[alibean]

Well, hopefully this works (after trial run of dodgy aubergine pic)





This is the product of a week off work, lots of swearing and a near-divorce incident!  

Hubby did all the screwing (never could get the hang of his 'keyless chuck'), whilst I took charge of measurements, cutting, nailing and all the important decisions, obviously!!!!!!

At the end of the garden the shape just wouldn't fit a ready made house so this ended up costing about 100 quid all told  - found a very good deal on aviary wire at IN-Excess (not sure if these shops are nationwide or just a Hampshire phenomenon). Other materials, plywood, batons aplenty, roofing felt all from B&Q, nails and screws all from haphazard jamjar storage area in hubbby's shed!  The total footprint of the house is approx 11-12 feet square.  The perches are removable as is the next box contraption for cleaning purposes.  Needless to say I shall be putting lots of comfy material in before the chooks arrive.

The 'run' area - which is mornings only -  extends underneath about another 3 ft behind the house making a total area of about 5 m square.  I plan to put some wood chippings underneath it and put the little food (x2), water(x2) and grit dispensers there.  The roof is wired to dissuade any Hilts wanabees and the ramp is removable should needs be. Our garden isn't huge but the chooks can wander about to their heart's content all afternoon till bedtime.

Although I'm sure Brown Owl would be very pleased and give me a chippie badge, as a complete novice I would warmly welcome any criticisms/sugestions anyone might have.   I've got the rest of the month before the eight little ladies arrive to make any necessary adjustments, and I'd rather make them and have happy chickens than miserable ones so please do be Frank (just not Spencer!)

Many thanks from the nervous but excited contingent in Hampshire, eagerly awaiting garden destruction by chicken!!!!!

[Aunt Sally]

I've turned your links into piccies for you Ali.

I must say that hen house looks brilliant.  And the run of the garden in the afternoons - heaven.

Try to put about an 4-5 inch deep layer of chippings down for them to scratch in, and you can throw a bit of corn in it and they will scratch about happily all morning

[alibean]

Thanks Aunt Sally for aiding the computer semi-illiterate (!!).  One would never have thought I originally attended MGGS as a child!

[Jellyhead]

Looking forward to seeing very happy girlies in there soon    

[Aunt Sally]

Thanks Aunt Sally for aiding the computer semi-illiterate (!!).  One would never have thought I originally attended MGGS as a child!

My boys went to MGS, small world eh...  

[Zak the Rabbit]

Thats a smashing house! and brilliant use of available space, it really does show that you can fit in a few chooks almost anywhere

all i would say, is now its built, give it a good going over with preservative. Plywood can go a bit funny if it gets wet. 5litres of cheap preserve from wilcos is ony 7 quid. It will last forever then

[richyrich7]

Looks good to me    I'm particularly impressed with the removable items well thought out    You may want to think about making the perches a bit more substantial but only time will till on that. I've altered mine a few times,

Now have you decided on what chooks you are getting ?

[poultrygeist]

The only criticism I have is ..... it's better than mine !!!

..and the only eomment I would make is be careful with the roofing felt cos it can harbour red spider mites.

GrannieAnnie's tip is to run round the edges of the felt with bitumen paint to seal it.

Otherwise....excellent hen hotel  

Rob

[Ruth Cross]

I'm not a chook keeper and it might be my eyes not seeing your pic right. But are your perch beams square? I think its best to have rounded ones as its more comfortable for them when roosting.

Or am I wrong ...or blind...or both

Love the house though, good use of space, wish I could fit one in  

[ck2day]

Lovely chucky home!  It makes mine look sad and sorry!!

Your girlies will be happy as pigs in pooh............ sorry that should be  free ranging hens

[Bodger]

Very posh and with good easy access. Really impressed  

[georgewoodman]

Nice one alibean, great use of the space too.

Re the roofing felt, i stuck my down all over with felt adhesive and it worked a treat - red mite free that way.  B & Q for about a fiver i think

all the best with your chook keeping

George

[babe]

(after trial run of dodgy aubergine pic) !!

it wasnt dogdy...it was outright pornographic :roll:

lovely hotel, and posh too.... my chooks dont get their own keys

[daveinmanc]

thats a brill house there  

well done that man, any self respecting chicken'd be proud to have that as a des res lol

if you get the time before you get your hens i would reiterate the comment about treating the wood, a couple of coats of water based wood preservative, followed by a couple of coats of polyurethane varnish - personally i'd go for inside and out with the varnish.

effectively it'll mean if need be you can virtually hose out the inside and wash everything out now and again and the wood will last miles longer. if you could do the varnish bit maybe once a year it'll last forever.

might not know much about chickens but i do know a bit about wood  

well done, looks fantastic !

[Aunt Sally]

I'm sure Munty says not to use varnish as the chooks may peck it off and eat it.  He just recommends water based wood preservative.