When my birthday approached last year, I knew what I wanted Cluckingham Palace.
The inspiration was the old-fashionedskillion roofhenhouse of yesteryear.
Pavers are simple to clean; cover with litter so droppings are easily removed.
A raised henhouse may have a timber floor; verify it is fully sealed.
Attach so there are no raised edges foxes could worry off, or cover edges with a frame.
Set doors and windows flush with no gaps.
Chicken netting is fine for a run.
Where daytime foxes are a problem, dig a 40cm wire skirt into the ground angled 45 degrees outward.
In rainy weather, its a light, undercover area where birds scratch and preen.
It has excellent cross ventilation so remains cool and odour free.
Feed, water and shell grit are located inside out of the weather.
Increased vertical space allows for perches of different heights.
Here are some points to look for when buying or building a henhouse.
Henhouses made from metal are more durable and easier to clean than those from wood, but more expensive.
Small cottage-style henhouses are often made and designed overseas to suit cooler climates and dont have adequate ventilation.
Glass windows are not suitable in our climate.
attempt to source henhouses made from sustainable hardwood.
Bored chickens will peck substantial holes in softwood henhouses.
The walls are clad with timber floorboards and weatherboards; alternatives would be corrugated iron, orexternal plywood.
We used 12mm galvanised mesh.
Woodwork was painted or sealed with linseed oil.
Nesting box
The communal nesting box is down low for easy access by chooks.
It sits out from the henhouse for no-fuss egg collection via the hinged lid.
Maximum daylight entering the pen stimulates the hens hormones so they meet their egg-laying potential.
No bending is required for routine management tasks such as cleaning.
I can effortlessly access all corners, unlike my old henhouse, which I could not get inside.
I like a spot handy to a tap and feed storage.
SIDES:950mm wide x 2150mm high, clad with timber boards.
Its communal rather than partitioned as the chooks lay together.
It is accessed from outside through a hinged lid.
My henhouse is in a shady spot so this isnt necessary.
BASE:A base frame to screw walls onto 1750mm wide x 950mm deep.
A second door, cut to size, made a matching gate.
The chickens are extremely pleased with their new henhouse, and so am I.
