Bargain Chicken Coop 3 to 5 Hens | Kent Discount Poultry House Review

This is the starter coop in the Chicken Coops Direct range. It would be ideal for back garden keeper with 3 or 4 hens, especially when used with the optional run or better still, double run.

Space & Capacity

This chicken coop has an internal housing area of just under 5 square feet excluding the nest boxes which includes 2 perches giving about 60 inches of perching space. The manufacturer claims it would suit 4 or 5 medium sized fowl but I’d feel happier with 3 or 4 larger birds.

This assumes that the birds have access to outside during the day which is where the optional run system comes into its own.

Design & Construction

Like all their wooden coops it’s made from 12mm tongue & groove boarding with 35 x 25 mm framing. It’s a rot-resistant, treated softwood but will require further treating to maximise life (see below)

The nest boxes are situated on the side and have a separate lid which makes egg collection easy. I’d have preferred the perches to be situated higher relative to the nest boxes but they are correctly located furthest from the pop-hole in the darkest place in the coop.

The pop-hole door is a drop-down with integral bars to make it easy for the birds to climb up and get down from their entrance.

The coop sits a couple of inches above the ground on legs which are capped with feet to help prevent rot. Coops that sit directly on the ground will become damp and this can cause premature rot as well as serious health problems. So raising the the coop is a big plus point to look for.

The coop is delivered flat packed in two boxes with good clear instructions. Even allowing for a tea-break, it shouldn’t take an hour to build. Manufacturing quality is good – holes drilled in the correct place etc.

Often a problem with budget coops is poor quality of manufacture. Chicken coops direct have taken a decision that price is important but quality is more so.

Ventilation

Good draft-free ventilation is provided by slits cut high in the body.

Lifespan – How Long Will the Coop Last?

All wooden structures will, eventually, rot unless maintained properly. My advice is to treat with 3 good coats of wood preservative prior to construction. OK, this will take a couple of days but it’s well worth it in the long term.

Thereafter, treat the coop annually in the autumn and it will greatly increase the lifespan. Use a quality product like Cuprinol or Ronseal that is pet safe. You can use this as an opportunity to personalise your coop and colour coordinate with other garden furniture, sheds etc.

Things like hinges will benefit from a coating of oil each month or two, 3 in 1 oil or similar is ideal. This will help prevent corrosion.

How long your coop will last you depends on whether you maintain it and how harsh the conditions it is exposed to are. Maintained properly and located in a sheltered spot, I’d expect a minimum life 5 years and 10 or even 15 years or more is likely.

Kent Coop and Run for 3 to 5 Hens, Opened to show ease of access

Cleaning

Any chicken keeper will agree ease of cleaning is very important and in this area the Kent is a well thought out coop.

The floor is a removable droppings trays which is always a help with keeping the coop fresh, especially in the summer. Better still, the whole coop easily opens out giving easy access for cleaning inside. The nesting box floor is slatted and removable. The perching bars are removable for cleaning as well.

Red Mite

Red mite are the nightmare problem all chicken keepers hit at some point. They hide in any tiny cracks or crevices and any survivors of a deep clean breed like crazy becoming a problem again very quickly.

Monthly use of a mite powder whether you think there’s a problem or not is a good idea.

The Run

The Kent comes with an optional run that can be fixed to the coop. This gives 11 square feet of roaming space. It can be easily extended, giving a double run. There are doors in the sides and sections of the roof fold back making access to your birds easy.

All the runs come with 1.5 mm gauge protective mesh which is a lot more fox-resistant than the 0.9 mm gauge mesh that is commonly used. Although the run itself is effectively fox proof, if it is to be safely left unattended then a protective anti-digging skirt will need to be provided and the run pegged down firmly.

Conclusion

This is a well thought out, simple coop that offers safe, secure housing at a budget price. List price, at time of writing, is around £160 but it is often on sale saving up to £40. The run comes in around £60 for the single and £120 for the double.

Full information on the Chicken Coops Direct site.

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