Chook Houses

[matthew2riches]

I'd like to redo the inside of the chook house as I don't think they like it too much!

I need some ideas... Anyone got any piccies of the inside of their house?

A couple seem to like laying their eggs outside (in the mud) so I'd like to make the house as cozy as possible :-)

I'm thinking china eggs as well?

[Bramble-Poultry]

when desiging the inside of a hen house, aesthetics are there mainly for you, not the hens. What hens look for in a coop is a warm, draught free place, with perches and a nice cosy nest box.

I have had great success with a 3'x3'x3' cubed house, two perches 6" off the floor and a covered nest box (level with the floor).

Any joints in the wood work need to be sealed with silicone or similar to prevent infestation from red mite, and it needs to be easily cleaned. Do not put lino or similar on the floor as the mites will live under this.

you could try insulating the inside with polystyrene and then over board with hardboard, but be very careful as this could offer many crevices for red mites, so again seal everything with silicone.

Having sealed everything with silicone, remember that draught free also means well ventilated! you need to provide some ventilation as chickens do get warm together and can produce a lot of condensation. I have drilled a series of 1" diameter holes along the house, just under the roof to allow the warm air to escape.

I will nip out and take photos if i get the chance, currently wading through "somme" like mud here at the moment as the road flooded at the end of the week and drained into my garden!

All the hens are up on pallets and straw at the moment to keep them out of it!

[matthew2riches]

Bramble - Silicone is absolutly essential! When I first put the house together I used over 3 tubes for the little house! Every crack was filled full.

I have been out there today and installed a new nesting box as I think the old one was more of a poop tray and the eggs were being laid outside. The new box can be covered off with a plank of plywood if it gets abused.

I have also put the perch in lower so they might use it this time :-)

We'll see how we get on. My old chooks would have loved the house but I think the new ones have different tastes :-0