Am I doing this right?

Boxfanman · « **Reply #15 on:** April 17, 2008, 21:18 »

Quote from: "treacleminer"

I kno nothing ...but in a metal shed might they not freeze in winter too?

Aw *!!!

This was supposed to be easy!!!

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #16 on:** April 17, 2008, 21:20 »

Quote from: "Boxfanman"

The covering you see on the shed in the photo's will go all together, I am just using the frame as although not the best saves me having to build a structure, so I will be building around it for the sole purpose of having chickens.

Could you not use wood instead of metal ?

Boxfanman · « **Reply #17 on:** April 17, 2008, 21:26 »

Quote from: "Aunt Sally"

Quote from: "Boxfanman"
The covering you see on the shed in the photo's will go all together, I am just using the frame as although not the best saves me having to build a structure, so I will be building around it for the sole purpose of having chickens.

Could you not use wood instead of metal ?

Er yeah, but was hoping to use some excess tin sheeting my Dad has.

Wood it is then.

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #18 on:** April 17, 2008, 21:49 »

Good choice.

Can you get any old pallets or second hand wood ?

What am I saying :shock: Aunty hasn't even mentioned eglus (and she won't)

Boxfanman · « **Reply #19 on:** April 17, 2008, 22:13 »

Quote from: "Aunt Sally"

Good choice.

Can you get any old pallets or second hand wood ?

What am I saying :shock: Aunty hasn't even mentioned eglus (and she won't)

Yeah I have loads of excess timber so will be using that, I am going to use round posts for the rum I think.

Looked at those eglu things - forget that - £500, I think not.

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #20 on:** April 17, 2008, 22:27 »

Quote from: "Boxfanman"

Looked at those eglu things - forget that - £500, I think not.

Not suitable for a lottie anyway :!:

poultrygeist · « **Reply #21 on:** April 17, 2008, 22:39 »

Woody it is then.

Remember as you build to make it easy for cleaning. Avoid nooks and crannies. Keep all your surfaces as flat as poss.

You'll want a floor too unless it's on a base.

Rob

Foxes, rats and mites. :?

Boxfanman · « **Reply #22 on:** April 17, 2008, 22:43 »

Quote from: "poultrygeist"

Woody it is then.

Remember as you build to make it easy for cleaning. Avoid nooks and crannies. Keep all your surfaces as flat as poss.

You'll want a floor too unless it's on a base.

Rob

Foxes, rats and mites. :?

I was thinking of some heavy pallets, and covering them in some massive laminate floor sheets my mate can get.

poultrygeist · « **Reply #23 on:** April 17, 2008, 22:47 »

Quote from: "Boxfanman"

Quote from: "poultrygeist"
Woody it is then.

Remember as you build to make it easy for cleaning. Avoid nooks and crannies. Keep all your surfaces as flat as poss.

You'll want a floor too unless it's on a base.

Rob

Foxes, rats and mites. :?
I was thinking of some heavy pallets, and covering them in some massive laminate floor sheets my mate can get.

sounds ideal

Rzlty · « **Reply #24 on:** April 18, 2008, 08:50 »

Hi there, what a chicken wants, the list is quite long actually.
What keeps mine happy is obviously a perch, some shelter and room to scratch around. If the shelter protects from the prevailing winds all well and good but chickens don't seem to mind the cold. It would also be good if the sheltered area is dry enough to provide a place for dust baths as mine take these every day and love to sunbathe half buried in dust. This keeps their feathers and skin in good condition.
If the shed is getting too hot could you not cut some vents in the roof away from the prevailing winds?
For good eggs your chickens will need either access to grass or greens hung up in the cage (in addition to normal chicken feed). This will make their yolks lovely and rich.
Can't think of anything else. Good luck.

Boxfanman · « **Reply #25 on:** April 18, 2008, 11:24 »

One last thing for the moment, do I need to cover over the top of the run?

poultrygeist · « **Reply #26 on:** April 18, 2008, 12:48 »

Depends on whether you're going to clip their wings, how high the run will be, how high the chooks can fly and whether you want to keep out other birds, plus several other questions I'm sure !

Our run is about 5' or so with a plastic netting stretched over. Keeps the chooks in but mainly other birds out. We also have a sectiion with corrugated plastic roofing on a framework to keep part of the run dry as a dust bath area and stops the entire run becoming a quagmire.
Bark chippings help with that too. If you can provide a few logs/branches for them to climb and perch on they appreciate it. Not too near the fence though cos they'll hop over it.

Rob