clairechickenhead Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 Hi I'm new to the forum so hi everyone. I would like some advice. I'm really eager to get and keep chickens but don't have enough money to buy a brandnew coop, so i've had an idea but not sure if it would work or would be suitable. I've got a shed i don't use (6ft x 4ft) and i was thinking of using it for a chicken coop. Here's the plan: Use a rabbit hutch inside the shed for nesting, cut a small hole from the side of the shed, put a door on it and build a run that would run the 6ft length of the shed and probably about 2ft wide. and build a couple of perches inside the shed that would run the length of the shed. Would this be a good idea, if so how many chikens do you think i could keep in it. I'm eager to start so any advice would be brilliant. Thanks clairechickenhead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 Hi Claire As dedicated Eglu owners on here, you may be better off asking this question in the Practical Poultry forum as more people will have done this. www.practicalpoultry.co.uk We have used a couple of wooden coops and have always had problems with red mite etc. which we don't have with any of the Eglus. It is worth thinking about as it is time consuming for us to sort out and not very nice at all for the hens. A couple of others on here have thought up ways of fund raising to find the money for a second hand Eglu - would that be a better route? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mez Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 Hi, I converted my shed into a chicken coop for our hens a couple of years ago when the flock grew in size. Originally they had a specific wooden coop big enough for three. We built a large aviary attached to one side of the shed with a hard corrugated roof, weldmesh sides and cut a small hole for them to go in and out. we put lots of logs and brachches in the aviary to create a kind of climbing frame and outdoor perching areas. Originally we sectioned the inside of the shed so that they had half of it to nest in and the other half for storing bales of aubiose bedding, poo bucket etc. eventually we gave them the run of the whole shed as they just jumped over the barrier! We put in some perches at one end using shelving brackets, but just lay the perches across so they can be removed easily for cleaning. We have had wooden coops for a number of years now and (touch wood!) we have not had any red mite problems. I do dust the inside of the shed with red mite powder when I have a good clean out. I have a special puffy bottle for this but you can use a soft brush. Eglus and cubes are great too but I don't think there is anything wrong with using traditional wooden housing. It's just what you like I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pearsons Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 My friend uses an old shed for her flock of 20 hens plus a cock. She has perching bars at one end and the hens have made themselves nests at the other end (the end near the door). She uses straw in her shed. The hens have an old orchard to range in, the shed is at one end of the orchard with a pop hole out into the trees. She doesn't fasten up the hens at night. Says if a fox gets the lot she will just start again. She also has a broody pen at the other end of the orchard and has a good rate of success in hatching chicks and growing them on to join the flock. She hasn't had any problems with red mite or fleas so far.... I got Chips and Toast from her...... Hope this helps, Helen in Hume Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlass Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 I shall be interested to know what you decide as when i go on holiday in October I am thinking of moving ny eglu [not the run] into the empty wooden cattery I have as I closing down at that end of September for good. [ have ran it since 1991 and am now fed up] I thought it would give the chickens more room and be easier for my freind inthe village to take care of them while I am away. Wonder what iti is about wood that attracts the redmite? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 I wonder if the inside of a wooden hen house could be painted with a thick coat of plastic type paint. Perhaps all the joins could be filled in with silicone or mastic, then the whole thing painted so that it had fewer nooks and crannies??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 Some chickens like to eat silicone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 Mmm, probably not a good idea then!! There must be something though I'd imagine. I'll just be sticking with my Eglu and hoping that one day OH will agree to us saving up for a cube!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susiepoos Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 Hi I'm new to this forum as well - I've been watching the site for quite a while and got my 6 chickens 3 weeks ago and I love them to bits - what little characters they are. I've not joined this forum before because I thought it was for eglu owners only but there such a wealth of information here I've been dying to join up!!!!!! My husband and I converted our childrens old play house - it was one of those that had stairs up to a mezzanine level - sounds posh I know but that's the best way to explain it Anyway, the base measurement is 8' x 8' so my 6 hens are living in luxury!!!! We removed the stairs and half the mezzanine area and underneath that we recycled and old chest of drawers laid it on it's side and put a shelf in and divided the shelf into three sections and they have become their nesting boxes. It's a great area for them as it's dark and private as it's under the mezzanine. We blocked out the 2 bottom windows but kept the top one but we removed the clear plastic put in some chicken wire and on the outside created a shutter which can be opened to allow ventilation but shut if it's blowing a gale. As you walk in through the main door there are the perches with a poo pit underneath. To the side of the main door is the pop hole. Attached to the outside of the shed is a pen measuring 8' x 8'. The intention is to keep them in this for another month and then let them roam when we are in the garden with them - at least by then they'll know where 'home' is It has worked out really well and I'm really pleased with it. The chickens seem to like it aswell as I got my first egg yesterday Good luck with your coop and chickens Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 Welcome to the forum and congratulations on the first egg. Your Chicken house sounds intriguing. Can you post some pictures? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susiepoos Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 Hi Bit of a technophobe but I'll try - haven't taken any photos of it yet - had good intentions in the beginning to take photos as the 'development' went along but didn't do it. So I'll sort some out and try to upload them. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 Welcome from me too Sue. Can't wait to see the pics Would love to turn my kids playhouse into a hen house but feel the children might be a little upset about it!! Plus I would worry about redmite!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 It's not so much the wood that attracts red mite as the nooks and crannies. They spend the day hiding in the tiniest of spaces - at perch ends, between joints etc etc. So a wooden house without unnecessary nooks and crannies, that is sprayed with Poultry Shield a few times a year, regularly dusted with Diatom or Red Mite powder and checked religiously for the little beasties does not have to have red mite. It's common sense really. I love the sound of the play house - I'd love to have something like that, but I think hubby might well disappear into the sunset if I suggest another "project" for him!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutechicky Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 Would this be a good idea, if so how many chickens do you think i could keep in it. I'm eager to start so any advice would be brilliant. clairechickenhead. Well, just to say there are different space requirements for every different type of chicken. It would be worth searching the internet for some information on what breed you would like before you buy. When I searched the internet, I found that each chicken on average should have 4', 4' space. So I should imagine that your run outside the shed should be a little bigger if you go with your design. The shed sounds fine! A question that everyone brings up is "what were chickens kept in before plastic was used?" There is nothing wrong in using a shed. Wood is what was originally used! I worked on a farm for a while and all of their chickens had wooden coops and sheds. They had never had a bad case at all! Their chickens were happy and content! I say go for it. Just make sure you have elements of waterproof gear so the shed doesn't seep up water and rot. Over a certain amount of time however, the shed would have to be replaced. This is because the chickens "muck" seeps into the wood. I would give it a few years before you change the wood. Anyway, if yuo decide to do it, go for it! I live near many farms and they all use wood! The plastic eglu may be cleaner but in the long run, just a home! As long as you keep the chickens in adequate conditions, they should be fine! Good luck! xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 Hi Clairechickenhead and Susiepoos, I had a temporary chicken shelter in my childrens wendy house for the new chicken I introduced recently. 8 days later, it reverted back to the children's play house but was useful. Haven't got any useful advice on wooden coups but wanted to say Hi anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
