Mrs Webmuppet Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Little Miss Webmuppet (aged 7 1/2) would like us to adopt some BHWT hens, and has volunteered to clear out her wooden wendy house ( it has a felt roof and is in good condition with paving stones underneath to stop unwanted visitors burrowing in from underneath)so that it could be turned into a home for some chickens.....would it make a suitable home?. Our garden is quite small about 20 foot square and I don't think Himself would want us putting a run in the garden so they would have to free range. We have a 6 foot fence around the garden with a 6 foot high gate with a bolt on it to stop it opening accidently. Are there any plants that we shouldn't have in the garden? No pesticides have ever been used in the garden. Would our garden & wendy house be suitable? Needless to say she has got to work on Himself yet!!!! All advice welcome. I've had loads of pets over the years but never chickens. Thanks Mrs Webmuppet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Hi there, Welcome to the Forum! I think you might need to re-roof the wendy house as felt is bad as it can provide somewhere for red mites to hide. Red mites are a major pest and difficult to eradicate. You could replace it with that corrugated stuff that looks like asbestos as that would give extra ventilation. It is probably an idea to have a small run, even if they are going to free range most of the time as most of us on here don't leave the hens in the garden if we are not at home or sometimes, if foxes are known to be in the area, even when we are not actually in the garden too! Plants - the advice seems to be that hens won't eat anything that's poisonous. They will, however, eat or scratch up all but the hardiest plants! Good luck working on the other half! Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 hello and welcome . Chickens are great pets and i hope you can persuade OH to get some because you wont regret it! I have seen adapted wooden wendy houses before as chicken houses, as long as its secure and safe it should be ok. Red mite can be a problem in wooden houses as they get in all the nooks and crannies, but as long as its kept clean regularly you should be fine. You will have to get a small run because what are you going to do when/if you go out in the daytime? You wouldnt want to shut your chooks into the wendy house during the daylight, therefore if you go out they will need somewhere where they can scratch around safely enclosed. Good luck with your quest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Welcome to the forum. Ditto to what everyone else has said about redmite. The house also needs to be well ventilated but not draughty. You would also need to provide perches for them to roost on and a nesting box for egg laying. I'm sure it will look very pretty when finished. You can get pet friendly varnishes and paints nowadays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 One option is to have a look at wooden hen houses (either on internet or in real life) to give you ideas re: what chnages to make to your wendy house. Basically, wooden perches (which should be dead easy to make) and a nest box (about 15" sq would be plenty, with say, 4" tall sides), and as everyone else has said, ventilation but no drafts (so higher up, eg along the line of the roof). Although felt isn't the idea choice of roof (most with wooden houses would go for onduline) , plenty of people have it with no problems. IMO depends on how tricky replacing the roof would be. Felt unpopular becuase there are gaps to harbour red mite nad it doesn't last as long. I have a wooden coop and find it easy to look after, keep clean, and have no red mite issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted January 18, 2008 Author Share Posted January 18, 2008 Thanks for your help everyone.Little Miss Webmuppet is currently trying to get Himself round her little finger with a little help from me. Somehow I don't think he would re-roof the wendy house but the felt is in good condition (it was replaced when we moved to Suffolk 3 years ago)and is on top of chip board so there's no gaps on the inside for bugs.If I recall correctly the chipboard is just two great big sheets, so no real niches to hide in there. The walls would need to be disinfected when cleaning out as there are a few nooks and cranies. Does ordinary pet disinfectant kill red mites? I've found a website with plans for nesting boxes/ perches.....complete with instructions and measurements ......if I sweet talk the nice man in the local DIY store maybe he would cut them to length! I'm not sure about the ventilation in the wedy house as I can't get in the door at the moment due to an excess of kiddie junk. I will check out runs this weekend. thaks again Mrs Webmuppet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NClaire Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 I would very strongly advise reroofing the wendy house. It could be done cheaply, but you really don't want redmite! And felt is notoriously bad for harbouring red mite - it provides their ideal conditions. The redmite come down in the night and feed off the chickens' blood, making them sick, and ultimately can be fatal. Likewise, I would really consider having a run - foxes WILL get into your garden - 6 ft is no barrier, or they could dig under. And remember, a fox only needs to be lucky once, you need to be secure all the time! Good luck getting the chickens, they do make the best pets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted January 19, 2008 Author Share Posted January 19, 2008 Thanks for your advice everyone but Little Miss Webmuppet has failed to twist him round her little finger. I roped in a friend who has chickens in her garden to try to convince him but to no avail. I had even volunteered the flower bed where nothing grows ( put a plant in and it promptly gives up and dies) for a run. He has said no way. Another bright idea consigned to the great ideas compost heap. thanks anyway Mrs Webmuppet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 Thats a shame, but don't give up hope. It took months of chipping away at mine, making subtle digs and hints. Start nagging little but often and he will crack! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 Keep chipping away! Leave lots of info lying around for him to read, about battery hens etc. You never know...he might suggest rescuing a few! .....and he will think the whole thing was his idea! Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 (edited) Keep trying. took me nearly three years but I now have 7 chickens, 24 quail eggs in the incubator and plans for a run so we can have 10 more chickens. Oh and I'm sure blackmail and bribery can't do any harm either. Edited January 19, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted January 19, 2008 Author Share Posted January 19, 2008 I will keep plugging away quietly. I am reading 'Hen and the Art of Chicken Maintenance' at the moment (its a funny book about keeping chickens)and keep reading bits of it aloud to him. The flower bed where nothing grows will have the remaining plants removed and relocated then it can remain bare and boring all summer and the remaining pear tree can sit there looking very sad. I will also refuse to buy any chicken or eggs that aren't free range and hen he asks why I shall regale him horror stories of non free range chickens. Hmmm fingers crossed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 Good Luck. I'm sure he'll come round in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 don't give up hope. It took months of chipping away at mine, making subtle digs and hints. Start nagging little but often and he will crack! Ditto. Except I talked chicken from dawn till dusk so in then end he couldnt take anymore and said "order the darn thing, just do it - anything to shut you up!!" so yes. it works!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 I bought my first Eglu as a "surprise" for my husband's birthday. I then offered to look after "his" chickens for him......with him being so busy and all that. I got a second Eglu and 4 more chickens about 3 months later. He didn't notice them for several weeks. I bought a Yellow Eglu off Ebay last year. i don't believe he has noticed it yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 I first spotted an Eglu ad about 10 minutes before we left to go on holiday,so I had 2 whole weeks to use my feminine wiles on him & make him see sense He now adores the hens.We started with 1 Eglu & 3 hens - we now have 11 hens,a cockerel,2 Eglus & he bought me a cube for Christmas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 i don't believe he has noticed it yet. Blimey!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted January 19, 2008 Author Share Posted January 19, 2008 Sadly I don't think he'd fall for that one..........our garden is so small he would spot it straight away....... he had a fish tank for Christmas so I don't think he will be having any big pressies for his birthday, besides having been and peered at the area for a run I'm not sure an Eglu would work as theres a small pear tree in the way. A run would have to be built with the tree sticking out of the middle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 i don't believe he has noticed it yet. Blimey!!! He's not an "outdoors" type! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 I pursuaded my OH with promises of lots of baking with fresh free-range eggs. The way to a man's heart......... Now he's even helping me build the permanent run so we can get more hens. They are definitely MY hens though, he doesn't do much for them, but does like to give them a stroke now and again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted January 25, 2008 Author Share Posted January 25, 2008 Just to give you an update to the trying to covince the OH situation. One of the chaps at work has invited the Webmuppets to visit his chickens yay! Just got to find a date when we can fit it in (and that the OH can't find a reason to get out of it). The chap at work said he may just get his chickens to work their magic on the OH and the chickens love kids. Watch this space! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Hello Mrs Webmuppet (love the name ). There was a lad on the forum recently who was trying to persuade his mum to let him keep chickens. Have a read for some ammunition if OH gives you reasons why you shouldn't have some . * read this post * Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Brilliant plan Mrs WM!!! OH will be sold! Who can resist their cheeky antics?? All the best and hope it works! Fingers crossed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted January 31, 2008 Author Share Posted January 31, 2008 latest Update- We've set a date to go and see the chap from work's chickens - Monday 11th ( the first day of half term). I have politely asked the OH to come with us as I may need help with the directions to get there!. Little Miss Webmuppet has had her nose stuck in her Keeping Pet Chickens book that I tracked down in Waterstones- goodness knows what her teacher must think- she's recording all this reading in her reading diary for school.She is also reading Hen and the Art of Chicken Maintenance from the library, she's taking it all very seriously! As for the OH sayng no she said ' he was like this over the hamster and I won in the end' ! We've also tried the pictures of bantams on him - he called them comedy chickens! Wish us luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 Hope it goes well and OH is bowled over by your colleague's girls (comedy or otherwise ). LMWM has got her daddy sussed, hasn't she . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
