Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi all,
Thinking i would like to keep some chickens in the future and build my own henhouse/run, anyone out there got plans i could follow would like to have about 4 or 5 chickens so how big would it need to be and how much of a run should they have. Any help would be welcome.
All the best Phattaff

Hi Phattaff

I have some images for a free one made from pallets on my blog can home 4 -6 max But id wait . On tuesday my woods getting delivered , im making a big home ( 8 to 10 birds with room )< It's a copy of a 560 to 600 pound raised house with pen at a diy price of about 150 pound . It will be made from the same high standard wood as they use and il be given full step by step guides/photos over the days il be making it .

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http://davefromthechipie.blogspot.com

Cheers Dave look forward to reading/seeing how you get on building yours.
All the best Phattaff

Hi there Phataff,
If you're handy with DIY there's no reason why you can't draw up your own plans - there's three main styles of house, a triangular ark style, one that looks... well, like a house... and the third is basically a box with a roof sloping one way. For 4-6 hens you'll need 1-2 nest boxes (or just put one big one along the length of one wall)and a roosting perch about 40cm off the ground).

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Dwell simply ~ love richly

Cheers birdie
Shows you how much i know. i thought each bird required it own nest box, aslo while i'm here, my plans are for the house and run to be at my allotment so (and here's the question) how big should the run be for say 6 birds?????? ( i know it's a bit of a how long is a piece of string question) but what would be the minimum size for them to be able to have a peck and scratch around with out bumping into each other.
Hope you can help all the best Phattaff

You could always put it on wheels so it's mobile ... called a chicken tractor. I got the book from the library, but amazon have it here: Amazon.co.uk: Chicken Tractor: Andy Lee, Pat Foreman: Books

These pix are fab: Chicken Coop Designs - Back Yard Chickens

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Hi Phattaff.. I'm definatly not an expert, but having had to built a house and run in 2 days a couple of weeks ago (cos of the rescue being brought forward) I remember all the stats as I've only just looked into them.. I think the bare minimum is about a sq foot per bird inside (not including nest boxes I assume) and a sq yard outside, mine have about that outside and a bit more indoor space (adapted crate as I could get hold of it and make it work quickly ), but I'm intending on letting them have supervised access to the garden as soon as I've sorted out the fencing so they don't go wandering into the neighbours as my little run is rapidly becoming a quagmire... hope that's helpful, Becca

Cheers Becca may need to reduce the amount of chickens i was thinking of getting.
All the best Phattaff

I spent days looking for a site like that some weeks ago before i got my hens

Anyway started my new one today ! Got all photos plans from stage one sorted but not going to post intill its done Only because bits are changing as im going along. Should be a strong design as its all put togeather using 1 by 5inch dowel rods Heres a 80% finished side and half built next box .

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http://davefromthechipie.blogspot.com

Looking forward to seeing the finished article Dave. I'd like to have a go at making one myself. I'd rather make something than do rotten housework anyway!

you cant go wrong if you buy a load of 2x2 and some plywood

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http://newplot.blogspot.com/

rain rain go away

Silly thing to say So In your view ;buy some paint , a brush and your paint a Mona Lisa replica ? of course not. Reading, getting advice and seeing other peoples work is the was to go. Without doing alot of research you dont know what your doing... roadkill your post isnt helpful to this thread or Phattaff

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http://davefromthechipie.blogspot.com

WHEN YOU HAVE FINISHED KISSING ARSE LET ME KNOW

i was just adding my bit as you have already gave quite a bit of advice so adding on to what you have put about plans i was just saying that if you got some 2x2 and ply then that will get you on the way to building a nice basic hen house .... I havent taken any pics of mine yet but when i do i will post them on here ... and i am a novice when it comes to diy and hen houses but believe i have done a good job for my hens

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http://newplot.blogspot.com/

rain rain go away

Cheers everyone for the input looking forward to seeing the finished house looks very posh and well built, Roadkill post some pics of your house would be good to see other peoples designs also guys how big are the runs for your chickens.
All the best Phattaff

I can't beleave someone older then 10 would write that
Was only pointing out a fact ...You dont have to get upset about it.

This one's 1750 high 1200 wide and 1900 long . The sleeping parts higher aswell as the next box . Can't say im looking forward to having to write this design as its going to take hours . Work time already is over 13 hours and still got loads to do . ( of course doing it again would be faster )
Sorry about the bad pic. would of taken one If id known ! have taken it apart now to plan/sand it .

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http://davefromthechipie.blogspot.com

Looks interesting. Pardon me for being a bit blonde but, the sticky out bit is the nest box and the roost is upper level. The bottom boarded bit is therefore a shelter? and the run/cage bit will be chicken wire or weldmeshed? Is that about it? (asking coz Madmax and I are now at the stage of recycling our neighbours cat run to make our chook hotel)

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Happy Gardening,
Shirley

http://www.honeyjukes.co.uk

Its not a blonde moment just hard to see the finished thing in that pic yeah the bit sticking out is the next box ,.board bit going up is the main houseing . The rest is going to be chicken wire. Here is the house I have tryed to base this on , Should make things clearer TREETOP Small Chicken Coop & Run

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http://davefromthechipie.blogspot.com

Cheers for that, looking good anyhoo. I take it the cost is much reduced by doing it yourself These companies must think only rich folks want to keep their own chooks

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Happy Gardening,
Shirley

http://www.honeyjukes.co.uk

I reckon your'e right there Shirley!

I'm lucky Steve is pretty handy, cos I'm not!! All I'd make with batten and plyboard is a mess. Himself on the other hand would make me a henhouse.

My girls sleep in a 7x7ft shed that we bought second hand, cut a pop hole, butted it up against the run and nailed up some perches. Nest boxes are wooden fruit crates (that I blagged off one of our market traders) sitting on top of upside-down tesco online shopping crates.

A refit is due, but finances will dictate when, and sadly it won't be soon!

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I'd rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion.

http://hollandsroadparadise.blogspot.com
updated 14 May 2008

From doing this i can kinda see why they cost alot .Its taking me so long to do it The wood cost is about 145 nuts/bolts 8 and not got the paint /or woodstain . Im betting finished its going to be about 170 . Then if i add my hours building it ( As an electrician lets say i make a 150 a day that 450 +170 so 620 pounds already ) All that said companys selling like that link before will buy bulk orders so cost will be much less and they will have preset machines so less build time . Just noticed they want 150 pounds just to build it so god knows how it comes packed! Can't be that easy " From doing this iv come to the conclusion it's a massive saving if you dont work full time or just build weekends And that the most important thing is the fun in making it and the sense of achievement at the finished project .


Anyway heres an update




[img=http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/1417/5th1pc3.th.jpg]

Sorry about the image size they can take some time to load .

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http://davefromthechipie.blogspot.com

We just converted an old garden shed. (when I say we, I mean OH did the work and I cheered him along)
A hole was cut in the side, and a door put on runners with a latch to keep it up.
We found some old deep shelves which we nailed pieces of wood to the front of and filled them with straw for eggs, added a nesting perch along one side.
We boarded up the window (there wasn't any glass in it, and the chickens are only in the shed at night). A little ramp on the outside, then attached a run (which they only used for a few weeks as they quickly killed all the greenery and it turned into a muddy swamp)
They free range now, but we are looking at fencing them in a bigger area and clipping their wings as they are murdering my veg plot

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http://clairescraftandgarden.blogspot.com/

I found this design for a mobile coop (link from Snadger) Portable Chicken Mini-coop Plan

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi