Willy's Top Tips

What size poultry house do I need?

Up to a dozen birds can be kept in a run based poultry house as long as you can move it reguarly. The size of the area they need depends on how much damage the poultry do to the ground with scratching and manure. So, a standard poultry house would comfortably accommodate up to 6 birds. A large size can handle up to 9 and an extra large up to 12. After that you really need a mesh on frame enclosure or free range using fencing/electric fences.

What's the best way to keep a poultry house clean?

For a start, I would always use woodshavings for bedding rather than straw. As the woodshavings get soiled it is moved around and you get the maximum absorbancy out of them. Straw gets stamped down and forms a dirty wet/damp mat that harbours fungus and disease. Also, you can dispose of the soiled woodshavings more easily over ground as they wash in and disperse.
Ventilation of poultry houses is essential. We build ours with ventialtion that is suitable for all types of poultry. The types most suitable for duck houses have larger vents which are protected from the elements by overhangs.
None of our poultry houses have felted roof material as red mites are attracted to them and thrive within the voids.

What's the difference between a duck house and a hen house?

All of our poultry house designs are dual purpose and can be adpated to house ducks or hens. They are even suitable for use as kennels! Our hen houses have removable nesting boxes and perches. When used as a duck house they are supplied with a ramp.

Where can I acquire woodshavings?

Any local agricultural suppliers should be able to provide them and they will be guaranteed to be untreated. Be careful about picking them up from a local joinery as they may contain tannelised/treated woodshavings. A large bale of woodshavings would cost approximately £6 but can be used generously and will last for many months. They also require less space to store and are wrapped in waterproof material

Is it OK to wash my eggs?

No. Do not wash eggs. Wipe them with a slightly damp cloth and dry immediately.  Washing eggs is dangerous as egg shells are porous and you could wash bacteria into the egg. On the outside of the egg after laying there is a microthin anti-bacterial film protecting it, you don't want to wash this off.

How do I protect my hens against foxes?

All our poultry houses are fox proof i.e. there's no way the fox can get in once the pop hole is down.  If your poultry is out and about free ranging, apart from sitting in the garden with a gun, you can get an electric fence.  They are not that expensive and you can run quite a large run of fencing off of a heavy duty 12v battery.  The fox seems to sense the current and hear the click of the capacitor and soon learns to stay away.  However, if you leave the fence for off for any length of time they'll be chewing through it soon enough.