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hen houses
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chez



Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35934
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset
PostPosted: Fri May 29, 15 11:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
PostPosted: Fri May 29, 15 12:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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: 4584
Location: Peeping over your shoulder
PostPosted: Fri May 29, 15 1:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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: 35934
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset
PostPosted: Fri May 29, 15 2:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Yup, that's the one!

sean
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon
PostPosted: Fri May 29, 15 2:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Jack would be delighted with a load of those on his lawn I reckon.

chez



Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35934
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset
PostPosted: Fri May 29, 15 2:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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

Cathryn



Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion
PostPosted: Fri May 29, 15 3:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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: 45379
Location: yes
PostPosted: Fri May 29, 15 3:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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
PostPosted: Fri May 29, 15 3:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

A woman with a plan. That can be terrifying.

alison
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Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon
PostPosted: Fri May 29, 15 4:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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
PostPosted: Fri May 29, 15 4:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The trouble with the HFW houses is they are terrible for cleaning out.

chez



Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35934
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset
PostPosted: Fri May 29, 15 4:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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
PostPosted: Fri May 29, 15 6:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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
PostPosted: Sat May 30, 15 1:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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
PostPosted: Sat May 30, 15 5:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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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