It has been brought to my attention (okay, the wife said Oi! Ken! Lookatthis) that B&Q are now selling chicken coops in their current catalogue.
Tesco, who recently bought Dobbies the garden centres, is selling not only coops but chickens at their Edinburgh centre. The hens are kept down near the fruit trees and generally do not get as far as the bedding plants, but they laugh at the three foot high fence around their run.
What will the impact of this be? I have seen coops and pens selling well under £200, and yes, the quality is good enough for me to consider. Much cheaper (but much smaller) than the home made version we used for the last six years, and an excellent beginners’ choice. I guess the quality is good for the price; but if you need the best quality pens and price is no consideration, consider one of the specialist animal house suppliers.
One good source of traditional type pens is the Summer agricultural shows; these often have special offers if you are prepared to pick up the ones on show; and these will sometimes come complete with a few chickens. Keep it in mind if you live reasonably close to a showground.