The Poultry Keeper

Magpie · Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 642 Location: Norfolk

I thought it may be of help to some people to see my housing which is all compliant with the requirement to isolate poultry from wild birds and to feed undercover. They all have solid roofs of either Onduline or Corolux and the wire netting sides are 13mm Sentinal aviary netting. All doors, windows, vents etc are netted.

This is an integral house and run 8' x 3'6"

This one is a seperate house with a 6' x 3'6" run

This is my 6'x10' shed with it's 20' x 6' run. It is divided into three pens and easily houses the 13 birds currently in it.

Hope that helps.

Tim

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3455 Location: Monmouthshire

Thank you. It's always useful to see what needs to be done, though I'm afraid with me it would probably be a major cull alas.

Magpie · Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 642 Location: Norfolk

I realise if you have a lot of birds it wouldn't be possible to do this for everything - but the all in one coop took me 1 day to build and I reckon cost under £100. It would be okay for up to 5 LF or 6-7 bantams for a short while.

Forgot to say that the clear plastic sheets have horticultural shade netting under them - partly so the birds don't get too hot in the summer and partly so the white feathers don't go cream and the buff/gold/blue feathers dont fade Shocked

.

Tim

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7366 Location: isle of lewis

mine are in th polytunnel ,it's cold up here in the winter and there is a mesh door so on mild days i can ventilate properly ,i've got disinfectant for the gate and for entering the coops ,in a covered plastic box you can be fined if the disinfect is watered down more than it should be for the preposes required ,hence it will be in a covered box in case it rains with a brush to ensure it's disinfected properly ,one thing we were told as well disinfect takes 30 seconds to work properly ,although it is easier if you don't have to step into the run Wink

,both deb and i went to a 3 hour lecture on how to cope what to do Rolling Eyes

,magpie it looks as if your set up is ideal Cool

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3455 Location: Monmouthshire

I have a couple more 6x4 sheds to be erected now the creosote is dry(ish). So long as I put a droppings board beneath the perching bars, I can put food and water inside which would give me breathing space to sort out runs. I can confine a dozen LF in these, or 2 doz if just used for night shelter with a run.

Sparklepeeps · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 1960 Location: Cheshire

Magpie, what is the name of the stuff you use for the roof? I want some of that in see through colour for the top of mine. How much does it cost?

Milkmaid - am I right in thinking that your polytunnel is covered in plastic? Is it see through? Is it fox proof?

Magpie · Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 642 Location: Norfolk

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1443 Location: Leicestershire

debcat · Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 6:38 pm Post subject:

there's no foxes up here though Rolling Eyes

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7366 Location: isle of lewis

mine has mesh inside it ,because the last time i had birds in it 2 years ago they slashed the sides when they were digging around and a fence around the outside to stop the wind and goats horns ,the problem with polys are they get hot ,unless they are the type with mesh sides
no we are lucky no foxes here Wink

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2240 Location: North Cornwall

I can cope with all the chicken houses, we have a plan if its needed. My biggest problem is what to do with the ducks. They are completely free range and swim on open water, with lots of wild ducks and geese flying in and out all the time. I have kept numbers low just incase and a lot will depend on how much time we are given to get them in, but the end result will be a cull for them all. Any which cant be caught will have to be shot on the water. Nightmare, just pray it doesn't come to that Sad

Welsh Duck · Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 9:16 pm Post subject:

Magpie- Wow I like your pens. Shocked

very impresive. My pens should be OK. The chicken sheds are big enough for them to stay inside. I have 40 ducks and they would move into our piggery-(we have no pigs) There are four concrete pens with sloping floors so perfect for ducks for a short while. And its fox proof

Timbo · Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 206 Location: Cranfield, Beds.

Yes, a good job there Tim.

Can anyone tell me something about the disinfectant? Does it have to be a certain make - you see I have two large tins of Jeyes Fluid which I see kills bird flu but don't know if that would be 'approved' or not in foot baths and at what dilution rate. Thanks,

Tim

Magpie · Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 642 Location: Norfolk

Timbo · Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 206 Location: Cranfield, Beds.

Thanks Tim.

Only reason I wonder about Jeyes is I have two large tins of the stuff (they were given to me).

It also costs an arm and a leg!

I will look into the Virkon S and the web link anyway. Thanks.

Tim