Chickens and chicken coops advice please

noah45

I have read up on keeping chickens over the last few weeks, and have decided to go for it.
Plan to get 3 chickens, one of which will be a silkie other two then as egg layers.

I have narrowed the search for coop to one of these two and am wondering if anyone has any advice or recommendations?

http://www.adverts.ie/pet-accessories/henly-chicken-coop/1350696

http://www.adverts.ie/pet-accessories/chicken-coop-and-feeders/1047593

rsole1

noah45 wrote: »

I have read up on keeping chickens over the last few weeks, and have decided to go for it.
Plan to get 3 chickens, one of which will be a silkie other two then as egg layers.

I have narrowed the search for coop to one of these two and am wondering if anyone has any advice or recommendations?

http://www.adverts.ie/pet-accessories/henly-chicken-coop/1350696

http://www.adverts.ie/pet-accessories/chicken-coop-and-feeders/1047593

I'd be more worried about foxes and rats getting into the chicken coop.

grey_so_what

hiya noah45 - plan to do this in the near future - will be keeping an eye on your thread - thanks for posting it - couldn't open the first thread and the second looks small for 3 chucks (imo though!)....

Best of luck!

darrcow

i made my own hen houses and runs also made a turkey house and run last winter. i got second hand pallets from local agri supplier. i pulled the pallets apart and made the house the size of the planks so no cutting involved. there are plans on internet to build your own. total cost was about €60 for each house. im not very good at diy so if i can build them anyone can.

noah45

Think I'll go for the Henly one

http://www.adverts.ie/pet-accessories/henly-chicken-coop/1350696

Hopefully it can be delivered in next few days

El Kabong!

Just be aware that alot of those types are cheap chinese kits that you can get on ebay quite "cheep"ly.

Also, I assume they will be let out of those "runs"?
It is not acceptable to keep them in that small space at all times.

Although I'm sure some local places build their own to the same design and higher quality. But be careful.

noah45

El Kabong! wrote: »

Just be aware that alot of those types are cheap chinese kits that you can get on ebay quite "cheep"ly.

Also, I assume they will be let out of those "runs"?
It is not acceptable to keep them in that small space at all times.

Although I'm sure some local places build their own to the same design and higher quality. But be careful.

Most definately they will be let out, I'm planning on getting a silkie as a pet

555guy

We have one very similar to the 2nd one above and it quite comfortably sleeps 4/5 chickens and is easy to access for cleaning etc., however the run space is tiny in them once you put in a feeder and a water bowl. (that price is good too - saw Petmania selling the same ones for 300 euros which is crazy !!)

We ended up building an extended run on the front of ours about 16ft X 4ft for when we don't leave them roam the garden.

El Kabong!

When I started off I was a bit naieve. I did buy a good quality house with a run but it was too small. So I built a chicken palace around it!

noah45

555guy, thats what we'll have to do so that if we are not here they won't be stuck for space in the tiny coop run. (cooped up:D)

Yes its great price and that includes delivery! and a years guarantee.

How are you all getting on with chickens ?


El kabong is that a candle in the palace?:)

kerryted

El Kabong! wrote: »

When I started off I was a bit naieve. I did buy a good quality house with a run but it was too small. So I built a chicken palace around it!

as runs go its a very fine run indeed you don't have the worry of locking your hens in at night i myself forgot 1 night last summer and they were gone in the morning as the fox calls every night to check are they in,

theparish

noah45 wrote: »

I have read up on keeping chickens over the last few weeks, and have decided to go for it.
Plan to get 3 chickens, one of which will be a silkie other two then as egg layers.

I have narrowed the search for coop to one of these two and am wondering if anyone has any advice or recommendations?

http://www.adverts.ie/pet-accessories/henly-chicken-coop/1350696

http://www.adverts.ie/pet-accessories/chicken-coop-and-feeders/1047593

A major problem with those type of coops is how close the nest box is to the the roost and the level of the roost in relation to the nest box.The hens will almost certainly sleep in the nest box rather than on the roost,they will then poop in the nest box at night resulting in dirty eggs.It is a good idea to have the roost away from the nest boxes and certainly at a higher level.The run caged part is definetly too small.Also a silkie on its own will have its hands full against 2 large hens.

liamhana

I've one very similar to the first add (henly), originally we used to move it around the garden so they had plenty of grass but I built a larger chicken wire run around it (about 3m by5m) with netting on top so that the 4 had plenty of room.
THe henly model is better as the roof is wooden not felt - which wont last any length. with the wood you can slap on some wood sealer once a year and keep it looking well and you can power wash it without worrying about the felt ripping up!
No matter where the nesting box is one of the hens will try nest in there at some stage so its a good idea to block off the nesting box at night at the start.
Good luck!

noah45

Thanks, I will bear all in mind, I appreciate all advice and it's great to get it.:)


Having problems finding hens now.
Will either get 2 silkies or 2 RIR to start with but there seems to be none around locally.

Will go to Belvadere house on Sunday but would love to have them before then:(

Gilally

http://www.willow3.com/

Markcheese

I have the second style hen house,four hens in it, great yoke , light enough to move every day as I want them on fresh ground daily..(made a kind of sled with two old gutter pipes so the wood slides easier)was originally going to have them free ranging by day but a neighbours dog terrorising them put pay to that...

BloodRedStag

I got a coop from that site you were looking at, inthemarket.ie and had it the next day after ordering it. Two years later and it's still going strong.