Handmade Poultry & Pet Houses
The importance of using the right timber and why it matters
All Flyte so Fancy Poultry & Waterfowl Houses and Pet Houses are designed and made in our own Dorset workshop. Handmade in the Heart of Dorset!
Our housing is constructed from the best quality, slow-grown (from managed forests), Pressure-Treated, Joinery-Grade, Scandinavian Redwood that will last for many years without further preservative treatment (note - pressure treatment does not make it waterproof so further waterproofing may be needed once or twice a year).
We sand and then treat any cut ends during construction to maintain integrity. The pressure treatment used at the mill is eco-friendly TANALITH-E® and is perfectly safe for all animals and birds. We stack the timber 'in-stick' in our yard for a minimum of 6 weeks before we construct your hen house to help prevent shrinkage or warping.
We choose our timber with great care. All our wood is sourced directly from Sweden - from chainsaw to chicken house. For strength, we only use slow-grown (close grain) timber from well-managed and certified sustainable forest resources.
All units are constructed on 50 x 50mm, 50 x 38mm, and 38 x 38mm framing using 16mm (ex-19mm) tongue and groove boarding and/or shiplap using stainless steel nails and double (zinc) plated and painted screws - to prevent corrosion. The houses are finished to a very high standard.
Note: timber thicknesses, in timber-world, are usually quoted as the thickness of timber they came from - the 'ex-' part - before planing/sanding. So, for example, ex-19mm timber usually 'measures' at approx. 16mm.
Timber roofs are made with 21mm thick (known as ex-25mm) tongue and groove Shiplap to make sure they are watertight and well insulated.
We recommend that you apply a waterproofing product like Protek Timber Eco-Shield Waterproofing Treatment once or twice a year to maintain the integrity of the timber and keep it waterproof.
Solid floors are made with exterior-grade hardwood plywood (9mm - 18mm depending on house design), constructed on ex-75mm x 50mm framing and raised off the ground on legs to keep troublesome vermin at bay.
All bolts, hinges, chains, turn buttons and weldmesh that we use are galvanised or powder coated. We always use European heavy 18-gauge weldmesh (galvanised after manufacture because this is the best), which is further plastic-coated in green to maintain its longevity and good looks. If, however, you prefer the look of the plain galavansied weldmesh, we can offer that, please just ask when ordering.
Watch our video for details of the Fixtures & Fittings we use.
We build good ventilation into our units to keep humidity levels pleasant and disease-free for the birds and animals. We use weldmesh on our runs because foxes can, and do, chew through old-fashioned chicken wire. Mr Fox will not break into a Flyte so Fancy unit.
With any of our Poultry Housing and timber units, you will receive detailed colour photo assembly instructions and all the screws or fixings you need (if assembling after delivery that is - some houses can arrive readily assembled for you).
All you require is a fully charged cordless screwdriver and perhaps an extra pair of willing hands. Visit our YouTube Channel to see some assembly videos.
For details of the timber we use for our Log Stores and Garden Storage Sheds, follow this link How we make our Dorset Log & Garden Stores.
Designed and Made in Dorset
After more than 30 years of experience in poultry & bird keeping ourselves, we have designed our housing with great thought to ensure they are well-made, easy to clean and easy to use, not only for the birds but also for you, too.
If considering the purchase of a Henhouse with a ladder for ex-battery hens, or delicate bantam hens, then please ask us to add plywood on the back of any ladder to help them use it more easily.
Flyte so Fancy Chicken Houses are completely fox-proof (and badger-proof) - providing you remember to shut the pop-hole of course!
The heart-shaped window shown on most of our houses comes as standard, and is very popular, but not compulsory; you can select 'with or without heart window' on the product page. To clarify, the window is not a 'hole' but is covered with a piece of clear, solid polycarbonate and we understand perfectly that it may not suit everyone.
We believe that using timber for bird and pet houses is the healthiest option because timber breathes with the season, and is sustainable and renewable (as well as, unlike plastic, easily disposed of/recycled).
We recommend that once or twice a year you apply a coat of a waterproofing timber treatment to the timber of the house to keep it watertight e.g. Protek Eco-Shield Waterproofing Wood Stain.
Timber shrinks and expands through the seasons so you should expect movement as it settles in place. There will probably be some small cracks due to this movement, as it is natural material after all, but it will not compromise its integrity due to the thickness of the timber we use.
With good care, your Flyte so Fancy house will not need any other preservative treatment for at least 15 years. The house itself is built to last much longer of course. See full details of our Fair Care Warranty below.
Caring for Pressure Treated Timber
Wood is, as you know, the living, breathing, rigid bit of the tree and, as a naturally grown plant, it therefore tends to move with changes in temperature and humidity.
Whilst the timber is in our care, we endeavour to make it do what we want it to do; however, we cannot fully guarantee that once on its own, the wood will not do what it wants to do.
TANALITH-E pressure-treated timber does not have to be painted or stained to maintain its preservative properties, but pressure treatment is not weather protection and therefore we advise further waterproofing for longevity and looks.
The pressure-treated redwood that we use carries a 15-year warranty against fungal decay, rot and attack by wood-boring insects to the point of failure of the component. To ensure this longevity please see What is Pressure Treated Timber.
We recommend that your timber unit is treated at least once a year, before Autumn and when the timber is dry, with Protek Timber Eco-Shield Waterproofing Treatment to give further protection and water resistance.
The timber roof of your hen house will have had a coat of Waterseal before leaving our workshop so you may need to lightly sand the roof panels before any further application of waterproof coatings.
Despite our personal stringent adherence to the quality of timber, there may be some movement or cracks that appear with the passing of time. This is a natural process with any timber. You can call or Contact Us if you are at all concerned.
That being said, and if you feel the wood is misbehaving too much, be assured we give a 2-YEAR WARRANTY ON FLYTE SO FANCY MANUFACTURED TIMBER PRODUCTS.
If any part of the unit fails, we can replace the necessary parts, or the whole product or refund your money. There is a responsibility on you to take good care of the timber as advised to do under our Fair Care Warranty (below).
We believe we have a duty of care to you, our customers, for buying a high-quality product, which is why we stand by our chicken coops and animal housing. If you are concerned about any aspect of its quality, please do call us on 01300 345229 to discuss your queries.
Flyte so Fancy Fair Care Warranty
Our Fair Care Warranty covers the cost of re-supply by Flyte so Fancy Ltd of any Pressure Treated (Tanalised) Timber component that has proven to have failed as a result of fungal decay or insect attack within a 15-year period from the initial purchase. It does not cover the costs of removal or reinstatement of such components or consequential costs or loss due to failure of the component.
The term 'fungal decay' as used in the warranty refers to wood destroying fungi that feed on and degenerate the wood cell walls. It excludes staining and mould fungi associated with the weathering of wood. The term 'insect attack' refers to an attack by wood digesting insects that destroy the timber structure. The term 'failed' refers to damage caused by insects and/or fungi to such an extent that the component is no longer fit for purpose.
With the TANALITH-E wood preservative used for our pressure-treated timber, together with the quality redwood timbers we use, and their careful preparation, we further provide a 2-year Warranty for Quality of Manufacture from the point of sale. This covers any metal fixings and furniture used which are either stainless steel, zinc plated or galvanised. This does not affect your statutory rights as a consumer.
IMPORTANT
To minimise twisting and warping all Flyte so Fancy timber products should only be placed on firm and level ground. Softwood is a natural material that can twist and split during periods of wet/dry, hot/cold weather. If cracks do appear, it is a natural occurrence and not a fault with the material or product. To treat any cracks, you can apply a product called Burgess Creepy Crackseal which is purpose-made for timber or rub a little PVA wood glue into the crack with a cloth. Once dry, sand the area lightly. This will not affect the treatment of the product or the warranty.
WARRANTY CONDITIONS
1. Flyte so Fancy products (including Dorset Log Stores and Framebow Animal Housing) should only be used for the purpose for which they were designed. For instance, the units can be placed in ground contact (surface contact) but must not be embedded within the ground (below the surface).
2. Should the Pressure Treated (TANALITH-E) Timbers be cut, notched or bored during installation, then exposed surfaces should be liberally brushed with an end grain wood preserver to the directions shown on the product label.
3. To comply with this Warranty and ensure the longevity of your timber unit we recommend an annual treatment of the timber surfaces with a waterproofing product such as Protek Timber Eco-Shield. TANALITH-E pressure-treated timber does not have to be painted or stained to maintain its preservative properties, but pressure treatment is not weather protection and therefore further weather protection is recommended.
4. Any component which has been further planed, cut or notched after delivery but not treated with an end grain preservative is not covered by this warranty.
5. A proof of purchase invoice must be supplied with any claim (we hold copies of invoices electronically for 6 years after purchase).
6. Care must be taken with positioning so that any legs or bearers are not in permanent or semi-permanent contact with standing water or wet ground.
EXCLUSIONS
1. Any Flyte so Fancy units supplied or shipped outside the UK.
2. Any second-hand units not bought directly from Flyte so Fancy Ltd
3. Units that have been fundamentally changed from the original design; sawn or notched.
PRECAUTIONS & DISPOSAL
1. You would have received the timber in a 'dry state' but we advise the wearing of gloves when handling the timber panels to protect the skin from splinters and abrasions.
2. If power-sawing or machining pressure-treated timber, wear gloves and goggles. Wear a dustmask and perform these operations outdoors to avoid accumulations of airborne sawdust. Avoid frequent or prolonged inhalation of sawdust.
3. In order to prevent injury, care should be taken when lifting or moving your timber unit. Timber houses and stores are heavy and can also twist if not handled with care.
4. TANALITH-E pressure-treated timber is not classified as hazardous waste. Local regulations should be referred to.
5. TANALITH-E waste timber or offcuts should not be used for animal bedding or for fuel in barbeques, cooking stoves or grates.
6. Domestic end users should dispose of any waste treated timber through the ordinary waste collection service or at a local authority disposal site.
