Newbie chick shed and WIR build

[Haphazard_Hannah]

Hi everyone,

I'm brand new to BYC and chicken keeping and am embarking on my first large scale DIY project to build a safe and secure walk in run and convert a shed into a chicken coop.

Now, I’m so new that I don’t actually have any chickens yet... but I’m on the waiting list with the British Hen Welfare Trust so when they next rescue end-of-commercial-viability hens from slaughter I’ll get a call about rehoming some hard working ladies. I want their home to be spacious, comfortable and stimulating as it will serve as a retirement home for these hens for the remainder of their lives, and then more after that.

Now, my dad is the local handyman in his neighbourhood, around 2 hours away, and normally he’d be excited to help with something like this but due to COVID (and being in his 70s with COPD) I’m on my own this time! I have virtual support from him when I need it but I’ll have to do the manual labour myself!

Anyway, I thought I’d start a thread for this so anyone who is interested in doing something similar can see how I’m getting on and learn from my mistakes!

So, day 1.
Before the rain set in I wanted to get the ground turned over and the lawn up. Now, this may sound weird as chickens love to search around and eat the lawn, but this area had been left in a right state by my landlord when he cut our garden in half and built a house on it. It’s basically a pile of aggregate with soil dumped on top and some grass grew horizontally over it. And my dogs crapped all over it.

So the plan is to lift the top layer so it’s some kind of level, get the rocks out as and when I come across them and ensure the finished ground sits level with the concrete under the fence line so’s the panels don’t rot. Once I’ve managed that, then I can lay a shed base and plan out the run. I should note that my garden is on a hill so it’s never going to be level, so I might need to step the ground up at certain points... but we’ll burn that bridge when we come to it!

So, here’s the space after it was all rolled and ready to dig:

Here’s my little helpers digging the ground for me:

and here’s after a couple of hours and some ever increasing rain that spoiled my fun:

It doesn’t look like much but I’m feeling it in the back, I can tell you! Hopefully the rain will hold off tomorrow and I can get some more done!

 

[Haphazard_Hannah]

Thanks guys!

And the username is an accurate description - I’ve already fallen in the mud several times. There will be injuries so I’ll keep you updated on those too

 

[aart]

that they actually thrive better when not overwhelmed with space in the coop.

That might be true at first......but they can get used to the 'extra' space.

I don’t want it to be so spacious that it’s cold and drafty as there’s not enough body heat,

Body heat filling a coop is not what keeps them warm, their feathers keep them warm and copious ventilation is better for their health overall.

 

[rosemarythyme]

So I spoke to the British Hen Welfare Trust today to finish my registration for rehoming ex-commercial chickens and went through the set up I’m planning - they were tinned at the size of my planned coop and said that they go by 1sqft per bird - vastly different than the 4sqft everyone seems to be referring to. I asked them about this and they said that the hens I’ll be getting have been caged together tightly for the first 18 months of life that they actually thrive better when not overwhelmed with space in the coop.

When you first get them they probably will feel more comfortable in a more confined space, but maybe you can set up something temporarily to allow for gradual expansion, whether it be temporary wire or cardboard walls that you can move outward each week until the birds get used to the space they have.

1 sq ft per bird is how they've been having to live. I certainly think in their "retirement" they'd learn to appreciate having more space, fresh air, sunshine, grass to scratch in - all the things they didn't have.

 

[Haphazard_Hannah]

I’ve seen! This community is rich with knowledge and willingness to help and support newbies - I’m so glad I joined the community, I’ve never felt so welcome. I love this place.

Thank you

 

[Sally PB]

Welcome, Hannah! Thank you for rescuing commercial chickens. I bet the ones you get will be the luckiest chickens in their flock.

As far as building goes, there are a LOT of articles and threads here on BYC about coops and runs, so dig in! Anything you can't find, post a question, and someone will know the answer. I have learned more about chickens on this forum than anywhere else.

Enjoy!

 

[Big Doggie]

So the rain is unrelenting today so no activity outside unfortunately, however I have been working on my nest box design for inside the shed. I’ve had a little search for posts relating to the use of OSB as this is quite a cheap resource here in the UK apparently. The comments suggest that for internal structure OSB is fine for chickens, however I was wondering if the texture of it might provide haven for red mites? I mean, I can sand and paint it so it’s not an issue, just wondered if anyone else had any experience with this?

I’ve worked with OSB and you MUST wear gloves. The material has the habit of embedding micro-splinters that are almost too small to see but you’ll feel them.

 

[neo71665]

I wouldn't waste money on a prefab coop. Every one I've seen are expensive and poorly made.

 

[Haphazard_Hannah]

Look for shed plans instead.
How will you get materials to build with if you have no transportation?

online delivery! You can get almost anything delivered here in the uk (except sheds at this time of year, apparently) and here in Bristol we have the Bristol Wood Recycling Project so should be able to get most of what I need there. I think I’ll pop down there at the weekend and have a chat with them about what I need and how much it’s likely to cost and see what they say. It may be that they can’t guarantee it’s treated wood so we’ll have to see.

I’ve been using sketchup this evening to draw up the structure and get an idea of how much wood I’ll need and if I’m capable of doing the work etc. It’s looking promising

 

[aart]

So here's an update on the coops design.

Bigger roof overhangs!
At least front and back if not sides