The Poultry Keeper

Randommoose · Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 35 Location: Gloucestershire

Hi,

I am converting an old stable into a hen house and had a bit of a random question.

Is it necessary to have a small entrance into the stable (i.e. like a pop hole in a coop) or is it ok just to have the stable door open and close it at night? I will be building nest boxes and perches in the stable, on the side furthest away from the door (and the darkest area).

As I said, a random (and potentially foolish) question...

Moose

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2070 Location: North Cornwall

I have similar and just open the door. We have a full height door behind the stable door so they are safe at night and there is a pop hole in the back wall but i dont bother with it, they just go in and out at the front.

Funny thing, i dont get red mite trouble in there like i do in the timber houses Confused

debcat · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 2:03 pm Post subject:

some of mine live in the barn and I just open the door in the morning
just make sure you stand well back else you'll get hit as they fly out Wink

Randommoose · Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 35 Location: Gloucestershire

Good, glad to hear that. It was a sudden thought I had when going to sleep last night and I hoped it wouldn't be necessary.

I managed to do some measuring up today but I was too cold and stiff to do any serious work. Now I have a sheet of paper with measurements written in a scrawling hand as I was wearing leather gardening gloves while writing... Wink

The joys of it being an old hand-made stable means that things like the windows and door frames are a tad wonky. The main door frame is 8cm higher on one side than the other!

I am planning on making a wire door behind the main stable door, there is also a side door (it is a big stable) and I am going to cover that with wire too. One high window will be covered with wire, the other with see-through plastic so that there is no wind through the stable, but plenty of ventilation. Then the chickens will be safe when shut in the stable and it also means if we go away for a day and will be back late, we leave them shut in, but with the doors open and the wire closed so they have plenty of light. For anything longer than a day, our neighbours would be happy to shut them in and out.

Moose

debcat · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 4:39 pm Post subject:

that sounds like my barn - not a single side is straight Laughing

I know you don't get winds like we do but if it's storm force keep the door shut!!
my neighbour learnt the hard way and lost her barn roof with the wind going through the door Shocked

Randommoose · Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 35 Location: Gloucestershire

This stable had open doors through the storms and floods last year and still was fine. It is very sturdy. Ugly, but sturdy Wink

As you can see it is still surrounded by all the remains of junk which was in it or in the lean to behind it. This will all be cleared away. (See the giant VERY HEAVY ends of cable reels leaning on the fence - I moved those by myself, I think that is why I am stiff!). Also the picture is blurry as I just took it and the light is fading. Also note the wonky door frame (and broken doors). The window on the front was mainly covered up so I took the wood and plastic off. I will be replacing it with wire with a stiff plastic see through rain shield.

The view to the right from the door. This window will be covered with stiff see through plastic.

The view of the left hand side of the stable, taken from in front of the window shown in the previous picture. The side door is visible here.

I also need to fix the little gaps here and there. Woo project fun!

Moose

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3021 Location: Monmouthshire

Now how many chicken are you going to have? lots of space there.

Randommoose · Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 35 Location: Gloucestershire

I don't know how many yet. Probably 8-12 and then chicks/growers.

Moose

vanessa · Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 1192 Location: Correze

Hehe, let's ask him this time next year how many he's got Wink

Randommoose · Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 35 Location: Gloucestershire

Her

but yes, it will be interesting to see how many I end up with.

Moose

vanessa · Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 1192 Location: Correze

Oopps, sorry Moose.

Randommoose · Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 35 Location: Gloucestershire

That's fine Vanessa!

I found some bits of wood which might do for perches. they are mainly cylindrical with one side slightly flattened off. The diameter is about 2 inches, possibly slightly more. Would that be suitable? It would be great if they are as I have about 10 feet of that wood which would be enough for 12 hens.

Moose

vanessa · Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 1192 Location: Correze

Put the flattened side upwards, and see how they get on. I'd think they'd be fine.

Randommoose · Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 35 Location: Gloucestershire

Ah good, that's what I was thinking. They are a bit like giant curtain rails with one flat side! I will try it and see and, if necessary, flatten the flat side a bit more once the hens try it out.

I also found a load of thin plywood and some remains of 2x1 wood so I will be able to make nest boxes out of that. I think we have enough wood and wire lying around in various stables, sheds and other outhouses to be able to fix up this stable and to fix up some big runs we have (originally for rabbits and guinea pigs, now partially for fruit cage and I am planning to persuade my father to let me get a few quail)...

Moose

vanessa · Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 1192 Location: Correze

We have our perches held in place by concrete blocks!! The blocks are piled up by the walls, and the perches are inserted in the open holes in the blocks ... so all is easily dismantled for cleaning.