The Poultry Keeper

cluckingmad · Joined: 23 Sep 2008 Posts: 31 Location: Northamptonshire

Have no coop run or chickens (YET!) but would have liked to start with an eglu as they seem to be very easy to maintain but on the otherhand quite glad I can't afford one as what we are planning will give us more room to expand our chicken empire - as it seems we are very likely to with what everyone has said! Great to see what others are doing as gives me lots of ideas.

Sparklepeeps · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 1967 Location: Cheshire

In the early days when the house first arrived it looked like this...
(Its since been creasoted and now looks dark brown)

The electric pop hole:

I have lined the house with lino (and now in the nest boxes as well). I was worried about harbouring red mites underneath but its not happened yet.

cluckingmad · Joined: 23 Sep 2008 Posts: 31 Location: Northamptonshire

whats on the coop? alarm??? Embarassed

we are thinking of putting vinyl type flooring in our shed to aid cleaning.

Sparklepeeps · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 1967 Location: Cheshire

G3LHQ · Joined: 02 Oct 2008 Posts: 93 Location: YORKSHIRE

I bought this for my four ducklings the price was right.
I don't have the strength anymore to build one, I used to when I was younger. I loved looking at the home made ones they are great .

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Alfresco-Fun

Cheers
Bob

I couldn't get this one off the pond last night.

layla · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 603 Location: West Midlands

Here's my set up Hens n' Bees together

Oops they've come out well huge Shocked

Coaster · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 4:11 pm Post subject:

looks a nice set up do your hens all go into the same coop at night or do they know which is theres ?
Also dont the hens catch the bees ?

layla · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 603 Location: West Midlands

well most of them have their fave house but there r two who chop and change all the while Rolling Eyes

....The chickens seem to know to keep away from the bees ......they all live quite happily together thumbup

Big D · Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 361 Location: Cumbria

Okay Big D mark 2 is finished except for the extension I am now working on Embarassed

Be kind I made it myself.

Made the coop bit out of exterior ply with four coats of oak stain. Double front doors on the run so cleaning will be easier. Stands around 5 foot tall, 7.5 feet long and just under 2.5 feet wide. Solid ply sides to stop the wind on one side and the girls seeing the nutty dog next door.

Roof is hinged and the coop front slides off and out so cleaning is easier. There's also a summer coop front door with a vented window. All ply panels can be unscrewed if I need to fight the dreaded mite. Oh, the roof is made out of plastic corrugated... err....stuff!!!

Made the perches from Bl**DY expensive thick dowel. I know there's a big gap between perch 1 and 2 (but they all seem to fit and settle in better with it like that) Perches lift out and come to bits if needed.
There is a vent facing the run but I don't think it shows in these pics. I am still deciding wether to make a nest box or nick a biscuit tin from work. As none are laying yet there's no rush.

With my two BR's Chip n Pin.
Pics taken with my Blackberry thingy so sorry for pic quality.

Coaster · Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 7:57 am Post subject:

looks a nice coop, for how many birds ?
it will be funny watching them run down the run on a morning an banging there heads on the end panal.
but it looks very well made well done

Big D · Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 361 Location: Cumbria

Nah....they jump off before hand. There's going to be 4 in there by the end of the week. Tight!!! I know.....extension in the making for the end as we speak. Very Happy

layla · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 603 Location: West Midlands

ohh can't get yer pics Big D Confused

layla · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 603 Location: West Midlands

Oh got them now ...............thats brill yer clever dude !