[Porffor]

Would you mind sharing pics? idea's?

Just to give my hubby food for thought!

[pushrod]

Would you mind sharing pics? idea's?

Just to give my hubby food for thought!

will try and post a couple of pics tomorrow .

[Porffor]

Thanks  

[poultrygeist]

When I was planning ours, I googled all the henhouse makers and pinched as many ideas as I could. They all have slightly different methods of ventilation and the perches sit differently and some have shiplap, some use corrugated roofing.
Have you got any timber or sheet materials lyign around you could use ?

The height of mine was decided by the lengths of 2x2 I'd got left over. The width was a quarter of the shiplap lengths at the timber yard. If you want to see a photo, the 'business' end is on the photo comp. But there are a few other pics posted on other threads. If you can go for a full height shed type then I would because cleaning and access to the birds is so much easier. Hopefully you'll get to see some from those that have them.

Rob

[Porffor]

Thanks might plan that then. just gathering idea's - the commericially produced ones i've seen are funny shapes, so are more complicated in design. lifting lids etc are fine, and the roofing too, just what's 'needed' inside - i.e. nesting boxes and perches i'm unsure of.

[compostqueen]

there are loads of ideas on the Omlet site. They have an area just for that subect  

They probably have one on here come to that  

[Andy J]

I built mine based on ones I found on the internet.......you can see some pics here

http://www.ashton-online.com/HTML/Hens.htm

It depends what you want really mine was small to fit in my garden and only hold a few hens.  I curently have two and it suits them fine although I will be building an extension soon just to give them some extra space.

Building your own is a lot cheaper though!

Good luck

Andy

[kimT]

This was built from a large ply wood box that an engine part came in.

[Porffor]

Great looking house!!
Thanks What have you got inside? just roosting bars and a few nest boxes? and how many hens do you house in there?

[jammy]

This is mine, made from 2 x 2 and marine ply.  It has one perch and nesting area inside and the back opens up completely so i can get in and clean it out easily without having to bend over too much.

[Porffor]

Thanks everyone, some great idea's!

[bedifferent]

don't think you can beat a good shed conversion. Plenty of head height - just the ticket.

[pushrod]

cheap and cheerful made from one peice (8x4) of exterior chipboard and cheap paneling.

all the roof sections just lift off  :shock:  easy for cleaning
small broodyhouse or for incubator hatched chicks.

showing current occupants   there are 3 chicks under her

a bigger house that can be a permanent home for up 4 large birds.

[pushrod]

If you are building something big/expensive it's a good idea to pay the extra for treated timber. Otherwise just standing on bricks keeps the wood dry and increases the life. Covering with roofing felt willalso help preserve them. If you are incorporating wire into your design for a closed house run i would not use chicken wire.
 1) if there are any foxes in your area when the fox comes they panic the hens so much they stick their heads out in their efforts to get away and the fox will take their heads off    
 2) If food is freely available all the local birds will quickly learn and you will be feeding them all - which will cost you a fortune - i once counted 20+ sparrows in my big house.
 3) rats will easily help themselves at night - time.

Go for a smaller hole wire - the sort that you typically get on a rabbit hutch.

Hope this and the piccies are of some use.

[GrannieAnnie]

These are what hubby made for me!

This one
[/IMG]
which turned into this one!
[/IMG]
This is the small house
[/IMG]
And this was my garden shed which my brian turned into a brooder house
then doubled the size of it.
[/IMG]

Okay, he's a carpenter, but its amazing what you can do for almost nothing!