a problem with red mite but my chickens do get room service every day! The house is SO heavy I have had to put handles on it and it takes two of us to move it, with difficulty! Chris is right about potential leaking with the wind blowing rain into the gaps, but I only seem to have this problem after it's been dry for a long time and the wood has shrunk a bit, normally it's fine if well maintained. Anyway, I love my house and I think my chickens do too.
You do realise these are going to be the most expensive eggs in the world! Plus the endless hours just watching them - it's all very addictive. Anyway, just to add to the melting pot, I have a wooden Framebow coop which although quite expensive are VERY sturdy and imho very pretty. See www.framebow.co.uk/chicken_coops.html I have the Bow chicken coop with the run extended by one section with a solid roof for shelter (Framebow will also custom build and make modifications for you), although you won't need this if you are building your own run. They are great though as they lift up for access to the whole run, which is quite unusual. I only have one cockerel and 2 hens at the moment and they free range most of the day, but if they are going to be in a run it should obviously be as big as possible, not least because they produce a huge amount of poo! The roof of the house is double skinned so the ventilation comes up through the eves, so no draughts. As far as I am aware I have never had a problem with red mite but my chickens do get room service every day! The house is SO heavy I have had to put handles on it and it takes two of us to move it, with difficulty! Chris is right about potential leaking with the wind blowing rain into the gaps, but I only seem to have this problem after it's been dry for a long time and the wood has shrunk a bit, normally it's fine if well maintained. Anyway, I love my house and I think my chickens do too.
Just forgot to say that if you are not going to keep your pophole open all the time, depending on security, then I thoroughly recommend an automatic pophole opener. They have a battery operated motor which opens and closes the pophole with a timer mechanism, so no problems if you are out late or fancy a lie in at the weekend! You have to make sure your particular pophole is suitable for one (ie the weight of the door and the way it opens), but they are certainly very liberating.
3441sussex
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Hi Kimbab
I bought a similar chicken house about 4 years ago for use with broody hens and chicks. I am about to burn it. The pop hole ramps/doors swells in wet weather because they are in contact with the wet ground, making it impossible to close or open without using force. This was not a problem for me because I don’t shut my chicken in. The trays are rusty and are difficult to remove, again, because the wood swells in wet weather. It is difficult to move the house around the run. If I used it for my laying hens they would sleep in the nesting boxes because the perches are too low and almost on the floor. The wood peels and splits and the roof is falling apart.
When it came to my laying hens I bought a couple of chicken houses from a sawmill that used to sell chicken houses on Ebay. They were designed by someone who understood chicken behaviour. I raised them off the ground using pallets and industrial castors, they are far better quality and only cost me about £40 more. I also converted a bike store shed into a chicken house and this seems to be their favourite.
When I buy my next house for rearing I am probably going to buy a Green Frog.
I bought a similar chicken house about 4 years ago for use with broody hens and chicks. I am about to burn it. The pop hole ramps/doors swells in wet weather because they are in contact with the wet ground, making it impossible to close or open without using force. This was not a problem for me because I don’t shut my chicken in. The trays are rusty and are difficult to remove, again, because the wood swells in wet weather. It is difficult to move the house around the run. If I used it for my laying hens they would sleep in the nesting boxes because the perches are too low and almost on the floor. The wood peels and splits and the roof is falling apart.
When it came to my laying hens I bought a couple of chicken houses from a sawmill that used to sell chicken houses on Ebay. They were designed by someone who understood chicken behaviour. I raised them off the ground using pallets and industrial castors, they are far better quality and only cost me about £40 more. I also converted a bike store shed into a chicken house and this seems to be their favourite.
When I buy my next house for rearing I am probably going to buy a Green Frog.
3441sussex
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I was referring to original house.
The houses I bought from the sawmill are similar to the Framebow House on Wheels, but are 5' x 5' instead of 4' x 4', and cost £140 (plus £20 for industrial castors) instead of £1400! Keeping chickens is expensive, but not that expensive.
The houses I bought from the sawmill are similar to the Framebow House on Wheels, but are 5' x 5' instead of 4' x 4', and cost £140 (plus £20 for industrial castors) instead of £1400! Keeping chickens is expensive, but not that expensive.
Lucylou
New member
Hello Kimbab,
As your topic title suggests, I assume you're from Buckingham, I'm not that far from you, 20ish miles, so if you ever need help you are welcome to ask/come over/ or whatever. I've kept chooks for about 7 years (still don't know half of it, or even a quarter of it!) but know what its like starting from nothing!
07
I'm also getting a couple of new young birds in the Spring, my oldies are still doing their best to provide the eggs but I doubt this year I'll get many so need some young blood.
You'll love your chooks, its very addictive!!
As your topic title suggests, I assume you're from Buckingham, I'm not that far from you, 20ish miles, so if you ever need help you are welcome to ask/come over/ or whatever. I've kept chooks for about 7 years (still don't know half of it, or even a quarter of it!) but know what its like starting from nothing!
07 I'm also getting a couple of new young birds in the Spring, my oldies are still doing their best to provide the eggs but I doubt this year I'll get many so need some young blood.
You'll love your chooks, its very addictive!!
Thank you Lucylou that's very kind of you x
An Update-
I have gone ahead and purchased the wooden coop. I have researched different types and materials and to be honest I much prefer the wooden type. I intend to take good care of the wood anyway, so this isn't a problem. Hubby and I have decided to only attach one of the two nest boxes and keep one as a spare. He will make a lockable door to fit in it's place. We intend to raise it up off the floor enough for the chucks to either shade or shelter underneath and it will be sat on slabs for stability (see I have thought it out lol)!
The chucks will also have there house poo picked daily and thoroughly cleaned once a week and treated to keep the pesky mites at bay. This afternoon we set to on preparing the ground from this-
http://s297.photobucket.com/user/Kimbab_photos/media/imagejpg1-4.jpg.html
To this-
http://s297.photobucket.com/user/Kimbab_photos/media/imagejpg1-5.jpg.html
We are going to put a membrane down and fill with sharp sand, the run is going to have a corrugated roof on it and I will supply a separate container/bowl of soft play sand for them to bathe in. Hubby is also going to make me some perch stands to place in the run for them. I think I have it all in hand now although I still think I may need to put some sort of side protection in as the wind blows through a goodun!
So I think I'm finally on track thanks to all your advice etc on here! Xx
An Update-
I have gone ahead and purchased the wooden coop. I have researched different types and materials and to be honest I much prefer the wooden type. I intend to take good care of the wood anyway, so this isn't a problem. Hubby and I have decided to only attach one of the two nest boxes and keep one as a spare. He will make a lockable door to fit in it's place. We intend to raise it up off the floor enough for the chucks to either shade or shelter underneath and it will be sat on slabs for stability (see I have thought it out lol)!
The chucks will also have there house poo picked daily and thoroughly cleaned once a week and treated to keep the pesky mites at bay. This afternoon we set to on preparing the ground from this-
http://s297.photobucket.com/user/Kimbab_photos/media/imagejpg1-4.jpg.html
To this-
http://s297.photobucket.com/user/Kimbab_photos/media/imagejpg1-5.jpg.html
We are going to put a membrane down and fill with sharp sand, the run is going to have a corrugated roof on it and I will supply a separate container/bowl of soft play sand for them to bathe in. Hubby is also going to make me some perch stands to place in the run for them. I think I have it all in hand now although I still think I may need to put some sort of side protection in as the wind blows through a goodun!
So I think I'm finally on track thanks to all your advice etc on here! Xx
That sounds very luxurious for them, lucky girls.
The dustbath needs to be at least 15" deep and about 18" across, a plastic container will do fine. Add about 6" of dry play sand and sprinkle the top with diatomaceous earth, so they can then dig in it when dustbathing. You will be amazed at how they roll around and get the sand right into their feathers, and then stand up and shake it everywhere, hence the need of a large, deep container, otherwise you will lose it all.
You're right about wind shelter round some of the sides, to help keep the run dry when rhe rain blows in sideways. Also hens hate the wind and appreciate being able to get out of the worst of it. I've used Monotex clear plastic tarpaulins from Tarpaulins Direct round three sides of the end of my run, which makes a sort of marquee at the end and keeps the run much more pleasant to be in. It actually makes a sort of microclimate in the run so it's warmer and much nicer for humans as wel, as the birds? I nail the tarps up to the run supports with long wooden battens In Autumn and take them down when the weather improves in Spring. The tarps are very strong, mine have lasted several years, and are not expensive, but light to erect and easy to cut to size if needed. The Clear Monotex lets light through as well. A gutter along the lowest side of the roof is also an enormous help in removing the rain which would otherwise blow back in to the run from under the edge of the roof.
See
http://www.tarpaulinsdirect.co.uk/tarpaulins/tarpaulins/monotex-tarpaulin
Some people make more rigid, removeable panels of polycarbonate sheet on wooden frames, which can be removed and stored in summer, f you have room to do this, but I've found the tarps do the job just as well, at less cost and more quickly and easily.
The dustbath needs to be at least 15" deep and about 18" across, a plastic container will do fine. Add about 6" of dry play sand and sprinkle the top with diatomaceous earth, so they can then dig in it when dustbathing. You will be amazed at how they roll around and get the sand right into their feathers, and then stand up and shake it everywhere, hence the need of a large, deep container, otherwise you will lose it all.
You're right about wind shelter round some of the sides, to help keep the run dry when rhe rain blows in sideways. Also hens hate the wind and appreciate being able to get out of the worst of it. I've used Monotex clear plastic tarpaulins from Tarpaulins Direct round three sides of the end of my run, which makes a sort of marquee at the end and keeps the run much more pleasant to be in. It actually makes a sort of microclimate in the run so it's warmer and much nicer for humans as wel, as the birds? I nail the tarps up to the run supports with long wooden battens In Autumn and take them down when the weather improves in Spring. The tarps are very strong, mine have lasted several years, and are not expensive, but light to erect and easy to cut to size if needed. The Clear Monotex lets light through as well. A gutter along the lowest side of the roof is also an enormous help in removing the rain which would otherwise blow back in to the run from under the edge of the roof.
See
http://www.tarpaulinsdirect.co.uk/tarpaulins/tarpaulins/monotex-tarpaulin
Some people make more rigid, removeable panels of polycarbonate sheet on wooden frames, which can be removed and stored in summer, f you have room to do this, but I've found the tarps do the job just as well, at less cost and more quickly and easily.
You've worked really hard to clear that space, it will make an excellent run. And if you ever give up keeping chickens, it will be a brilliant fruit cage!
So in the great scheme of things I wouldn't class myself as indecisive, until it comes to chickens! Chickens that I haven't even got yet I might add 
So having purchased wooden coop #2 (having sold coop #1 as not big enough) and started on the wood preserving, I have this morning gone and bought coop #304 05
Having checked my bank account I decided on the spare of the moment to buy an. Eglu Cube...... Dear lord I hope I get this right this time or the only thing I will be getting for valentines is a ......divorce :lol:
So having purchased wooden coop #2 (having sold coop #1 as not big enough) and started on the wood preserving, I have this morning gone and bought coop #3
04 05 Having checked my bank account I decided on the spare of the moment to buy an. Eglu Cube...... Dear lord I hope I get this right this time or the only thing I will be getting for valentines is a ......divorce :lol:
rick
Active member
You've prep'ed enough - go get the chickens!
Whilst applauding your decision to go for plastic, could I I ask, what was wrong with the second coop? And did you keep it, or are you intending to sell it?
Just interested!
Just interested!
I've sold it, someone is coming tomorrow morning for it! It was a Cocoon coop and to be honest I wasn't happy with the quality of it, it seemed very flimsy.
We are now day 2 in to chicken run building and I'm chuffed to bits with the result. Roof is going on tomorrow hopefully if the rain stays away? Then I can concentrate on sorting the flooring.
We are now day 2 in to chicken run building and I'm chuffed to bits with the result. Roof is going on tomorrow hopefully if the rain stays away? Then I can concentrate on sorting the flooring.
Lucylou
New member
Hi Kimbab,
Wish I'd known you wanted a Eglu Cube - got one I'm getting rid of as I HATE IT !!!!! As soon as I can I'm going for something else. To be fair, some of the problem is the actual shape & access points of the Eglu just not working in my run. But having had a home made, very Heath Robinson affair before which worked a treat, the design of the Eglu leaves much to be desired. Just a tip, you'll have a job keeping them from sleeping in the nest box so start as you mean to go on & don't let them even think about it
Wish I'd known you wanted a Eglu Cube - got one I'm getting rid of as I HATE IT !!!!! As soon as I can I'm going for something else. To be fair, some of the problem is the actual shape & access points of the Eglu just not working in my run. But having had a home made, very Heath Robinson affair before which worked a treat, the design of the Eglu leaves much to be desired. Just a tip, you'll have a job keeping them from sleeping in the nest box so start as you mean to go on & don't let them even think about it
