The Hen House

The hen house is your most important item. The size of it depends upon how many you would to keep. They come in all shapes and sizes from a little ark for 2-3 hens, all the way up to a wooden unit that holds 30+. Whatever size you get, make sure it is big enough so that your chickens have plenty of room to move around and feel comfortable. The costs can vary greatly also, in many cases in my opinion they are all very pricey. Afterall you basically need a a strong and secure home, with a run that is pest proof. The cheapest shop bought chicken houses are around £50, this can then go right up to the luxury style homes at £500. If your other half is handy at DIY, you can make the same thing for a fraction of the price. If you have an old shed, covert this and attach a run to the side.

Our chickens live in an old Summer house which has windows around the sides and front, so they get pleanty of light all year round. Its in excellent condition and sits snuggly in between some conifers, so it has protection from the wind. It measures 9ft x 9ft and it is about 7 ft tall. It has an old wooden gate fixed in place in one corner which is about 3ft x 3ft and provides plenty of roosting room. There is also another roost in the other corner which is made from a branch, in case of fall outs. There is then a big wooden nesting box divided into three sections with wood shavings filling each box base.