The Poultry Keeper

Heather · Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2005 10:15 pm Post subject: New House ! :D

got my house, got my house,got my house!!!!!!!

NannyP · Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2005 10:16 pm Post subject:

Well done, so pleased for you. Next you need some hens Laughing

Heather · Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2005 10:16 pm Post subject:

Heather · Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2005 10:19 pm Post subject:

not so sure about the perch or nestboxes , but other than that am pleased as this fella :

jaydee67 · Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2005 10:36 pm Post subject:

Great! Now it needs someone to live there!

NannyP · Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2005 10:38 pm Post subject:

Perch looks too high and too thin to me. I might be wrong, but it could do with being a little lower, and should be 2x2 rounded off on top?? Confused

Nest boxes look fine, it's all mine have Laughing

Heather · Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2005 10:56 pm Post subject:

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

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Very nice...can't wait to see what you pick to live in there now. Wink

CP · Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 1:55 am Post subject:

Wonderful, can't wait to see it full of chickens! Very Happy

However, to be critical, I agree that the perch looks too thin & high. It also appears to be over the nestboxes, so unless they have a lid, you will get poop in them!

OH says you should seal the inner joints & paint wood preserver inside also. He thought the catch on the door did not look very secure. Would be better to have a bolt rather than the wooden swivel.

How does the run attach to the house? That needs to be secure too, to prevent Mr.Fox from getting in.

Sorry to pick holes in your lovely new house, but it is easier to fix/renew/treat whilst empty rather than when full of chooks! Embarassed

Heather · Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 7:49 am Post subject:

Chicken palace - Absolutely, that's why I got it first - however tempting it was to get the birds at the same time
Wink

Thanks for the advice

So : how do I go about making a new perch or is there somewhere that I can buy the correct width of wood with rounded edges ? ?

What should I use to paint the inside with ?

The run does not attach to the house - that was worrying me overnight - didn't get much sleep through excitement / thinking what I do next - would a couple of hook and eye things (top and bottom) be suitable to secure the run to the house If they are the big chunky ones - what do people normally use ?

jaydee67 · Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 10:31 am Post subject:

How do you access the run? Next to where it attaches to the hen house? Was wondering where you were going to keep the food and water. Hubby made a perch for one side of our hen house by rounding off one side of 2x2, the other side has a branch the right width - and nature rounded it for us! Laughing

Heather · Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 12:57 pm Post subject:

how do you round off 2x2 ? - may have to get my friend to do it - he could have built the house - if he had time ! he built me some lovely coldframes before Smile

I can access the run through the top - there is a lift up bit

I'm hoping Paul (the handy friend) will build me a run extension with a shelter - I didn't actually realise the run came with the house - so lucky in a way - but then again it wasn't really the run I wanted It'll only be used in the morning while I'm at work , but still , I'd like it bigger (and with shelter )

CP · Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 4:40 pm Post subject:

Do you have a Wickes near you, Heathhog?

We used 'Painter's Mate' or equivalent to seal all the joints, which helps prevent red mite collecting there.

Wickes own Quick Drying Woodstain to help stop the absorbency of the wood when chooks poo on it! It gives a hard coating that makes it easier to clean. Ronseal do the same thing, but at twice the price!

The first coat of this should be 50/50 water/woodstain (approx) This will soak in & seal the wood. Leave several hours or overnight. 2nd coat can either be neat or the same 50/50, but then you should do another couple of coats too. To finish; on the floor, nestboxes & a little way up the walls, rub down gently with fine sandpaper.

Sounds like a lot of trouble for a chicken coop, but it makes it SO much easier to clean as it all just wipes off.

Heather · Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 9:02 pm Post subject:

Oooh Lavender orps!