The Poultry Keeper

Danjwright · Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 27

... if i added perches?

http://tinyurl.com/3e4xq8

Or ones like this?

http://www.twenga.co.uk/offer/083614400.html

Thanks,
Dan

Dopey · Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 6:57 pm Post subject:

I'm guessing but i would say the hutch is not high enough, if you look at the first one, its small and is on legs, so although it gives the impression of being tall its now, but i could be wrong

Danjwright · Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 27

ok,
I forgot one product, here's the link.

http://tinyurl.com/37bkom

Magpie · Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 550 Location: Norfolk

I think they are all rather small for poultry - unless you are planning on keeping really small bantams like Serama or maybe Dutch. If you want to keep large fowl (ie chickens) then you really need the house part to be a minimum or 1 sq ft per bird and about 18" high, the run ought to be a minimum of 3 sq ft per bird and 2' high. For bantams you can reduce the size if you are really short of space but I prefer to make it as big as possible!

Tim

Danjwright · Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 27

Thanks, Tim. I don't want bantams as they produce smaller eggs and i read they go broody too easily so I suppose those are out of the question.
I found this one and I was thinking I'd either make a run for it or free range the chickens by securing my garden. I wanted to get 2 or 3 hens.
http://www.forshamcottagearks.com/poultry-housing/bedgebury-801-poultry-house.htm
The dimensions are 880mm wide by 585mm deep by 770mm high. You did give the the right dimensions per hen but i'm rubbish at metric-imperial conversions so i don't know if that's right.

I don't want to start a new thread for one little thing so i'll hijack my own, if you want to use a hen to hatch eggs, does she need her own accommodation or can she stay with other hens while she incubates?

CP · Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 3:09 am Post subject:

Best to separate her if you can, for several reasons.

Some hens become very protective & will prevent any others getting on her nest, with the possibility of her eggs being broken in the scuffles.
It will stop any other hens laying in the same nestbox as you don't really want a staggered hatch.
It's best to keep the chicks & mum separate from the other hens as there could be a certain amount of bullying of the little chicks, which can result in them being killed.

Although many people have hatched chicks in with their normal flock with no problems at all, so really it's up to you! Wink

Bantam eggs on the whole are smaller than LF but some breeds, such as the Orpington LF lays a small egg in comparison to it's size.
I think you get broody hens whether LF or bantam. We don't seem to get any more or any less than people who keep LF. (we only have bantams)

boltonrobbo · Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 10 Location: bolton

I am relatively new to this so who am I to offer advise? But here goes!

Pay as much as you can afford for as big as you can get, if that makes sense. I bought fairly small and relatively cheap and this as proved expensive in the long run for two reasons...........quality, bearing in mind a small house is likely to have to be moved about a lot and mine started to show a bit of wear and tear............and secondly how many people do you hear of who after getting 2 or 3 birds soon wanted to increase numbers?

Magpie · Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 550 Location: Norfolk

Petite Holder · Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 88

Hi, Have you thought of making one. It is really very simple if you plan it out first. Plus you could get someone
to help you or even build it for you.
Just a thought.. I know it can be a very daunting task.
Good luck though.
I have a 4 foot gap on the side of my house that served no purpose, Its now an 18 foot indoor area with a 6foot storage shed, all I did was put on a roof and a door.
Oh and HI to everyone.
Big thanks for all the advice in the previous posts. Very Happy

telster · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 240 Location: merseyside

b and q have what they call a lads shed for £129 about 6x4 but smaller in hieght than a regular shed all you need to do is add perches and a pop hole .

Barny_Velder · Joined: 29 Dec 2007 Posts: 164 Location: North Wales Coast

woahhhhh woahhhh Smile

If your anywhere near North Wales come and see me for housing at sensible prices. If not give me a PM and I'll show you how to make a VERY simple one for under £40 that even someone who has never cut a piece of wood can make.

Petite Holder · Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 88

Great idea by the way.

Phill · Joined: 16 Mar 2008 Posts: 130 Location: Essex

If you have the money an Eglu is quite a fancy run the smaller ones are good for two of the smaller breeds though no idea how many could fit in the cube.

the eglu standered

http://www.omlet.co.uk/products_services/products_services.php?view=Chickens

Eglu Cube

http://www.omlet.co.uk/products_services/products_services.php?view=Eglu%20Cube

just beaware that all though they are nice looking runs they are not fox proof as advertised.