|
|
 |
Author |
|
| Message | |
|
sofaloaf
Joined: 20 Feb 2005
Posts: 18
Location: Kent
|
 Posted: Mon Feb 21, 05 8:15 pm Post subject: |
 
|
I've had this mega good idea  for a chicken house! Well, it is a bit cheating really b'cos it consists of a chicken house, but hey.  I started on this scheme when I was reminded of those �119 'paying too much for your chicken houses' houses for 12 hens when they were mentioned on another thread in this forum. I know that they look a bit basic in the picture  but I think with a few improvements it could be pretty good (you'll probably know what I mean if you are an avid Practical Poultry/other chicken mag reader like me, who goes over each and every page with a magnifying glass lookin for a deal (ever since splashing out my entire building society fund on a Forsham ark which I have regretted ever since  )
I was thinking of giving it some more substantial legs (thicker and taller, maybe on a frame ) so that feeder can go underneath and...wait for it...putting wire netting around the bottom, back and sides, and some sort of door on the front so that rats etc. can't get to the feed at night.
Also, I could paint it a cool colour with some of that paint that you paint stuff outside with, and maybe improve the interior (haven't actually laid eyes on it yet) but feel that possibilities are endless!!  Woah, gettin a bit carried away now. Will shut up and see what others have to say... I will try and put a pic of the advert in so that people who haven't seen it in a magazine can see what it looks like... 
As you may have noticed, I am rather taken with the emoticons |
|
|
|
 |
sofaloaf
Joined: 20 Feb 2005
Posts: 18
Location: Kent
|
|
|
|
|
Bugs
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744
|
|
|
|
|
Bugs
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744
|
|
|
|
|
Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
|
|
|
|
|
sofaloaf
Joined: 20 Feb 2005
Posts: 18
Location: Kent
|
|
|
|
|
sofaloaf
Joined: 20 Feb 2005
Posts: 18
Location: Kent
|
|
|
|
|
organic john
Joined: 27 Jan 2005
Posts: 95
Location: Raunds, Northants
|
|
|
|
|
sofaloaf
Joined: 20 Feb 2005
Posts: 18
Location: Kent
|
|
|
|
|
Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
|
|
|
|
|
Marigold123
Joined: 06 Feb 2005
Posts: 224
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 22, 05 6:28 pm Post subject: |
|
| sofaloaf wrote: |
| I'm currently looking around for a larger house for 15-20 hens which must have a droppings board!! That would save me so much work! |
I just have the 3 hens on deep litter system with a droppings board. (Actually 3 is as many as can fit on the perch, as the shed is very tiny.) Because they are out all day, and poop on the board at night, I hardly ever have to change the woodshavings. Last Summer, when they didn't get up with their timer-light before it was light outside, I seriously didn't have to change the litter for about 6 months. It just didn't get dirty; it was amazing! My one bale of shavings is still only just over one third used up. I just scrape the board every 3 days or so into the compost heap, rinse it under the garden tap and leave it to dry before putting it back. It's really easy.
Someone asked about nest boxes and cutting a pop hole for shed conversions. For the pop hole I actually had to remove the overlapping planks on the outside of the shed and re-cut them before nailing them back. There are probably better ways to do this, and because the planks were so thin, it being such a tiny shed, as well as rather old, the wood was inclined to crack and split while it was being cut and nailed. I managed in the end though.
I had to do the same for the external nestbox; there simply wasn't room inside for one.
When I move and have space for more hens, I'll get a larger shed so I can put simple nest boxes inside. Building something rainproof onto the outside is a pain. I'll probably put in a flap to collect the eggs, though. And I'll keep the old shed in case I need separate living space for a mum and chicks away from the other birds.
Last edited by Marigold123 on Tue Feb 22, 05 6:46 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
|
sofaloaf
Joined: 20 Feb 2005
Posts: 18
Location: Kent
|
|
|
|
|
Marigold123
Joined: 06 Feb 2005
Posts: 224
|
|
|
|
|
sofaloaf
Joined: 20 Feb 2005
Posts: 18
Location: Kent
|
|
|
|
|
Marigold123
Joined: 06 Feb 2005
Posts: 224
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr
View Latest Posts