Collection: Haydock Chicken Coops

THE HAYDOCK RANGE CHICKEN COOPS

The Haydock Chicken Coop is the latest in the evolution of this style of housing, which I first designed and brought to market nearly 40 years ago. The Haydock Coops have features that, during those 40 years of being both a chicken keeper and a full-time chicken coop maker, I knew would make this coop both chicken and keeper 'friendly'. As a hen keeper, I know that if coop cleaning is awkward, it is likely to be done half-heartedly or, worse, not at all. On both counts, the hen's welfare is being compromised, reducing egg-laying. I have incorporated as many features as possible into the Haydock hen coops to ensure the functionality for both the hen keeper and more importantly, the hens. Currently there are four sizes of Haydock Chicken Coops, 5, 10, 15 and 20, laying hens, or a proportionate number of bantams or large fowl.

THE HAYDOCK CHICKEN COOP FROM THE KEEPERS VANTAGE

NEST SHUTTER

The Haydock coops nests are fitted with night shutters, which stop the hens from occupying the nest overnight, so eliminating overnight nest fouling. If not addressed, the mess gets smeared on the birds but more scarcely on the eggs. It is not well known that it is unsafe to wash eggs. The shells are partly porous, which allows bacteria-carrying moisture to penetrate the eggshell. Being creatures of habit, the birds inevitably use the perching supplied after just a few weeks of using the shutters. That being the case, you can then stop using the shutters.

ROB NOTE: If you find 'out of nest eggs' soiled or cracked eggs, BIN THEM.

ACCESS
To enhance cleaning access and red-mite control, the entire nest bank lifts off, as does the wall opposite; one side of the roof opens, and the middle section of the floor removes, and the perch bars. In short, there is nowhere in this coop you cannot easily access for cleaning.

THE HAYDOCK CHICKEN COOP FROM THE CHICKENS VANTAGE.

NESTING
Derived from jungle fowl, the modern hen retains a hankering to make its nest at ground level hidden in the undergrowth, where it would scratch a rudimental nest in the ground litter. The Haydock panders to that primitive need by having the nest set below floor level.

PERCHING
At dusk jungle fowl would seek out a high tree branch on which to overnight. With the top birds taking the most elevated and therefore deemed the safest perching. The Haydock coop has stout claw-sized*, removable perching set on two levels, so even the hens at the bottom of the pecking order still get a perch. * Wrong-sized perching can lead to breast deformities.

VENTILATION
Airflow is far more critical than is generally appreciated. Overnight a cluster of hens will generate a lot of heat that, coupled with the methane given off by any accumulated droppings, will cause serious repertory problems for the hens. The rising, warm, stale air is expelled from the coop via the vented ridge, which sets up a convection current, with fresh, cooler air being dragged into the coop via inlets built in under the eaves.

ROB NOTE: Please DO NOT cover the vents, even in the winter.