New house new hens

[Ed- Allen]

Hi guys, Im new to this forum or at least new to posting I've been reading other people's posts for a while now. You're all clearly very nice knowledgeable and helpful people so i thought it time i contributed and asked a few questions. I've kept chickens in the past and for one reason or another had to give them up and become a normal member of society without the obsession that is chicken keeping. Im now moving house imminently and am fortunate enough to be getting a large-ish garden, of course before even looking in the house Im thinking out loud "WE CAN GET CHICKENS ON THERE"!

Its a long narrow garden but has plenty of room for a few hens to potter about in, at the end of the garden there's an old Anderson shelter which Im thinking/hoping i could convert in to a chicken shed. Im sure there are pro's and con's here but one pro that stands out is i wouldn't need to do much to make it bomb proof! Im planning on taking a few photos when were in and perhaps update you all as i get things together, can any of you foresee any problems in me converting the shelter and making it suitable for the hens?

Im also now contemplating what hens to go for this time round, Ive had hybrids before but i am keen to get a pure breed this time round as while eggs are a reason for hen keeping there not top of the list for me. Im looking a for a heavy bird that doesn't really want the hassle of jumping over fences and that my kids will be able to handle. I've had my eye on some Barnevelders for a while and just wondering if anyone else has had any experience with these birds?

Ed

 

[Marigold]

Hi Ed, and welcome to the Forum. We've got a few long threads on here about how people have converted various existing sheds and garden buildings, but so far no Anderson shelters, so shall be interested in plans for yours. Is it a Listed Building, I wonder?
Perhaps you could post some pics of it, and give a general idea of how you see the project developing, and then we can all enjoy picking over your ideas.
Anyway, welcome back to the wonderful world of chicken keeping. Its a sort of virus, isn't it, that goes dormant for years sometimes and then re- emerges when conditions are right. Good time of year to be getting some birds, when you have adapted the shelter and built your run.

 

[chrismahon]

Hello Ed-Allen and welcome to the forum. The important things for a chicken house are dry, secure and well ventilated. Everything else is secondary, like perches, nest boxes and ease of cleaning. Chicken coops over here (poulaillers, the 'll' is pronounced 'y') are simple affairs built of stone or blocks. Usually they are two levels with the chickens in the top and pigs underneath. The chickens climb the stairs to roost and come down in the morning to free range over large unsecured areas protected by resident dogs.

We have Buff Orpingtons which are very gentle but not great layers. They need a big coop. No experience of Barnevelders I'm afraid.

 

[dinosaw]

Hi Ed, when you say Anderson shelter the first thing that comes to mind is flooding, they were notorious for it, however it will depend on whether it was constructed properly or was bodge job as you had to build them yourselves, the government only provided the corrugated iron sheets. A properly built one was meant to be dug 4ft into the ground with the spoil from the hole used to cover the roof which is why they used to flood, however many people were too lazy, dug about 1ft down and then formed the arch which would probably have made it a poor shelter but a more preferable hen house as flooding shouldn't be such an issue, not sure how hot it would get in summer if the iron is exposed though . While not having kept them myself I have it on good authority from a friend that Barnevelders are lovely friendly birds, I believe they also lay in winter too.

 

[Ed- Allen]

Thanks All,

Well we move in Friday so when we've got over the initial moving pains ill take some pictures of what it looks like now, then whatever suggestions you guys make ill take on board and hopefully end up with a decent house and run. I did wonder about them being listed Marigold but apparently not, but in saying that they are still a part of history that i would like to preserve even if it is as a chicken house. As far as i remember this shelter is not buried so i assume it was dug up at some point and used as a shed, i read somewhere that the local councils gave people the option of buying them at the end of the war and thats what people did. Did think about getting some buff orps and getting a sign for the door saying "Ed's blonde bombshells"

Ed

 

[Ed- Allen]

Hi folks, Its took rather longer than i expected but i finally have a few hens! Now unfortunately i was not able to convert the anderson shelter into a chicken coop it was really to far gone to bring back to being usable. It had holes left right and centre and would have cost a pocket full to replace the corrugated steel so i binned that idea and just built a coop from scratch.

 

[chrismahon]

Amazing job you've done there Ed-Allen and it's only taken two months, with all the bad weather you've had as well! I can see the shelter on the left and it does look pretty rotten.

You will need to cover the run in part at least, because it will turn into a slimy mess in a short time if you don't. The water runoff is best taken well away with guttering into a soak away. Perhaps you can duct it into the shelter?

 

[Marigold]

Wow, that's amazing. Before I read your post I thought you had gone for the easy but very expensive route of a top class bought run unit, it looks absolutely super, and the girls will enjoy such palatial housing.
I do agree with Chris about covering the run if you can, I started with a built-to-measure run with a weldmesh roof but it got so depressingly wet, and so did the hens, that we covered the mesh with corrugated clear plastic roofing sheets plus a gutter, and ever since it has been so much more comfortable inside, both for me and the hens. Maybe something to consider before next autumn.