Materials and Construction

Our painted hen houses are made from heavy best quality, planed all round, kiln dried timber that is sealed to protect against rot. Painting provides additional protection and our hen houses are available in a choice of 4 standard colours. (Other colours available on request.)

All hinges, handles, mesh within the hen runs, nails, screws (all metal parts) are all galvanised or made from stainless steel to last for many years. Larger houses with wooden roofs have breathable felt below the roof timbers so that if a knot does pop out there will be no leaks on your hens.

The bottom of the legs are the most vulnerable parts of the hen house because of the ground contact and for this reason the legs have double protection and are dipped in a pot of preserver so as to allow it to saturate the timber.

The houses are nailed, screwed and glued together were appropriate for a very strong, lasting construction.

We also make purely functional houses from tanalised timber. (Contact for details.)

Having kept hens for many years and with our background in design and an eye for the details that make a difference, we know what it takes to make quality hen houses.

Chic-hens houses are designed to allow easy access for egg collection and cleaning, to look well placed in any garden and most importantly they are designed with the welfare of the hens and the environment, in mind.

The stilts are just one of the features that go to make our houses a beautiful garden feature but they serve very practical purposes also.

Our houses are on stilts so that the main body of the house is not in ground contact to draw moisture from the ground.

To provide the hens with shelter on rainy days. (Hens refuse to go back into the house even on the worst days. They go back into the hen house to lay but apart from that hens won’t go back into their house until dusk) The hens can also be fed below the house, keeping the food dry.

For the reason that hens feel safer roosting at a height. (In the wild they roost in trees at night, away from the reach of predators.)

To make egg collection, cleaning of the house and closing the hens in at night all at a convenient height that does not require stooping.

Our houses also have lots of roost space and space below to allow the hens fly onto the roost bars.

Ventilation:
A well ventilated house is vital for a healthy hen house. 

Roosting bars for the hens:
The roosts are rounded to give the hens a comfortable grip.

A sliding pop hole door:
The door is within the body of the house giving it better protection against the weather and fox attack. The door is also designed to easily fit an automated pop hole opener at the time of purchase or a later date if required.

The detachable ladder is another feature that looks pleasing but also serves an important function. The ladder detaches to make moving the houses around the garden easier.

Comfy nest boxes:
The nest box provides a quiet safe place for your hens to lay their eggs. The nest box is designed to be easily removed to open up the side of the house for cleaning. When the nest box is removed the wheelbarrow fits below the house to clean the droppings straight into the barrow.




Please note: We supply gift vouchers which can be redeemed against any of our products. Please contact us for details.

Bird House photograph (right): Michelle O'Kane