The Poultry Keeper

Sakib · Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 34 Location: Manchester

Hey i though id share an idea with you all.

i was sitting in the garden with the chickens and just thought the compost bin which looks like a dalek could be used as a coop.

Removable lid and a hatch at the bottom. Punch holes for ventalation. Too clean lift off ground shovel it up and hose the bin down. You add perches and attach a nestle box.

You could do whatever you want to it, just thought id share. ive got chicks and thought how do i house them later but low cost - might be the answer.

Id get a new bin which are quite cheap

Sakib

Sakib · Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 34 Location: Manchester

other advantages are no warped panels and reduce risk of mites.

layla · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 537 Location: West Midlands

yeah but isn't it a bit plasticy?.......sweating in hot weather....just a thought.

Sparklepeeps · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 1952 Location: Cheshire

Interesting idea! I can definately see where you are coming from but my first issue would be in the summer the black plastic would roast them! I am impressed with your lateral thinking though.... maybe we should all look at the world through chicken tinted glasses!

Welsh Duck · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:22 pm Post subject:

I would worry about the heat problem also

Dopey · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:27 pm Post subject:

If you could put a shelter over the top of it, kinda like a double skin, then that would shade it, but why not do the same as me, get a few pallets, and some bored, and make one, i did mine from scratch and it didn't cost a penny

Barny_Velder · Joined: 29 Dec 2007 Posts: 164 Location: North Wales Coast

why waste money on an expensive piece of plastic when a 210 litre recycled barrel will do the same job.
BUT as both are single skin it will be cold as hell in winter, hot as hell in summer and the condensation will really be a huge problem.

Pallets are easily found and used as a house, much better all round to be honest.

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3247 Location: Monmouthshire

I'd looked at my compost bins the other day with a similar thought, but then realised I needed them as compost bins. They'd need to be screwed to a solid base and the opening made fox proof too. Mine are far from secure.

Gilly C · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2497 Location: South Cumbria

concrete coal bunker would be a better option, we got rid of ours on freecycle people often post both offers and wanted for them here