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, FSC 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-grained) timber from well-managed and FSC-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. We use 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 galvanised weldmesh, please just ask when ordering and we can use this in the build.

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 ready 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.

And for more about who and where we are, watch our Welcome to Flyte so Fancy Video!

Designed and Made in Dorset

With over 30 years of experience in poultry and bird keeping, we’ve designed our housing with great care. Each product is well-made, easy to clean, and simple to use - for both your birds and for you.

If you’re buying a Henhouse with a ladder for ex-battery or delicate bantam hens, let us know. We can add plywood to the back of the ladder to help them use it more easily.

Flyte So Fancy Chicken Houses are completely fox-proof — and badger-proof too. Just remember to close the pop-hole!

The heart-shaped window you see on most of our houses comes as standard and is very popular. However, it’s not compulsory — you can choose ‘with’ or ‘without’ on the product page. To clarify, the window is not an open hole. It’s covered with clear, solid polycarbonate, but we understand it may not suit everyone.

We believe timber is the healthiest choice for bird and pet houses. It breathes with the seasons, is sustainable and renewable, and - unlike plastic - can be easily recycled or disposed of.

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 naturally shrinks and expands with the seasons, so you should expect a little movement as it settles. Small cracks may appear as a result - it’s a natural material, after all - but these won’t affect the structure thanks to the thickness of the timber we use.

Flyte so Fancy is proud to be a member of the Made in Britain Campaign, promoting and supporting British Manufacturing.

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 the living and breathing part of the tree. Because it’s a natural material, it will move as the temperature and humidity change.

While the timber is in our care, we do our best to shape and prepare it. However, once installed, it may still move in its own way — as wood tends to do. As a natural material, wood does not offer the dimensional stability or tolerances of engineered materials such as metal. Its natural character means a little unpredictability is part of its charm!

TANALITH-E pressure-treated timber doesn’t need painting or staining to keep its preservative qualities. However, pressure treatment isn’t weatherproofing, so we recommend additional waterproofing to extend its life and keep it looking good.

The pressure-treated redwood we use comes with a 15-year warranty against fungal decay, rot, and wood-boring insect damage - right up to the point of component failure. For more details on how to maintain this longevity, please see What is Pressure Treated Timber.

We recommend that your timber unit be treated at least once a year, ideally in Autumn and when the timber is dry. Use Protek Timber Eco-Shield Waterproofing Treatment to give further protection and water resistance.

Before leaving our workshop, the timber roof of your hen house will already have a coat of Waterseal. You may need to lightly sand the roof panels before applying any additional 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 replacing any Pressure Treated (Tanalised) Timber component supplied by Flyte So Fancy Ltd that has proven to have failed due to fungal decay or insect attack within 15 years of purchase. It does not cover the cost of removing or reinstalling the components, or any other costs or losses caused by its failure.

In this warranty, fungal decay refers to wood-destroying fungi that feed on and break down the timber’s cell walls. It does not include staining or mould fungi caused by weathering. Insect attack refers to damage from wood-digesting insects that destroy the structure of the timber. A component is considered failed if insect or fungal damage makes it no longer fit for purpose.

Thanks to the TANALITH-E wood preservative, the quality redwood we use, and our careful preparation, we also offer a 2-year Quality of Manufacture Warranty from the date of purchase. This covers all metal fixings and fittings, whether they are stainless steel, zinc-plated, or galvanised. This warranty does not affect your statutory consumer rights.

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 in 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 dust mask 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.