The Poultry Keeper

Bhindi · Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 10:30 am Post subject: Brick built house

Every hen house shown on the forums seems to be made of wood, (with the odd exception like the eglu), I would like eventually a brick one, and would love to get ideas on designs, I feel It would be more asthetic, less likely to suffer mite invasion(?), would not require preservation treatment, and in the worst of the weather I think I'd feel much more relaxed.

My other thought is ... as Cedar is a good mite deterent, why isn't there any homes made of Cedar. Yes I realise they would be expensive, but there are expensive hen houses out there anyway, and cost doesn't put every one of.

CP · Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 11:03 am Post subject:

Don't know about cedar houses. I wonder how long the benefits of the cedar wood would last when subjected to the elements?

I would love either a brick or stone built chicken coop, but as we already had the large shed & no money to build another, we adapted what we had.

Good luck with building your own, Heather. Please lets have photos of it when you have built it. Very Happy

nigel · Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 1:49 pm Post subject:

Beehives are made of cedar and they stand outside exposed to all the elements. They last for years too.

The big down side with cedar is that while it is a hardwood it is quite soft and so would damage easily (pine - which is a softwood - is much harder Confused

)

stephen · Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 4:26 pm Post subject:

Balsa is hardwood, too, and is really easy to break Very Happy

NannyP · Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2005 9:38 am Post subject:

Brick sounds a really good idea, and I too would love to change my arrangement to something brick and one I could walk into to clean out. One day, when I have loads of money I might. Have you found any brick ones in a search?? Confused

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

All this talk makes me feel real lucky that I had a barn to convert 1/3 of it to the girls...and boys Wink

...I do have plans for my 'dream' coop, but hmmmmm, if I ever get to build it, it might end up costing more than my house! Shocked

HeatherBB · Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 154 Location: Chelmsford

I'm a newby and I've sort of gone half way. - I bought an ark and decided that I would build a breeze block foundation and small wall to sit it on, the idea being that it would be fox-proof and give more head room for 4 chickens. It is in a permanent position but can be lifted off for cleaning or to put the arc on a grassed area and although it is fenced into a enclosed run which I will let them out into daily, I will also let the chicks out to roam our 2 acres when I am about. does this sound ok?

NannyP · Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 10:08 pm Post subject:

That sounds like a great idea. My Ark is currently in a permanent spot and is so muddy and luckily used only for sleeping in and waiting for me to let them out in the morning. I could move it, but the ground is so uneven, it's a job to find a spot flat enough to touch the ground all round. I like your set up, makes sense and will improve Fox deterrant.
Mine is only in use for another 3 weeks, and then it's Goodbye to them (2 cockerels) and a move for Henny.
Very Happy

HeatherBB · Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 154 Location: Chelmsford

who is it goodbye to? the two cockerels? why? I was thinking of getting a cockerel but would it be fair to 2/3 hens? I do actually like to hear them crow!! (I know, even my hubby thinks I'm mad)

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

The first faint crows (when they are still locked up in the coop at 4-5 am and I am up, makes me smile and puts my heart and soul in the right frame of mind to embrace the day. Very Happy

Then, when they are out, to see Little Rich up on top of the tractor ramp all fluffed and handsome, with the rising sun behind him and he stretches out his neck and lets out a crow....well, that just melts me.

I have 84 hens and 3 roos. The roos all have their own 'sections' of the farm that they have claimed. So in the morning you get the trio of them going from all directions. Very Happy

It is pure heaven to the ears.

HeatherBB · Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 154 Location: Chelmsford

Have got to own up that the brick base idea was stolen from a fellow chick keeper - I've posted this forum site to her as she seems to have loads of good ideas and gone through a few tricky times- she might have some tips to share if she has time to sit down at her pc (I seem to spend alot of my spare time infront of mine - I've become hooked to this forum!!!)

I liked the idea of the rolls of turf - I might put some down inside the arc run when it gets a bit muddy.

NannyP · Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 10:23 am Post subject:

Hooked??? ON here??? How colme??? Laughing

I have 4 cockerels, 3 of whom will be oven ready by the beginning of November. They do not live well together and I won't advertise them , as they may be taken for the wrong reasons. You are very welcome to come rescue one of them if you want, I'm in North Devon Very Happy

fluffly_fifer · Joined: 02 Oct 2005 Posts: 411 Location: Fife, Scotland

Years ago my parents had a huge house that had a red-brick hen house in the garden. They used it only for storage before demolishing it. Embarassed

It had solid brick for three of the walls with the four (one of the long walls) only being half brick for 2/3 with wire mesh for upper & the remaining 1/3 of that side was totally brick-built & had a wooden door. The roof was corrugated metal.
Hope this helps.

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

NannyP · Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 3:08 pm Post subject:

Okay George, thanks, I wasn't gonna mention that bit. It is a lovely place to come and visit though. And today it's so warm, sunny and not a cloud in the sky. There is a bit of a breeze, but it's gorgeous. I'll have to put shorts on.