[3ps]

Hi,

My wife and myself are thinking of keeping 3 hens.

I'm gradually scanning this forum (it's great!) but my first question is to do with the run.

We have a vegetable garden. I have boxed off beds and have bark in between them for walkways.

The beds are about 5-6foot wide and 20foot long and are obviously just bare soil.

I was thinking of building a hen house the was 4-5 foot square and then attaching a run to it i.e. the hen house and run could take over 1 bed. We could then move it to a different bed every x months.

For the run, we were thinking that we would just leave it as bare soil, as it would then be fertilised?

Is this OK?

Thanks!

[Roughlee Handled]

Sounds ok to me but cover the run with clear plastic so it dose not get too wet under foot for the chucks. I would say you have enough space there for 3 chickens comfortably.  Leave any plant matter growing the chucks will clear it up for you.

[chickenlady]

My girls were allowed on my veg patch all winter ( they rather put out that they not allowed now ) and have de bugged and fertilized it lovely! i now have 30 strawberry plants from only 6 originals and my peas and sweetcorn are a good foot high already 

[3ps]

cool! 

I was thinking of getting a Thrippet from here:
http://www.hen-house.co.uk/html/thrippett.html

but alot of the postings here say to have a covered run.

Would you advise I just get the house as above and contruct my own run?

I'd be quite happy to build my own house from scratch but my wife wants something aesthetically pleasing..........

[Roughlee Handled]

If it fits your raised beds perfectly and it fits the wallet then get it.  If your good at wood work and then do it your self.


Sorry for being vague.

If your putting your chucks on naked earth you will need a covered roof.

[3ps]

Hi all,

Well things are progressing. I did get the hen house pictured above. It's good quality.
I also picked up a Light Sussex and Maran (copper collar) purebreeds. I will be getting 2 RIR's later in the summer. The sussex and maran are 14 weeks so I won't get eggs for about 10 weeks.

I have decided to build a 100sqft enclosure. That way I can have plenty of space for 4 birds, and possibly get 2 more so I can stagger egg production.

I got the hens at very short notice so am feeding them whole barley. I should be getting a bag of organic growers today though. We run an organic garden so I really wanted to get my hands on it.

Here is a 3D plan I have done of the planned enclosure. All my building materials were delivered this morning but I have a few things to do so it might take me a couple of weeks. I did these plans up in Google Sketchup and you can view from any angle etc. It's all to scale and really helped me with the design and figuring out what to order.



Here is how it looks currently!



I will update as I go along!

[joyfull]

That looks like it will be really good when completed. Wish I had been as organised as you before getting my hens.

[3ps]

Well I got more clearing done today:



Next job is to remove that dodgy wooden support/fence but you will have to wait 2-3 weeks for that installment.....

[3ps]

Steps removed.
Wooden wall removed.
Trenches dug.
Foundations poured.

[Roughlee Handled]

Foundations ??
Is it going to be a brick Hen house? 
Well Mr/Mrs Fox will not be able to dig under that!

Whip crack!!

More work and more photos.
 

[3ps]

well the garden retaining wall needs foundations, so extended them to give a good base for the rest. The wood I am using is 4inch square so chunky enough.

Also, if I ever decide to stop keeping hens it could easily be converted into a good greenhouse.

next step is to build the wall... then start on the woodwork.

[agingchick]

"if I ever decide to stop keeping hens"

impossible
Diane

[3ps]

Got my wall finished. My first wall and I'm very proud of it.

Where the sloped garden is showing will have a nice (modern) sleeper as an edging.

[Roughlee Handled]

Very nice.
Looks good you should be proud.

What is next ?

Keep up the good work.

[3ps]

lots of progress with the good weather...

base in place and bolted together.



half of the main structure up and temporarily held in position.



First section of roof temporarily in place
Sleepers temporarily in place to see if OK.

The first roof section took me AGES. I had to make up a fake frame replicating the box section, on the ground... and then cut lots of odd angles. The small piece at the top middle of the roof will go, and be replaced with a long beam running the entire length.



It's taking shape now!