Choosing a Hen House
Choosing the right type of accommodation for your hens is important. There are a variety of hen houses for sale in Ireland, however it is important that the chicken house you choose is one that works for both you and your hens and importantly is built to last.
Layout and design considerations
A design that is pleasing to your eye is an important consideration when buying a hen house. A well designed chicken coop from the outside will usually give a good indication that the house has been well set out on the inside to suit your chickens needs. Here are some things to look for when buying a hen house.
For you to consider when buying a chicken coop:
- It looks good and something you are proud to have in your garden
- The hen house is easy to both let your hens out each morning and also to close them in at dusk
- Has easy access for egg collection each day
- Be easy to clean - this is very very important - otherwise it can be a real chore!
For your hens it needs the following:
- Be watertight and draft free
- Be secure for keeping your hens safe at night
- Have good perches correctly placed
- Nest box(es) placed in the right place in order to ensure clean eggs
- Have good ventilation (very important to prevent respiratory problems!)
- Have adequate space for your hens. (Perch space as well as floor space)
Materials used
There are an endless list of materials that are currently used in chicken houses from plastic or rubber through to various types of wood. It is very important that whatever materials used are those that will last and provide a good sturdy and draft free housing for your poultry.
Timber is the most widely used material for hen houses in Ireland. There are various types of timber, some might look good to start with but lasting is not always so good. A good quality house built using pressure treated external grade wood is hard to beat. If looked after well, by retreating with wood preservative once a year, it will provide many years of great accommodation for your hens.
If you are after a hen house with a run, then the type and grade of the wire is important also. It might surprise some, but what is commonly known as 'chicken wire' is not nearly as good at lasting as the newer 'weldmesh'. Good quality weldmesh is also a lot better at helping to make your hen run fox proof.
Look for something that is built to last.
As with most things you are likely to get what you pay for and a cheap hen house may not turn our to be such a bargain down the road. Your hens will live for several years so choosing a good quality hen house to keep them in right at the start will make things a lot easier for both your hens and you. Keeping your hens happy will provide you with loads of fresh eggs each day.
You can view the FarmFowl range of Hen Houses by clicking here.
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