Henergy Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 Still tossing ideas into the pot !!!! (I wish someone would pick for me !) Anyway, looking at the Hen Arch from Framebow with some extra cladding on the roof to half cover it. http://www.framebow.co.uk/the_hen_arch.html Any views ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi-Hi Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 I am totally in love.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldstar Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 Wow, I am in love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissyPip Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 That is beautiful...and the playhouses are pretty special too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlotta Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 That really is a thing of beauty, but I think they are a tad optimistic about it being ok for 12 birds! I make it 36sq ft so only big enough for 3ish.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henergy Posted June 19, 2011 Author Share Posted June 19, 2011 That really is a thing of beauty, but I think they are a tad optimistic about it being ok for 12 birds! I make it 36sq ft so only big enough for 3ish.. I think thats based on the nesting boxes & coop size. Its not an issue for me - my max would be 6 and they will also free range when not raining ! Also looking at this one http://www.feathers-animal-housing.com/animal_housing/thomas_chicken_housing.html Such a bad decision maker me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henergy Posted June 19, 2011 Author Share Posted June 19, 2011 That really is a thing of beauty, but I think they are a tad optimistic about it being ok for 12 birds! I make it 36sq ft so only big enough for 3ish.. PS what is the ideal sq footage for each hen ? Is it 1m sq (ie about 3ft sq) ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlotta Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 The minimum is really 1sqm per bird which is about 10sqft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henchanted Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 That really is a thing of beauty, but I think they are a tad optimistic about it being ok for 12 birds! I make it 36sq ft so only big enough for 3ish.. Totally get your point karlotta I clicked on the link and thought I'd died and gone to heaven, how beautiful, then I read the run dimensions and thought of the hell any more than 3 hens would go through (unless full time free-ranging) and the hell for the owner realizing that the run isn't suitable for more than 3. My hens only ever go into their house to sleep, where they cuddle up leaving space for 2-4 more or to lay, the rest of the time is in the run, the size of the run is vital, minimum 1sqm per hen (according to DEFRA) for less boredom so better behaviour, less pecking/bullying so less stress, or more space for the bullied to get away, and less concentration of poo therefore less spread of disease. I think any hen house manufacturer should be sued for deliberate mis-selling every time they describe a run as suitable for the same number of hens as the house when clearly it is not. I'm sorry to get so worked up but it gets my goat. These houses and runs are usually marketed at urban/garden users where space is an issue or where free-ranging due to foxes is risky, resulting in unhappy hens and unhappy owners. So sorry for the rant henergy, the rainbow hen arch is really lovely but anything less than making either the house smaller or the run longer or advertising responsibly is simply cruel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melbourne12 Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 That really is a thing of beauty, but I think they are a tad optimistic about it being ok for 12 birds! I make it 36sq ft so only big enough for 3ish.. Totally get your point karlotta I clicked on the link and thought I'd died and gone to heaven, how beautiful, then I read the run dimensions and thought of the hell any more than 3 hens would go through (unless full time free-ranging) and the hell for the owner realizing that the run isn't suitable for more than 3. ....... So sorry for the rant henergy, the rainbow hen arch is really lovely but anything less than making either the house smaller or the run longer or advertising responsibly is simply cruel. I'm very much in sympathy with Henchanted's post, but as prospective chicken keeper, we have found it very difficult to get clear guidance about what coops and runs are really suitable for a given number of chickens. DEFRA tends to talk about minimum standards, whereas we'd like to know what is both realistic and kind. Note the current DEFRA advice for home chickens doesn't specify a run size: Chickens should be kept outdoors in a coop or shed. You can buy chicken coops from home improvement stores or online, or you could build your own. Your coop should have: at least 250 centimetres squared floor area for each bird a perch for them to stand on while they sleep an exercise space, or ‘run’ a nesting box filled with wood shavings for the hens to lay eggs You should clean the chicken coop every week and put out fresh bedding. And for the "barn" system: The maximum stocking density is 9 birds per square metre and there must be at least 250cm square of litter area/bird. Perches for the birds must be installed to allow 15 cm of perch per hen. There must be at least 10cm of feeder/bird and at least one drinker/10 birds. There must be one nest for every 7 birds or 1 square metre of nest space for every 120 birds. Water and feeding troughs are raised so that the food is not scattered On that basis, the Hen Arch meets the DEFRA minimum guidelines for 11 hens based on 9 birds per square metre (my arithmetic gives 11.45 hens, but I've rounded down, whereas the Hen Arch people have rounded up ) It comfortably exceeds the 250 square cm of litter guideline. The 1 square metre of run per bird seems to come from DEFRA guidelines on meat birds, not layers. On the other hand, "free range" is clearly defined as needing 4 square metres per bird throught the day! So this is not a simple calculation at all. I suspect that very few hobby chicken keepers meet the free range guidelines. We certainly won't, since we can't let our chickens roam free all day and every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 You are absolutely right, few of us can meet the true 'free range' criteria. The general view on here seems to be that an area 1 metre square per hen is about right for run space but, as mentioned in another thread on here, keeping them in less space than that wouldn't necessarily be 'cruel' or in breach of animal welfare, it's just less than ideal. Overcrowding can increase the risk of bullying and pecking, amongst other things. Please note the difference between '3 square metres' and '3 metres squared' - not the same thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melbourne12 Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 You are absolutely right, few of us can meet the true 'free range' criteria. The general view on here seems to be that an area 1 metre square per hen is about right for run space but, as mentioned in another thread on here, keeping them in less space than that wouldn't necessarily be 'cruel' or in breach of animal welfare, it's just less than ideal. Overcrowding can increase the risk of bullying and pecking, amongst other things. Please note the difference between '3 square metres' and '3 metres squared' - not the same thing! That's very helpful - in our planning we've used the consensus which seems to be 1square foot indoors, 1 square metre outdoors. But I don't think that DEFRA know the difference between square metres and metres squared. Taken literally, the "250 cm squared" rule would mean that a modest coop for 4 hens hould have to be 16 feet wide and 16 feet deep! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Both lovely looking coops, especially the first one. Shame there are no photos of the nesting areas. I guess you also need to weigh up the whole wood vs plastic thing. Also they look like they would be tricky to move if you are not keeping it in a static position. I can see why you are struggling to make a decision though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henchanted Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 You are absolutely right, few of us can meet the true 'free range' criteria. Please note the difference between '3 square metres' and '3 metres squared' - not the same thing! Good point Olly as '3 metres squared' would make the rainbow hen arch run a lovely 9 square metres and at least 9 hens very happy But as 'hobby' chicken keepers, surely we shouldn't be looking at the 'minimum standard" as 'the ideal'. Isn't the ideal total free ranging, which as you say not possible for the vast majority so the minimum is what we should provide as the barest minimum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henergy Posted June 20, 2011 Author Share Posted June 20, 2011 Both lovely looking coops, especially the first one. Shame there are no photos of the nesting areas. I guess you also need to weigh up the whole wood vs plastic thing. Also they look like they would be tricky to move if you are not keeping it in a static position. I can see why you are struggling to make a decision though Yes I've asked for more photos ! I do wonder at companies who think you'll spend £500+ on something on the basis of one photo. I'd rather see customer photos to see things in situ. Feel like I'm getting nowhere decision wise ! I know I want wood (just personal preference) & the girls will always have free range, but I do want it to be practical in winter. The last few days of heavy rain has made me realise that they may need to spend longer in it than first thought. Did initally look at WIR but there are a limited number of companies who'll deliver here in Plymouth. Think I'm down to three now - the framebow, the Feathers one and this one from a local company (the long version of Eden) http://www.devonwildlifeandpethousing.co.uk/ Poor DH is despairing of me !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi-Hi Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Hi, have you looked at this one? http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenhouses/The_Long-Legged_Maggie_s_Dozen_Hen_House.html I like wood too, and if I had the money, this would be the one I would go for. I like the longer legs, as it is so much easier on the back! However, I do like that Framebow house, but as you say, you would need more pictures! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 I like the design of the second one as its so much easier to cover an apex run than a curved one, the metal roof would put me off though as it could get condensation and drip I love the Frambow coops, they are well made and are so well designed, the fact that I have read a few horror stories of their customer service on forums puts me off them though The Eden one would be the one I'd go for personally, its a good design and a roof is a massive bonus and onduline is perfect for roofing too Do look at Flyte so Fancy though, they do nice coops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henergy Posted June 20, 2011 Author Share Posted June 20, 2011 Hi, have you looked at this one? http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenhouses/The_Long-Legged_Maggie_s_Dozen_Hen_House.html I like wood too, and if I had the money, this would be the one I would go for. I like the longer legs, as it is so much easier on the back! However, I do like that Framebow house, but as you say, you would need more pictures! See now you've put the cat amongst the pigeons !!!!!! I love it - only prob is that run has no roof. I wonder if anyone has put a roof on themselves or tarpaulin ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Have you looked at the Woodenart ones. They deliver and erect. A friend has The James and it's good quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henergy Posted June 20, 2011 Author Share Posted June 20, 2011 Woodenart will not deliver to me as apparently too far away ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Woodenart will not deliver to me as apparently too far away ! Oh, what a shame Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmommasally Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 I have a framebow giant rabbit house, in fact the one pictured on the Framebow website is mine, photos taken by yours truly. http://www.framebow.co.uk/giant_rabbit_hutch.html I love it and its looks fab in my garden, but I wouldn't get another one, because: - Their customer service was really slow, lovely people but just couldn't stick to a deadline. - The actual house is so heavy it is really hard to move around, so we have to virtually dismantle it to move it off the grass in the winter - The roof of the house has recently sprung a couple of little leaks which at the moemnt we're not sure how to fix mainly because we can't see where the rain is coming in Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi-Hi Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 See now you've put the cat amongst the pigeons !!!!!! I love it - only prob is that run has no roof.I wonder if anyone has put a roof on themselves or tarpaulin ? Easy peasy with onduline sheets, very good roofing material. Could also use clear tarps... propably cheaper than the onduline, but the onduline will last a long time and you have got the timber frame in place already... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henergy Posted June 20, 2011 Author Share Posted June 20, 2011 I've emailed them as I noticed they can put on a polycarbonate roof onto their large WIR so asked if they could put it on the Maggie run & they said YES !!! And, we are nearby to their sales place next week so hoping to take DH & show him. Have now discounted the Framebow & so down to 3 again, the longlegged the Maggie 6 with run/roof, Feathers large Thomas or the Eden from Devon Wildlife Animal Housing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi-Hi Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 Mmm, decisions decisions... I think you are getting close Good luck, it is all in the anticipation! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
