AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

We are a very sad chook-less family at present, on Tuesday the neighbour's enormous dog broke through the fence and killed both our beautiful chookies. So we are now in the process of getting quotes for a new fence, it will have to a high strong one, as the dog is a Deerhound/Afghan cross and is as tall as a horse, and now it has the taste for chooks I'm sure it will try to get in again! We would like to get more chooks once we have a new fence. Luckily our other fences have already been replaced and are secure.

We are thinking of maybe replacing our old chook house too, it was an ebay cheapie and after only 3 years the timber roof is sagging, much of the timber has warped and I'm not sure I trust the mesh to be totally fox or dog-proof. It is also too small to leave our chooks in all the time, and whilst we can let them free range our backyard most of the time, it would be nice to have a chook house with a run big enough for about 4 chooks to stay in for about a week if we go on holidays. That way we don't have to get someone to let them out and shut them in every day when we are away. Can anyone recommend somewhere that sells well-made chook houses in Melbourne (or that we could have freighted to Melbourne)? I also want one that is taller than the one we have (ideally one you can walk into, even if you have to duck a bit), as ours is so low our girls would never roost but slept in the nesting boxes. Hopefully one that is also easier to clean too. I nearly broke my back cleaning the current one when the girls got Coccidiosis and I had to scrub out the chook house with bleach! The floor is fixed so I had to bucket the dirty water out from the top! We would much appreciate any recommendations.

Hi Elle Jay

I notice you are in outer east Melbourne. Have you seen the chook houses from Wagners Poultry in Coldstream.

I have a really decent mini house frame for sale if it helps. I got it from a Tafe who have their students build them for the carpentry pre apprenticeship. I'm also located outer east Melbourne. I have two and only need one off them. PM me if you would like more details or would like to view it.

Thanks Chickababe, we actually got all our chooks from Wagners, but I didn't know they sold chook houses too. I just had a look at their website and nothing mentioned there, so might phone them.

The mini house frame could be a possibility. If I could find someone with carpentry skills they could clad it with timber, add the requisite doors, nest boxes etc. and a wire run. Could I ask the dimensions of it please? Sorry, I probably should have pm'd you, but I haven't sent or received a pm on this forum before and have to work out where the pm button is! Many thanks for your help!

Edit: Silly me, just saw the pm button!

in general wooden pens are bad.
i make all my pens from weld mesh,tin and starpicks, and price and quality wise i dont think you could beat it.
cost me about $25 to make a 3m by 3m strong pen.

Sorry for your losses Elle Jay Some dog owners are irresponsible Did you speak to them about it? We had a similar problem but the neighbour had smaller dogs who liked the taste of chicken.

There is a place on Dorset Road near Canterbury Road that sell chook coops, and one on Maroondah Hwy Croydon. Bunnings also sell the metal ones and a shed place on Burwood Hwy in Burwood. Look on Gumtree there are local people who also build them. You would need to attach mesh on the floor so no predators can not dig under. Top the mesh with deep litter so that the chookies don't get feet problems.

If your chookies are free ranging you will just have to keep a close eye on them when they are out.



That sounds great Chickababe. You are very helpful.

Thanks Petite Poulet, I will have a look at those places, they are quite close to me.

That's OK, and don't forget to post photos of the new coop and chookies! Just remember to predator proof it!

Really sorry to read about the attack and loss of your chooks.

There was tradie building them in Ringwood, he advertised locally, there is a shed place in Officer with large fowl houses, or you can buy a second hand cubby and convert it into a chook house Have a look on Ebay, Gumtree or Trading Post.

It all depends on your budget.

thats very cheap would you have a picture or two please game would love to see your handy work



LooLoo

Thats inceadably cheap mine cost $250 to build and its not that big