Frequently Asked Questions

I would like a slatted floor so the droppings can fall through, but I don't see that as an option.  Can you provide your hen houses with minor changes like that?

We're a one-man-band working out of an over-sized garage; that means we can usually adjust quite easily to any requested features.  In fact, we appreciate such requests because they give us new ideas for inclusion in our designs.  Everyone has different ideas how they'll be using their hen house and we're eager to please.  So, yes...we can put in slatted floors.

These hen houses are all-wood construction.  Will they hold up to the temperature and environmental extremes we see in New Zealand?

Every area of New Zealand is different.  Some areas are quite mild in temperature fluctuation while extreme in moisture, and vice versa.  Wood is not as stable as steel, being a once-livingl product.  Consequently, the best plan for longevity is to keep an eye on your hen house and give it the periodic cleaning and maintenance it needs.  If the wood looks like it is drying out or getting too wet, give it a coat of linseed oil or decking stain (depending on your coop).  Some warping is to be expected across the seasons and weather conditions, but you'll notice your coop returning to a median position with good maintenance.

Do you sell hens, too?

No, sorry, we don't.  Believe it or not, we live in town and have a limit of a maximum ten hens for our location!  We do know some locals who sell all kinds of hens however, from laying hens to show hens.  Blue Mountain Poultry is not affiliated with us at all but is located one street over.  If you would like a hen house supplied with hens as a package, please let us know.

How long will it take to build my hen house?

That really depends on a range of factors, but we usually finish building a new one within two weeks of receiving your deposit, sometimes as little as three days.  It just depends on how many orders are ahead of yours, whether all the materials are to hand, and what else is on the schedule.  But two weeks is about the maximum.

I'm a lightweight female.  Are these really that easy to move?

Yes.  Really.  Especially if you put at least two wheels on it!  Many of our customers are females, and several have been purchased as gifts for elderly farmers who have moved to town and miss their hens.

I want to order one of your hen houses, but I'm on the North Island and already have a preferred shipper.  Can I use a different shipper than your usual one?

Certainly, so long as they have a drop-off in close proximity to us.  However, all of our coops ship fully assembled so shipping long distances is usually prohibitive.

Is there one of your chicken coops locally I can see, like maybe at a customer's home?

We have actually arranged such a visit previously, but really felt bad about it afterward and so aren't likely to do that again.  But we take our hen houses to a lot of the A&P shows around Otago and Southland, and sometimes to farmer's markets (like the one just outside Queenstown).  Drop us a note to find out if we'll be in your area and maybe we can even arrange a showing before a delivery.