Cheap Hen houses

[JimmerG]

Yes I know we should all spend a fortune on really good quality hen houses - but just at the moment I don't have £300 to spend, on what is effectively a tiny little shed. (and no I don't want to convert a cheap full size shed!)

So I've seen a miriad of different housing options all around £150. The one I fancy is a house and run under one roof, the house raised off the floor, and 2000mm x 700mm run. Now it looks like a perfectly good home, but of course puveyors of expensive houses are telling me these £150 jobbies are rubbish and won't last the year.

This is the first time my family and I have stepped nervously into the world of fowl - so I don't really want to shell out for something that turns out to be a disaster. Maybe once we get the hang of it we could then shell (!?) out on something pricey.

I guess the question is - are cheap houses THAT bad, are any better or worse than others?

Thanks

J

[Suechooks]

From what folk say they tend to be poor quality wood and don't fit together well giving lots of hidey holes for the dreaded red mite plus draughts/damp in winter or the colder weather.
For the £150 you have available you could build your own using the free plans posted on the forum by Bramble. You get a decent house and run for that - I bought a few sheets of external ply and batten and a roll of weld mesh and so far have made 2 small coops (the broody coop on Mike's plans) and still have enough left to build another 4' x 3' coop and run. I'm no carpenter but the coops are secure and cosy and I've used them for chicks and poorly hens.
If you're at all handy its worth a try!

[sheena]

you could build your own using the free plans posted on the forum by Bramble???

Errr, I've never seen these... show me, show me, show me! lol

I always miss out on the good stuff!

[vicky]

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ing_38909.html

They're on a sticky at the top of Rule the Roost

If you buy a cheap house you can always use it as a broody coop when you get onto a bigger house....
Silicone sealant is excellent for blocking gaps that red mite might live in.

I converted a wendy house for my first coop (ok, hubby did!) and it worked a treat - it's worth looking on freecycle for them.
The house I have now hubby made for me from bits of wood, I think it cost £60 plus his time and is perfect - you can make a much better coop for the money than you can buy.

What ever you decide you won't regret getting chickens...and you will want more!

[minxie]

we bought a bog standard shed 6x4 i think and converted it, we took the bottom slats off and used that to make the coop bit on one side, we can still get into it via the door, the other end ( back of shed) we cut out a door for the chooks to come down a little ramp. it looks like its on legs really, cost about £150.

[Urban Chickens]

wells poultry Have some nice house and good products on there? Have you had a look?

[sheena]

They're on a sticky at the top of Rule the Roost
!

In all the time i've been here i've never noticed it... maybe cause I been too preoccupied with baby pic's and problem hen's lol

Thanks Vicky

And you're right, once you get chickens you won't look back... you just end up looking for more space so you can have more!