Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Minty_76]

I am now deliberating between getting an Eglu or going for one of the lovely Woodenart houses I've seen online which have houses and covered run area which sounds good. I would have the runs extended though as the more space the better really. Looking to get 3 to start with then see what happens! Does anyone here have a house from them? I always thought I was going to get an eglu but I am drawn towards these!

[chicken bark]

I would PM ISCA as I think she has one.

 

I started off with 3. I won't tell you how many I have now!

 

You are right that the more space the better. Sounds like you have been doing a lot of research.

[Minty_76]

Thanks chicken bark, will do! I have been doing mega research for about a year and i keep changing my mind about everything!

[Henergy]

I love the woodenart one with the run (a James I think) but they won't come to PLymouth. Very sad as can't see anything similar. HAve you seen any like it ?

[Minty_76]

Can't say I have Henergy. I like the design of these and being handmade in England makes a difference. Shame they won't deliver to you. What do you think you will go for now?

[Henergy]

No idea - think I might compose a begging email later to Woodenart

 

The problem is that most houses with run attached usually have a very small run, which is what I have, or do not have a roof. I am also toying with large WIR from Bay Animal Housing & putting my coop inside, but that will mean that 4 will be my max bird count as my current coop is small.

 

The joy of woodenart was that they assemble too, which is perfect for my DIY challenged other half. Its such a shame - they make no reference to distance when talking on their website about delivery.

 

I've been changing my mind on things since we first got the hens in March, but I've given myself a dealine of Sept because whilst they free range quite nicely at the moment, it'll be a mudbath come the winter I'm sure.

[Minty_76]

Yeah they should really put a radius of how many miles they will travel on their website. It's such a shame. I know what you mean about the runs being too small. I just liked the idea of having everything in one bundle as I'm sure I would want a walk in run at some point and maybe have scope to increase the amount of hens. I love the eglus but these look much nicer and are not so limited in how much run space they have, have a roof and there is space underneath the house too. I will keep an eye out for you as I'm always doing research when my 2 year old is napping!

[Henchanted]

Hi Minty

 

I don't mean to throw a spanner in the works but I've just had a look at the Woodeart website, and particularly looked at the house + run (James ) and I must draw your attention to the fact that most manufacturers can confuse/mislead people about size!

 

While that house may take 6-8, the run barely measures 3sq metres which would make it suitable for 2 hens stretching to 3 only. DEFRAs guidelines for free ranging chickens is a minimum of 1 sq metre of scratching ground and natural daylight during their wakeful hours (ie when they are awake from dawn til dusk). If you plan to free range your hens full time then the run size is not an issue but from what I've read here and other websites, not that many people do or can f/r full time.

 

Also, the one unique selling point of the (certainly the classic) is that it isn't as easy for mites etc to hide in the way it is in the cracks, crevices and grooves of wooden coops. And with the you do not need to do the yearly wood preserving nor treat the house with nasty chemicals to combat the mites. Plus the is so easy to keep clean. I have a 10 minute daily routine, after feeding, where I poo pick from the roosting bars, nest and tray with tongs and dustpan (refreshing the bedding or washing surfaces only when necessary). This means the girls have a healthier environment to be in and lay and I shudder to think how faffy cleaning a wooden coop would be in comparison.

 

Just a bit more food for thought....

 

Whatever you decide I have no doubt you will love keeping hens

[Minty_76]

Hello there

 

Yes I have been reading up on run space and house space etc. Personally I would have the run made bigger as they do look very small for the poor hens. I think the most chickens I would have anyway would be 4 max as I don't have a really big garden so more likely 3. I have a slightly awkward piece of space in my garden for the hen house so the Eglu with 3 hens and the extra metre extension wouldn't fit (I wouldn't be able to pull the back out to clean). Pro's and cons for both I think!

[Henergy]

Yes I would also increase the run length.

[sadietoo]

Hi Minty

 

Also, the one unique selling point of the (certainly the classic) is that it isn't as easy for mites etc to hide in the way it is in the cracks, crevices and grooves of wooden coops. And with the you do not need to do the yearly wood preserving nor treat the house with nasty chemicals to combat the mites. Plus the is so easy to keep clean. I have a 10 minute daily routine, after feeding, where I poo pick from the roosting bars, nest and tray with tongs and dustpan (refreshing the bedding or washing surfaces only when necessary). This means the girls have a healthier environment to be in and lay and I shudder to think how faffy cleaning a wooden coop would be in comparison.

 

Just a bit more food for thought....

 

Whatever you decide I have no doubt you will love keeping hens

 

I agree. I am essentially very lazy. I only have two girls I very rarely poo pick (my girls are on Aubiose which doesn't seem to be a problem so I only pick it if it's particularly pungent and near the door of the eglu classic run), I put Aubiose in the poo tray too, and once a week I empty it into the compost heap, before a quick hose down and refilling with Aubiose. I also have two sets of roosting bars so that I can change them before a quick scrub so they are ready for next week (if OH isn't around I put them in the dishwasher!)..Perfick!

 

My OH had me looking at the Woodenart houses, and I think they look the part. But as you can see from the above, I'm not really a girl who is cut out for a lot of intensive cleaning..and you really can't beat plastic and a hose pipe if you are in a hurry....

[Henchanted]

I also have two sets of roosting bars so that I can change them before a quick scrub so they are ready for next week (if OH isn't around I put them in the dishwasher!)..Perfick!

Not just me being secretive

[Jools]

And with the you do not need to do the yearly wood preserving nor treat the house with nasty chemicals to combat the mites.

 

You don't need to treat any house with nasty chemicals if you don't want to. I currently have five wooden houses (and have had more) and have only ever used red mite powder or diatom and poultry shield to keep red mite away. It's worked since 2003 ....

 

Plus the is so easy to keep clean. I have a 10 minute daily routine, after feeding, where I poo pick from the roosting bars, nest and tray with tongs and dustpan (refreshing the bedding or washing surfaces only when necessary).

 

Same here except I use rubber gloves and spend 10-15 minutes a day removing droppings from five wooden houses (refreshing the bedding or washing surfaces only when necessary).

 

This means the girls have a healthier environment to be in and lay and I shudder to think how faffy cleaning a wooden coop would be in comparison

 

Why is that?

[Henchanted]

You don't need to treat any house with nasty chemicals if you don't want to. I currently have five wooden houses (and have had more) and have only ever used red mite powder or diatom and poultry shield to keep red mite away. It's worked since 2003 ....

 

Henchanted wrote:

Plus the is so easy to keep clean. I have a 10 minute daily routine, after feeding, where I poo pick from the roosting bars, nest and tray with tongs and dustpan (refreshing the bedding or washing surfaces only when necessary).

 

 

Same here except I use rubber gloves and spend 10-15 minutes a day removing droppings from five wooden houses (refreshing the bedding or washing surfaces only when necessary).

 

Henchanted wrote:

This means the girls have a healthier environment to be in and lay and I shudder to think how faffy cleaning a wooden coop would be in comparison

 

 

Why is that?

 

Hi Jools

 

I certainly meant no disrespect to wooden hen house - users. And to be honest I have no experience of wooden housing, so I can't make a strict comparison myself, but maybe you have not had experience of an eglu?

 

The thrust of what I said is that is seems easier to keep hens in dual walled plastic houses with removable plastic flooring + roosting bars which are easier to keep clean AND dry (especially in cold wet winter ) than wooden ones AND they do not need regular maintenance like wooden ones do.

 

Good to hear you don't use harsh chemicals and that you also have a daily (super speedy !!! ) routine to keep your houses clean, though not everyone is as obsessive as you and me, that's why I suspect that the plastic housing is just that bit easier

[Redwing]

A well designed wooden house is as easy if not easier to clean than an Eglu

 

Its all about the design not the material!

[Tweety]

I have a wooden house, eglu and cube and agree that, whatever you choose, the design is as important as the material.

I do find it easier to clean out the Omlet products, particularly being able to take them apart, hose them down and dry them off quickly. Daily poo picking etc is the same in both. Interestingly, I have had red mite in the eglu and cube, but not in the wooden house!

When I was doing my research before getting my hens, I narrowed the choice down to the eglu or one of the Flytesofancy houses, which I think are lovely. Chose the cube in the end, simply because of the apparent ease of cleaning, and have no regrets.

[Heidi-Hi]

A well designed wooden house is as easy if not easier to clean than an Eglu

 

Its all about the design not the material!

 

Agree! Just bought my second wooden house. I did look at all the plastic housing out there, I really did. But I just couldn't... Wood for me everytime, but then to each his own...