hen houses

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chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Fri May 29, 15 11:52 am Post subject:
I think there's a River Cottage design floating round with a ladder for them to get up in to it. I will have a look. Internet connection is running at Mochyn-speed currently though

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Fri May 29, 15 12:34 pm Post subject:

Cathryn wrote:

A pen isn't free range. I don't want a pen, they are relatively safe during the day. That's relative though as I lost four new ones during the day when I was in the house. I'd just pulled the run away to get them used to wandering the garden.

They can't free range if they've been munched. I only meant pen them up when you go out, so most of the time they free range.

Foxes are very clever so even if you put something on stilts you may still get losses due to them.

NorthernMonkeyGirl

Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4630
Location: Peeping over your shoulder

Posted: Fri May 29, 15 1:41 pm Post subject:

Chez wrote:

I think there's a River Cottage design floating round with a ladder for them to get up in to it. I will have a look. Internet connection is running at Mochyn-speed currently though

Wobbly ladder for birds, sturdy human ladder only used for egg collecting.

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Fri May 29, 15 2:03 pm Post subject:
Yup, that's the one!

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Fri May 29, 15 2:07 pm Post subject:
Jack would be delighted with a load of those on his lawn I reckon.

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Fri May 29, 15 2:20 pm Post subject:
Especially if he was asked to put them up. Can we watch?

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Fri May 29, 15 3:27 pm Post subject:

Chez wrote:

Especially if he was asked to put them up. Can we watch?

I want the hens to be safe!

I believe he is currently coffee housing as he knows I have A Plan that will have to involve him and a saw.

T - yes I see what you mean and yes I feel bad at continuing to want to have hens despite their at times limited life expectancy. It went so smoothly for so many years.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46216
Location: yes

Posted: Fri May 29, 15 3:54 pm Post subject:
if the ladder pegs are all on one side and the pole can turn if used by something bigger than a chook ......

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Fri May 29, 15 3:54 pm Post subject:
A woman with a plan. That can be terrifying.

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Fri May 29, 15 4:05 pm Post subject:
how many chooks are you talking about. I would have a house, with joined on pen, maybe at the back, that only gets used when you need a no or late lock up. Let them out otherwise for free ranging.

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Fri May 29, 15 4:05 pm Post subject:
The trouble with the HFW houses is they are terrible for cleaning out.

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Fri May 29, 15 4:24 pm Post subject:
You could make them with a wire bottom so if all falls through and you just scrape it up from underneath. Better ventilation wise, too.

Woodburner

Joined: 28 Apr 2006
Posts: 2904
Location: Essex

Posted: Fri May 29, 15 6:43 pm Post subject:

Chez wrote:

You could make them with a wire bottom so if all falls through and you just scrape it up from underneath. Better ventilation wise, too.

Slats are easier and better. Feathers and straw catch on wire and then get stuck on with poo making it even harder for straw and feathers to fall through etc.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sat May 30, 15 1:11 am Post subject:

Can't you get automatic closing pop holes? Would that help at all, or are they dawn/dusk raids when it would still be open?

Could hens and dogs share accommodation? Or would that be too much for the dogs? What about in with horses? Surely horses wouldn't have any truck with badgers in their midst, and wouldn't eat the hens?

We used to drive past a house that kept their hens on an island in a small lake. If you suggest that first, Jack might be grateful it's only a saw he needs.....

Or you could suggest alpacas. That should get the sawdust moving

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Sat May 30, 15 5:39 pm Post subject:
Badgers are not worried by any of those, dogs included. They can also swim well and climb some trees. However I am considering contacting a friend who might fancy house sitting if we ever have a longish holiday.

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