Charlottechicken Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Well, after reading this thread and not one to ignore a challenge, here is my new free hen house, made from two different sized pallets and an old metal shelf, everything was completely free, I even managed to use the nails removed from the pallets too! Above pic with the two doors closed And showing the doors open, the roosting area is on the left, (I used the remander of the wood I bought to make spare eglu roosting bars but there is still some left over )and the door to that is open all day, the nesting area takes two chickens and the door is bolted shut most of the time except for cleaning. The house was made to fit under the metal shelf, which is the roof, so the dimensions are 36 inches by 18 inches and the house is 20 inches high. The roosting area is approx 24 x 18, so I guess the house is big enough for at least 4 hens (may have to buy some more to find out ). 4 old hinges were brought back to life with WD40, and one old cupboard bolt and an old hasp and hook were used too. It took a day to take the pallets to pieces and build the thing, the hens love it already, but have yet to sleep in it. Obviously it doesn't look much, and it will need more care than the Eglu with infestations and the like, and I can't lift it at all, but I just had to see if it was possible to build a half decent hen house for free, and it is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladylucan Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Well Done Claire, what an achievement, whos a clever stick then, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Brilliant. I think it is great - and for free! I built a little coop last week for Georgie while I keep her separate (and, like you, to see if I could do it). She is very happy in her new home and has taken to it without any problem. It was a bit sad tho, I took the Eglu away and put the new coop in a different part of the garden - only maybe ten feet away from where the Eglu had been. I put Georgie in it, then went away (it was bedtime for her, about 8 pm). when I came back she had got out of the new coop and was standing where the Eglu used to be looking bewildered. I put the new coop where the Eglu had been and she got in, no probs, and has been happy there ever since. Ahhhh bless! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Wow! You are clever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutechicky Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Free! Well there may be some bits that won't be free in the future. You may need the home waterproof e.t.c! I made a home for my chickens out of a huge plastic bicycle shed. They love it! I put in plastic perches, everything and it was all red mite free stuff! You are completely right, making houses doesn't have to be expensive and can even be part of a recyling process! Well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Free! Well there may be some bits that won't be free in the future. You may need the home waterproof e.t.c! I made a home for my chickens out of a huge plastic bicycle shed. They love it! I put in plastic perches, everything and it was all red mite free stuff! You are completely right, making houses doesn't have to be expensive and can even be part of a recyling process! Well done! Cor...any pics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlass Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 when I came back she had got out of the new coop and was standing where the Eglu used to be looking bewildered. I put the new coop where the Eglu had been and she got in, no probs, and has been happy there ever since. Ahhhh bless! Ah bless her... It must be like being on holiday and then coming back your own bed....nothing quite like it! Brilliant job with the recycled hen house. Claire!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted August 25, 2007 Author Share Posted August 25, 2007 Free! Well there may be some bits that won't be free in the future. You may need the home waterproof e.t.c! I am hoping to avoid this as the run that the house is in is actually covered over. Unbelievably, I had no problems getting them into it last night, two went in of their own accord and the third was rather put out as she was sitting in it for the time it had no doors on and must have assumed it was hers! I lifted her in and shut the doors, then checked on them a couple of times, and this morning they were fine! Tonight I may open the Eglu up and see which one they choose (they are right next to each other). Just don't anyone mention that something is expensive or I will be off on another freebie crusade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
