[meltonmort]

Hi. I'm new.

I(we) have been lucky enough to find and rent a small holding of around an acre, we live in the 19th century thatched farm building. It's all part of a farm estate. Long story, but we're very new to the country life, our previous home being in a cookie cutter estate where all the houses are identical etc.

We have of course caught the self sufficiency bug bad. We're a long way from 'river cottage' territory, I'd even go as far as to say it's been quite stressful, but we're getting there.

Anyway that's the intro. My question is, I have a very overgrown shed [photo]which I want to convert to a hen house. It's either that or I rip it down completely, so it's more of a viability issue; can it be utilised or is it fire wood?
I've looked about for new chicken coops and I have to say, being a tight *, theyre jolly expensive. So if it isn't the old shed I'll be building my own!

I'd love to hear from anyone who has converted a shed please, tips etc.

As a minimum I have to put a new roof on as it has rotted badly in places, but what else should I consider?

The shed is on hard standing, but the hard standing is actually the concrete cover of a cesspit, there is no odour, but is this likely to cause a problem to the chickens?

I want to run the chickens free range, so as a minimum I assume I need to cut pop hole, an entrance/ramp for the chickens, extra ventilation, roosts and perches on the inside, and give it a good clean out etc. Will I need to 'de-forest' and remove Ivy etc?

It looks like the previous occupant used the shed to house a dog, is this likely to cause any 'health' problems? Also, my neighbour who is the estate gamekeeper keeps working dogs kenneled a few feet across the border behind the shed, wil this be a problem?

I'm very new to Poultry keeping, so forgive me my ignorance. I'm so happy to have found this forum, some fascinating discussions, and I think I'll be sticking around for a while. Thanks all.

[richyrich7]

Hi meltonmort welcome to the forum you place sounds lovely.

I converted my shed wasn't difficult, you need to provide nest boxes, a place to roost preferably I would have a droppings board underneath.

The vegetation it self is not a problem the hens will soon scoff it   But I would think about raising the whole thing off the floor to discourage vermin by 6" if you can manage it leave it open so you can see underneath etc.

Good ventilation is essential but draught free.

Glad to see your a tight wad too   waste not want not

[Aunt Sally]

Looks like a good chicken shed to me.  If you line it with hardboard it will make it warm, draft proof and reduce the hiding places for mites.

Are the dogs next door secure and unable to get onto your land ?  Freerange hens = dogs dinner  :shock:

[cherrypie]

i'm tempted to ask if you've got room for a lodger, the new lifestyle sounds great. i'm sure it'll be hard work and stressful at times but think of the rewards once you've got to grips with it all. as i'm also new to chicken keeping i can't offer much advise.
good luck keep us informed about progress.
cherrypie

[meltonmort]

ooh thanks for the replies. Have to admit, I posted that somewhat worse for wear last night after a bottle of red wine  :shock:

Spent most of the day out in the garden yesterday, cutting back overgrown hedges working my way to the shed.

The dogs are caged I believe, however last summer one did escape and scoffed our baby compost heap    We get on well with the neighbour so will have a chat about concerns, I may well build a run anyway for starters, for peace of mind, also I'd like to wire the perimeter before free ranging but it's pretty big and will take some time (and expense), both of which I can't afford right now.

The shed is raised several inches already on blocks, so that's good. Good news about the vegetation, I didnt really want to cut it back as it blends in nicely.

I suppose one advantage of having Mr Gamekeeper next door is a reduced fox risk, he lets us know if theres a fox about and within a day it'll be dead anyway. We do have a big rabbit problem though, and pigeons. The rabbits destroyed our first attempt at growing veg, so plans afoot to sort that out.

I might have to start one of them blog things so I can track progress.

Thanks all

[MontyTom]

I converted a shed just like that on my allotment and the roof leaked on that too.  I double skinnd it with scrap wood - draught proofing for winter and fox resistant, floor and walls, put a middle divider in with mesh gate(for cleaning and introducing new birds, etc), added 4 nest boxes and cut a pophole in the side.  Don't burn it, it is a great size to start you off!  If you are stuck for the time being financially, cover roof with plastic until you can get some new felt.  also don't forget to run wood about 10-12" high around bottom so you can fill with 'deep litter' to save you cleaning floor every day, plus to generate heat in winter.  Place perches strategically, depending on number and size of birds, e.g. so they don't go to the toilet on each other during the night.

all the best with it!

[meltonmort]

Thanks for replies, and info thats been emailed.

Not started any work yet, waiting on a bunch of materials from freecycle which should all be acquired by next week. We've decied to move the shed as the other half isn't entirely convinced that it's in the best of places, so that'll be quite an operation to detach it from the Ivy and man-handle it a few hundred feet across the yard.


All good fun...

[richyrich7]

so that'll be quite an operation to detach it from the Ivy and man-handle it a few hundred feet across the yard.


All good fun...

Have fun    do like the cave men put it on rollers I moved ours about 40' that way fairly easily with help from the kids  

[Fluff]

I converted a shed just like that on my allotment and the roof leaked on that too.  I double skinnd it with scrap wood - draught proofing for winter and fox resistant, floor and walls, put a middle divider in with mesh gate(for cleaning and introducing new birds, etc), added 4 nest boxes and cut a pophole in the side.  Don't burn it, it is a great size to start you off!  If you are stuck for the time being financially, cover roof with plastic until you can get some new felt.  also don't forget to run wood about 10-12" high around bottom so you can fill with 'deep litter' to save you cleaning floor every day, plus to generate heat in winter.  Place perches strategically, depending on number and size of birds, e.g. so they don't go to the toilet on each other during the night.

all the best with it!

Looking at converting a shed and understood most of above except the deep litter bit.  My thinking is its a removable board for the droppings :? .

[richyrich7]

Deep litter is a layer of chopped straw and woodshavings ( usually) put down to 12" deep and left down for about a year or so, the constant digging of the hens turn it into a fine friable flooring that they seem to love digging/bathing in.
But you must keep it dry so not suitable for outside. Mine loved it.

[Aunt Sally]

Doesn't sound nice somehow.  Bathing in dried chicken poo dust  :shock:

Glad I'm not a chicken  

[richyrich7]

Noo it's great honestly, does not smell as long as you keep it dry, and most of the poo ends up on the droppings board. And makes ab fab manure when composted.  

[MontyTom]

try peat, lime and wood shavings.  birds work it theirselves if you throw corn into it.  obviously lime neutralises muck and decreases odour.  would avoid using straw because it holds too much moisture and rots.  of course, there are some variations on what you use as deep litter depending on external conditions and the length of time between changes - quite often 6 months + if you get it right.  when the peat get really dry in summer, birds may useit for dustbath.  in this case also add some anti-mite powder to keep them free of bugs if they are taking dust bath in it!  reaction of muck with lime generates heat, so good for winter months.