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Post by 4pygmies on Jan 18, 2008 8:07:16 GMT 1
Sorry but I think those things are design gone mad! I think they are aimed at the sort of people who buy designer bags and OTT baby accessories.......definitely for city folk who fancy a bit of the country in their (very stylish) back garden and have a selection of very expensive wellies and waterproof coats , none of them with a splash of mud anywhere.......am I being mean? ;D
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Post by emseypop on Jan 18, 2008 8:43:54 GMT 1
Sorry but I think those things are design gone mad! I think they are aimed at the sort of people who buy designer bags and OTT baby accessories.......definitely for city folk who fancy a bit of the country in their (very stylish) back garden and have a selection of very expensive wellies and waterproof coats , none of them with a splash of mud anywhere.......am I being mean? ;D I think they're cool, but way out of my price range (like designer handbags) but some of the wooden designs are just as impressive if you've got that kind of money to spend. I go for the rustic look every time ;D |
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Post by debidoos on Jan 18, 2008 9:04:41 GMT 1
I like those designs, but i certainly can't afford £400 on a hen house and run!
I prefer the wooden ones!
I'm watching a fair few on ebay atm.
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Post by debidoos on Jan 18, 2008 9:17:24 GMT 1
I know this sounds a daft question,
When we get the Hens, will they need some sort of heating? It says on the BHWT website that they come from a very warm environment. And I'm worried when we get them home will they freeze in there new outdoor abodes?
We have outdoor electrics so if we do it's not a problem.
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Post by 4pygmies on Jan 18, 2008 9:38:02 GMT 1
No, I wouldn't artificially heat them Deb - it's a bit risky IMO. If you line their new house with a straw floor and make sure there aren't any gaps or draughts that should insulate them enough. If it's really really cold when you get them they'll just huddle together for warmth. They are used to close proximity with other hens aren't they? They just have to toughen up I'm afraid.
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Post by debidoos on Jan 18, 2008 9:50:26 GMT 1
I read on that forum of Mrs B's that you can put in a hottie bottie with a fur cover if it's really cold! they've also knitted little jumpers for them! ;D
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Post by emseypop on Jan 18, 2008 10:20:48 GMT 1
I read on that forum of Mrs B's that you can put in a hottie bottie with a fur cover if it's really cold! they've also knitted little jumpers for them! ;D I saw some little jacketype things on ebay, but I think they're more for protection against roosters. I think I'll just have to toughen mine up! Maybe a bit if silicon in between the panels on my coop to stop the draughs.  |
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Post by 4pygmies on Jan 18, 2008 10:35:16 GMT 1
Jackets for chickens? Whatever next..........the world's gone mad..... The silicon is a good idea though but DOOOO make sure it doesn't appear through cracks where the chickens can get to it as they will peck at it. I don't suppose that it's very nourishing stuff for chooks....same goes for any other kind of insulation. Chickens will peck at anything.. : |
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Post by emseypop on Jan 18, 2008 10:39:12 GMT 1
Jackets for chickens? Whatever next..........the world's gone mad..... The silicon is a good idea though but DOOOO make sure it doesn't appear through cracks where the chickens can get to it as they will peck at it. I don't suppose that it's very nourishing stuff for chooks....same goes for any other kind of insulation. Chickens will peck at anything.. : Slugs and snails I hope, I've got plenty of those! |
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Post by debidoos on Jan 18, 2008 11:00:25 GMT 1
Yep! We have a fair compliment of Slugs too!!! We'll have chicken sh.. poo on tap too for fertiliser!
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Post by debbiem on Jan 18, 2008 11:57:43 GMT 1
Hopefully mine'll get the hang of slugs and snails this year, after an astonishingly poor show last year, oh pleeeeeeeeeeease let them get the taste for them!  Heating is a bad idea for chickens as they could catch a chill on coming from a heated henhouse to the cold outside. Like 4P says, let them huddle together for warmth. If they are dry and away from draughts as much as possible, and with something like straw which is a good insulator, that'll be enough. I'll probably change to woodshavings and not straw for the summer but I think straw's nicer for this time of year. And it's a good mulch too. But saying that, woodshavings won't take up so much room in the composter. : |
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Post by emseypop on Jan 18, 2008 12:03:05 GMT 1
Hopefully mine'll get the hang of slugs and snails this year, after an astonishingly poor show last year, oh pleeeeeeeeeeease let them get the taste for them! Heating is a bad idea for chickens as they could catch a chill on coming from a heated henhouse to the cold outside. Like 4P says, let them huddle together for warmth. If they are dry and away from draughts as much as possible, and with something like straw which is a good insulator, that'll be enough. I'll probably change to woodshavings and not straw for the summer but I think straw's nicer for this time of year. And it's a good mulch too. But saying that, woodshavings won't take up so much room in the composter. : I'm debating weather to put in two roosts or one, if I put one in they'll be tighter together, but it would keep them warmer. I read they need 20-30 coms each if I have one roost across they'd only have 22cms each. If I have two roots side on they'll have 35cm each. |
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Post by debbiem on Jan 18, 2008 12:09:57 GMT 1
However many roosts you put in Emsey, there'll be THE favourite one. : I'm sure my Welsummers go to bed first to get prime spot. ;D They'll probably all want to be on the same one., so why not start with just the one? : But like you say, with the two they'll have more room - when you say side on do you mean that the two roosts are side by side to make one big one? |
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Post by emseypop on Jan 18, 2008 12:13:40 GMT 1
However many roosts you put in Emsey, there'll be THE favourite one. : I'm sure my Welsummers go to bed first to get prime spot. ;D They'll probably all want to be on the same one., so why not start with just the one? : But like you say, with the two they'll have more room - when you say side on do you mean that the two roosts are side by side to make one big one? No, I've got room for one spanning the width of the house, or two shorter roosts opp each other either side of the pop hole (see i'm learning the lingo). Debidoos spotted a great seller on ebay for me, he make sliding pop holes to order for £8.99 each! They'll be much better and prolly work out cheaper than anything I could knock together! |
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Post by debbiem on Jan 18, 2008 12:18:53 GMT 1
They both sound good - if you put the two in then you won't need to add any more, I mean, for when you get a few more..........  |
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Post by emseypop on Jan 18, 2008 12:26:07 GMT 1
They both sound good - if you put the two in then you won't need to add any more, I mean, for when you get a few more.......... I really think I'd need a bigger hen house before I got any more though, in theory if i put two perches I could have 6 hens and I bet I could codge a perch across the back and put another 2 on there......stop it! |
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Post by debbiem on Jan 18, 2008 12:30:39 GMT 1
;D
So when you go and pick your birds up, and there's a couple more there needing a home.......
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Post by debbiem on Jan 18, 2008 12:57:23 GMT 1
However many roosts you put in Emsey, there'll be THE favourite one. : I'm sure my Welsummers go to bed first to get prime spot. ;D They'll probably all want to be on the same one., so why not start with just the one? : But like you say, with the two they'll have more room - when you say side on do you mean that the two roosts are side by side to make one big one? No, I've got room for one spanning the width of the house, or two shorter roosts opp each other either side of the pop hole (see i'm learning the lingo). Debidoos spotted a great seller on ebay for me, he make sliding pop holes to order for £8.99 each! They'll be much better and prolly work out cheaper than anything I could knock together! That's a really good price isn't it? Are you going to get one? |
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Post by emseypop on Jan 18, 2008 15:07:18 GMT 1
No, I've got room for one spanning the width of the house, or two shorter roosts opp each other either side of the pop hole (see i'm learning the lingo). Debidoos spotted a great seller on ebay for me, he make sliding pop holes to order for £8.99 each! They'll be much better and prolly work out cheaper than anything I could knock together! That's a really good price isn't it? Are you going to get one? If the seller emails me back, the one he's got on sale is a bit too big I think, unless I put it on side wards. |
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Post by debidoos on Jan 18, 2008 20:00:56 GMT 1
I'm watching the Eglu, plus pretty much every other hen house on ebay! ;D
Anyone know of any decent shops that make cheap hen houses?
and runs built on too.
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Post by emseypop on Jan 18, 2008 21:59:14 GMT 1
I've got my pop hole Arnt people who deal with chickens ever so nice!
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Post by debbiem on Jan 19, 2008 8:50:59 GMT 1
I'm watching the Eglu, plus pretty much every other hen house on ebay! ;D Anyone know of any decent shops that make cheap hen houses? and runs built on too. Look on the Practical Poultry forum Debbie, as they have a housing section on there and even if you haven't registered there should be enough advice to point you in the right direction.If you do register and chat to other people hopefully you'll found out what you need. Or what about country stores but they might be expensive. |
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Post by Sweetleaf on Jan 19, 2008 8:53:07 GMT 1
wossa pop hole then?  |
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Post by debbiem on Jan 19, 2008 9:04:39 GMT 1
wossa pop hole then? It's the little door that the chickens use to get in and out of the henhouse. You can get automatic ones that open and close at dawn and dusk, but say there's a straggler, they'll be shut out for the night! Glad you've got it, Emsey. |
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Post by debidoos on Jan 19, 2008 10:14:03 GMT 1
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