Coop tips needed please

[ancee]

Hi guys, we've finally saved up enough for a hen house, but are a bit baffled as to what to buy. There is a lot to choose from and lots of different opinions and advice, so I'm a bit confused.
Do we have to steer away from felt roofs?
Are plastic coops (very expensive!) better than wooden?
Is tongue and groove wood better?
Does anyone know of a good coop to buy?
Any help really would be appreciated as I want to get this right and not get red mite too often - I want to stay clear of it the best I can.
Once we've got this we are all set to go = VERY excited about our prospective chickens

[elizajay]

Have a look at Green Frog Designs, made out of recycled plastic if you are considering plastic houses.

[HoofyLoo]

We've started out with what we could afford. That was a second hand wooden coop off eBay. We've replaced the felt roof with a treat wooden one which has done us proud over winter. We've had our chooks for a year now and haven't had red mite. I'd love a new plastic coop, try looks nicer and easier to clean but I can't afford it at the moment and the chooks are perfectly fine.
A wooden coop will do you just fine to start you off especially if that's all you can afford right now.
Who knows you may not enjoy it an then you've not lost much. On the flip side you may totally get the chook bug, expand and need a bigger coop anyway


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[Mikey]

I have an eglu classic, which is shown in the coop design thread. Plastic I think is great, you can scrub it with a brush and get it as good as new (ish), some stains are a little stubborn like the purple spray used for wounds that doesn't come off.

Plastic is supposed to stop mites from finding a home in your coop, I don't know if this is true or not, but I've not had a single issue with my coop at all. I take it apart and wash it through every couple of months and change the bedding every week, and wash the bars once every couple of weeks. Its sounds like a faff but it really takes no time at all.

Its about 2 minutes to change bedding, about 10 minutes to scrub bars, and about 30 minutes to take apart and wash throughout.

Its not the cheap option but its a good one in my opinion.

[ancee]

Thinking of this - we are going to put an extension on the run though and also caulk all gaps and paint it.

[bearded bloke]

If you buy one of those Ancee get a couple of these ...




... fit them under the nest box,or given time it WILL sag,also black out the window if you intend to close the pop hole overnight.

[9pollock]

Please take into account the access to the run and coop. If small access doors and low roof may be tight to get the cleaning carried out. This is what I found and have now got a 6 foot high run which we can walk into. Really so much easier and you can get better contact with the chickens. Some people suggest a hut as a coop and the felt roof could be changed to another material to stop the red mite.

[bearded bloke]

Not immediately obvious in the picture is the slide out coop tray (made of plywood with a galvanised steel sheet on the "business" side),also that particular model has left half of the roof hinged to open for easy access.

[Scarlet]

Looks lovely Ancee! I have an old shed with a tin roof and a couple of other secondhand huts. I have had red mite ( think that's why the person got rid of his lovely coop for �30!) although now I creosote inside and out once a year I don't seem to get them. Everyone is different, I personally not a fan of plastic, but if it's big enough, has easy access to clean and get the eggs and if you can move it around to fresh ground it's a good bonus. Onduline roof is much better than a felted one because the mites can live under the felt where you can't get to them. The more joins in the wood equals more hiding places for mites, you just need to know that prevention is easier than cure, what to look for and if you spot them, treat ASAP.

[mandyballantyne]

I started out with a coop like the one in the picture but found it awkward to clean and soon enough way to small :-) The look shed guy made me a walk in shed one part enclosed as the coop and the other has weld mesh on the front as an indoor run. Both sides have doors so easy to get into clean. Fair price too.

Mandy

[ancee]

Have had a busy few days, fillering, painting and making a long extension to the run (you can't see it in the photo) the ladies (warrens) are in and made themselves at home straight away! Am more than slightly thrilled!

[ancee]

We've just had our first egg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :d

[Nicos]

Don't fight over it!!!!

Well done that gal

[Scarlet]

When did you get your chickens Ancee? what types...got any photos?

[ancee]

Will take some more photos Scarlet, but it's chucking it down at the minute! We got four warren chickens today. Put them in at about 3pm, one went straight to the nesting box, and the other three ran down the ramp and started exploring! I'm drawing a sign for the front of the run (further along) (i'll put more pics on) and I thought " I'll just have a look and see...." and there was a new egg! I phoned up the people we got them off to tell them