[skywalker]

Hi Guys and Girls,
Never kept chooks b4 but love the idea of my own fresh eggs. Thinking of keeping 3 or 4 hens for eggs on the lottie. I hear several of you talking about using sheds. Do I need that much space or could they be kept in a large rabbit hutch space and let out during the day? I ask this because I have one thats never been used. It has two levels and is approx 3 foot high x 3 foot wide by 2 ft deep. Also is it better for them to have light into the housing or not? I would be building a mesh fence around the perimeter of the run. How large and how high does this need to be? Several questions I know but I want to make sure they are happy and healthy.  :?

[muntjac]

id forget the rabbit hutch idea matey , you can get a 4x4 smallshed affair on a platform ..( home made ? ) for 3 birds with  a 6ft by 4ft pen 5 ft tall is fine with a mesh roof . but for proper thinking a 6x4ft shed and a 8ft  by 4 ft pen roofed with wire  will keep 6 birds no probs and you wont have to struggle to clean it out  

[Zak the Rabbit]

thanks from me as well for that Karl, i was going to use all the available space for a run but quickly worked out i cant afford the wire. Now i will work to your 8x4ft dimensions, i think i can afford that, and youve seen the 'ouse theyve got.

just missed out on 4 chooks on freecycle

[GrannieAnnie]

Also, if they've got a bigger house, and the weather is really bad, you can leave them indoors.  Our run is like a mud bath, but the little beggars don't like staying inside!

[skywalker]

Thanks for that. Come to think of it dont really want to be on my hands and knees cleaning. Will keep my eye out for a shed I think. Not in any rush as I still have work to do on the lottie b4 I get the chooks. I have the space anyway so might as well keep half a dozen and hopefully have some eggs for the in-laws as well.