What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[Ailie]

I'm planning to buy (don't have the time to build) a good sized walk-in run for the back garden, but the information that I've managed to find online leaves me with no clue as to my best option regarding balancing price and quality.

 

I liked the look of bay-animal-housing (and the prices!), but I've tried to contact them several times with no response and based on that, I'm very apprehensive.

 

So, where did you buy your WIR from? What was the quality like? Would you recommend the supplier?

 

I'm based in Surrey, if it makes any difference.

[stehaggan]

Hi there,

 

Just wanted to say if you do have the time i'd definately recommend making one yourself. Mine took me 3 days in total to make frames, mesh and build. The materials cost me about £100 for wood, and less than £100 for the mesh.

 

I got quotes from people who advertise on ebay and also on this site for £550ish for a smaller size, and also thinner wood so i'd definately recommend making it if you could find time to spare over a weekend or two ( i made mine over 2 weekends).

 

Good luck

 

ste

[Ailie]

Hi there,

 

Just wanted to say if you do have the time i'd definately recommend making one yourself. Mine took me 3 days in total to make frames, mesh and build. The materials cost me about £100 for wood, and less than £100 for the mesh.

 

I got quotes from people who advertise on ebay and also on this site for £550ish for a smaller size, and also thinner wood so i'd definately recommend making it if you could find time to spare over a weekend or two ( i made mine over 2 weekends).

 

Good luck

 

ste

 

Thanks, Ste. I actually would like to build one, it’s just that I have so much back-breaking garden renovation work to be getting on with that having someone to take this on would be a weight off my very sore shoulders! I don’t think I can cope with another project!

[stehaggan]

Ah okie dokie no worries... well the plus side is.. no blisters cuts and lots of aching joints i now i have i suppose good luck with it all

[Olly]

There's a thread about it here that might help - I got mine from Aviaries4U, or a 'Tony' as they are affectionately known! and I cannot recommend him highly enough - it was money well spent.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Mine is a "Tony" too - can't praise him and his WIR's enough . Excellent quality and very friendly, obliging chap .

 

(You'll see mine in my signature link .)

[atsw]

Yep, another 'Tony' fan here.

 

 

If you order the run in kit form (as I did), then you can do the 'building' bit yourself, having had the 'construction' of the panels/doors/pop-holes done by the professional. There's a series of pictures showing mine going up last February ** here **. There's even more pictures, including a whole slideshow, from the link in my signature.

 

Andrew

[veggiemad]

mines a chirpy coop . Very similar design to a 'tony' , but cheaper, the only down side was that i had to cut a pop hole myself, which was abit stressful taking pliers to my new run, however it now all works perfectly. Mine 12'x6' , has kickboards and a stable door. It does have an orduline roof and not pvc, so can be abit shadier than most, but is hardwearing - i may change a panel in the future for a bit more light. I'm VERY happy with mine- and the price- £399 delivered and erected!

 

You will love a WIR- it has totally transformed the way I keep my hens, not sure who loves it more- me or them!!

[Janty]

My runs are 'Tony's' too.

They are very well built and worth every penny.

Tony will build exactly what you want even if you need a wierd shape (as I did with the smaller runs).

 

As others have said, I can't recommend him enough.

 

 

 

 

[Lewis]

Mine's a Harry from West Hagley Aviaries.

You buy it in panels so can have any size you like, and they are made to order so you can change things to suit your set-up.

Mine is 15x6 and cost £256 delivered

[Shelley]

I've just had a Animal bay Housing WiR delivered today (I too live in Surrey). The materials look to be of a decent quality and it was delivered as promised. But I;d asked for a sloping roof and they forgot to do it. I don't know what size the business is, but I suspect he's got more work than he can manage. A couple of other people on here have mentioned orders not being properly fulfilled - I guess that's the chance you take. But the price is good and, from the look of things, so is the quality of the panels. No assembly instructions though!!

[taz1967]

Seems to be a running problem lately with Animal Bay Housing. Not good for business me thinks. I for one was very interested in getting one of his runs as the price was good and they looked good too, But with many posts about not being able to get hold of him, not returning calls missing parts and getting orders wrong, I think I might give him a miss.