The Poultry Keeper

Woodburner · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:47 pm Post subject:

Usually just a piece of board or metal that slides up and down in guides. You can have an ordinary door type door instead, I don't think it really matters. If the run is really secure you may not need a door at all. The pophole itself should be about the size of an A4 sheet of paper.
If you do have a door you need to be able to secure it open, as well as closed.

Dopey · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:06 pm Post subject:

got ya thanks to eveyone so far helping me out

Dopey · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 8:55 pm Post subject:

Again i didn't do a lot before there was a knock on the door (neighbor) so i spent the light that i had out side chatting and drinking tea, so this 2 day project is getting to be a week at this rate!!

I managed to find a way to get free hinges, i have some VERY thick rubber matting, so i cut 3 strips and screwed them in to my new door with washers, if it works it work, if not i will have some time to get hinges some other time, it was very dark when i took the pick so i had to photoshop it so you could see it,

Dopey · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:03 pm Post subject:

I was just reading about these red mites, i was just thinking if i put mastic around all the inertia and exterior joints, then there’s less places for them to hide and get in to, is this a good idea? also i have sprayed all the timber with a clear wood preserve and bug killer

Auntie Noo · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 609 Location: Guildford

You can only do your best with red mite - keep a watchful eye, and when they turn up (which I'm afraid they will) get out there as soon as you can with the blowtorch!! I've had them twice and caught them really early both times and so far it hasn't been too bad..... But I think it's just one of those things that happen - Like dogs and ticks.......

Woodburner · Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 12:00 pm Post subject:

Just read elsewhere on these forums, a steamer is good against the little blighters, goes better with the paint than a blow torch too. Laughing

Paint definitely sounds like a good idea, might be best to get child friendly tho, not sure how important it really is, in these safety crazy times any paint is probably just as safe and not so expensive Wink

Nearly forgot, don't use red! At least not where the chooks can get at it.

Dopey · Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 6:24 pm Post subject: Lots of picks

Ok its not the prettiest thing you’ll ever see, but i haven’t done the finishing touches yet like tiding it up and painting it etc, only about 1 hours work left to finish it off i think, then the jobs a good’un, i made a sliding hatch, put the lock and bolt on, and drilled the holes in the Perspex, but is that enough holes for fresh air to flow thru,??? i have done the same at the back of the house so it will flow (i forgot to take picks of the back) made a ladder thing so they can get in and out, put the lid on the nesting box at the back, and basically just finished some bits and bobs, i wont be able to finish it off 2morrow though im going off roading, so i will finish it off probably Monday, well im no carpenter but im quite proud of it, only thing is I have now run out of blue paint, so I may have to finish it off in LIME GREEN Laughing

please tell me what you think, it has still cost me £0 to make (i found the bolt in the shed!! ) so that didn't cost

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7338 Location: isle of lewis

wow fantastic

debcat · Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 6:39 pm Post subject:

WOW

thats great,
I'm not posting pics of my homemade ones Embarassed

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 1986 Location: norfolk

A person after my own heart Dopey as all my henhouses have been built from scrap. Just a small point, you will get a lot of light in that house, so be sure that your nest boxes are nice and dark or you may find your hens start to eat their eggs.

Dopey · Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 7:40 pm Post subject:

do they not need any light then? thats the only reason i put the perspex in, if they do need some light, or only a little , i could black out the perspex with paint, anyone tell me how much light or how little they need please?

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 1986 Location: norfolk

They do not need any more light than will come through the pop hole Dopey. If they can see their eggs they may be inclined to feast on them as an eggsellent source of protein Laughing

I am assuming they will be running outside during the day?

Dopey · Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 7:46 pm Post subject:

Yes they will be out on my lawn most of the day, then locked up at night, i will black the perspex out, thanks for the tip, are the holes big enough and enough of them for air to circulate?

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 1986 Location: norfolk

I reckon so, but it depends on how many chickens you have in there. If you check the inside of the roof of the house from time to time, best time is just after you have let them out, to check that no condensation is gathering there. I have had trouble in the past with this and nearly lost chickens to something caused by the mould which grew on the inside of the roof due to lack of ventilation.

Dopey · Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 7:54 pm Post subject:

Another good tip thanks