What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[nin-chicken]

Hello, just looking for some advice. I am planning to get 4 chickens later in the summer and am trying to choose a coop. The eglu is too small for me so I was looking at the cube but its so pricey and I'm not 100% sure I like the look of it. Whilst searching for other plastic houses I came across the oakdene ones. They are wooden on the outside but plastic inside and are soooo pretty! But there are no reviews which worries me. Just wondered if some chicken coop experts could give me their opinion on it, particularly with regard to cleaning and how red-mite 'unfriendly' it would be. I'm planning to put it inside a very fox-proof walk-in run, possibly an eglu one.

Many many thanks. This is such a great forum, I could spend hours on here!

Xx

[Chicken deficient]

I've just had a quick look at them. I had a few concerns, one being that it might delaminate with washing / dampness and also the large gap, i.e. fox / rat access, underneath the coop and into the run.

I'll have a better look later!

 

Edit - sorry just re-read your post more carefully. Firstly, welcome to the forum! Also, the run comment is not relevant if it is going in a walk-in run. However, if it is, I'd consider getting something tall enough for the chickens to walk underneath, so that it takes up less run space and also provides shelter.

[Patricia W]

I'd suggest looking again at the Cube. It's so easy to clean and the chickens love it. And it has excellent resale value which wooden coops don't have.

 

I've got two and neither was brand new so I saved lots. One was from Omlet and sold as reconditioned - just phone up and ask if they have any available as they are not advertised. It looked and felt brand new so I think it had been a demonstration model.

 

The second came from someone who had to give up chicken keeping when she became ill, and was advertised on the forum. That has been perfect too.

 

But whatever you choose, enjoy your chickens!

[nin-chicken]

Thank you both so much for your replies. I am so excited about getting my chickens and it has become a complete obsession! So it is lovely to be with like minded people on this forum!

One of my concerns with the oakdene coop is that it isn't 'tried and tested' like the cube. I also don't like the fact that my girls wouldn't be able to shelter under it. So it looks like a cube after all then! I contacted omlet and they don't have any reconditioned ones at the moment. I am also 'watching' a couple of used ones on eBay but they all seem to be green and I had my heart set on a red one. With regards to the used ones advertised on this site, I have pmd one of the ladies but had no reply. Do I need to do something special to access my messages or will I get an email notifying me of a reply? Sorry if I'm being a bit thick, I'm better with animals than I am with technology!

Thanks again ladies

Alice x

[Patricia W]

Has your pm been opened? Sometimes people miss them. Might be worth sending it again. Or if you ask Tom at Omlet on Monday he can send an email to them.

 

Anyway, good luck!

[nin-chicken]

Thanks Patricia. How would I know if its been opened? Think I'll email Tom as you suggested

Thanks again

Alice x