The Poultry Keeper

loreal · Joined: 28 Aug 2005 Posts: 8 Location: lancashire

Hi we've cleared the side of the house where our hen house is going and have 6 large concrete paving slabs in the corner, we've seen a shed in B &Q and would like your advice as to whether you think it would make a good hen house.

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/product/product.jsp?tb=&CATID=8050101&entryFlag=false&PRODID=77455&paintCatId=
i would also like your advice on how high we should put the perches. and were building 1 communal nest box 14` by 28` is this ok ?

The shed will be inside a large walk in run with galvanized wire 13mm mesh all around. We are thinking of getting 4 or 6 chickens .

Getting quite excited as things are starting to move nearer to getting our chickens. all advice welcomed . thanks loreal

leebarton · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 365 Location: Elgin, NE Scotland

We have an adapted B&Q shed for our chooks and they are quite happy with it.

Knobby · Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 12:36 pm Post subject:

Im sure as long as their house is dry & secure they'll love it !!! Very Happy

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

I also use a converted shed, just changed the windows for mesh and added a sliding door across it so I could adjust ventilation.

The perch high would depend a little on the breed as some of the heavier breeds would have it much lower than the lighter breeds

mojo · Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 1:05 pm Post subject: hi

easy way is earlobe height is perch height,theirs not yours silly,buy some breeze blocks and raise the house as high as possible helps deter rodents and the birds will dust bath underneath,remove one window and fit fine wire mesh and make a cover to keep out the bad weather chickens need air not drafts so those windows look fine, also divide your nest boxes up then that cuts down compertion and its easy to clean............. all the best tell us how you get on ......regards... Cool

mojo

deanojul67 · Joined: 01 Jul 2005 Posts: 342

mine are in my daughters old Wendy shed Very Happy

leebarton · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 365 Location: Elgin, NE Scotland

I would love to use wendy houses for my ducks. The OH has started to clear the space that is going to be developed for the ducklings, so we need to start thinking ahead to the future.

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I have a b&q shed for my girls ~ so much easier to be able to walk in and clean it out. I have my perch about 8" off the ground ~ I wanted to make it a easy as possible for all the girls, but hoping to adapt and put another higher one in soon.

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

Hey Loreal!
It's so exciting isn't it?

I've just been at it for 2 weeks - and am hooked already!! I am already considering getting a quiet cockerel ROFL

Thanks for asking the question about the perches - and thanks for the answer Mojo! I take it you mean earlobe height of the fully grown bird??

Debs 2

jaydee67 · Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 9:52 pm Post subject:

IMHO the birds will go as high as they can get. Our lowest perch is about 2 feet from the ground and even the bantams can get to it. We have another perch higher than that at right angles to it and they jump from one up to the other. 2 of our perches are made with tree branches, the other from a 2x2 rounded off on the top.

If you have room a ladder arrangement works well when you have a few perches, each one higher than the one before and they are attached to 2 sides which lean in to the wall. Make sure the birds have enough room to do thier business without fouling the birds below though! lol!

mojo · Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 9:57 pm Post subject: hi

use jaydee idea for perches if you have room..............luv mojo Cool

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

Ooh! Thanks for that Jaydee - will look at rearranging our perch.
We knew it wasn't quite right - but that has given us some great ideas to play with!

Perfect - thanks!

Debs
x