The Chook-house is finally finished (well almost!)

Oh, and I need to put some batons around the roofing felt to tidy it up and give it some wind protection! Lol

Freecycle .. what a wonderful idea that is .. never used it myself but I did a house clearance for somebody else and found new homes for loads of items !
Ian, am I in the photos ? Am I being a good girl ? LOL !

Well done...freecycle is great....have used it myself a few times (got rockery stones and slate chips most recently).

Hope the chickens settle in nicely. Our daughter has 3 chickens too...we even get the odd few eggs once in awhile.

Yes...this subject is much 'nicer' than your last blog...everybody's gotta have a home...chickens and you! :)

I'm sure it won't take you long to "recoop" (sorry couldn't resist) your £60
Ian , in lovely fresh eggs!!!

Good for you, Ian - a job well done, and very timely. When you look at hen houses you buy ready made, you'd need to be rolling in money!!

Hi Shirley. you're in photo 2 (on the right hand side) and yes you are behaving! Lol

I love Freecycle and up until I had my stroke I regularly took in old PC's and revamped them to give back to others again.

WL, I have had a lot of stuff over the last couple of years (usually timber and the likes) but as I said I've given a lot away as well. The chooks got locked in for an hour with their food but I've let them out again as it's so nice today.

Oh Dido! that was a "rotten egg joke" Lol. Unfortunately I won't recoop any costs as I give the eggs away to our neighbours (and Holly's teachers. We have to make sure her grades stay up, don't we? Lol)

Absolutely Spritz, I did check out prices on EBay, did a quick gulp (or two) and then thought about designing this one.

well done Ian....the chicken house looks great.. they will love it....
i used to love getting the eggs in.... when i had my chickens.... nothing quite like fresh eggs is there....... and yes a nicer blog than yesterday.. : O )) i do hope you dont get to much disturbance from your spirit visitor....

Thanks, Ian, pleased to see you got my good side .. lol !

Hiya Ian ,I did see your other blog and agree I like this one better, you`ve been working hard and your girls will be snug and safe now, hope they appreciate it, you certainly did well as regards cost.........

Hi Holly, Thank you very much I hope they do. It's Holly's job to collect the eggs and woe-be-tied anyone who does it for her! Lol
I got some more info on previous tenants (did you read my comment?) It seems there is plenty of scope for possible suspects although the last one is, I think, favourite!

Lol Shirley. :~))

sent you a pm...

Thanks Ll, I enjoyed writing this one more than the last and on the whole, I think this one is much 'safer'

I've been out there, watching them (my new favourite hobby) and they're popping in and out as if they were born in there.

I hate waste, of any kind, but when it comes to money .................... ! Lol

Read it and replied Holly! Lol

Thanks ian

Oh well done Ian it looks great,gosh nothing to beat nice fresh eggs first thing in the morning pity no such thing as "Egg Post" would love some Lol :~)))

Ian, I too built a chicken house and pen in May, we now are more than self sufficient with eggs. They quickly become pets. I do however have to sound a word of caution. Two weeks ago we discovered we had a serious infestation of 'mites'. This is not unusual but if not dealt with it can seriously harm chickens. Much of the trouble has to do with the fabric and construction of the coop. If you would like some first hand advice feel free to PM me.

Hi Mobee, you're not alone in wishing for a more reliable post system. My parents (in Northumberland) would love the chance to try our eggs. Our neighbours never complain when they see Holly trotting up their garden path with her little basket of goodies. She's had so many treats and gifts this summer that I'm afraid we're spoiling her! Lol ;~))

Hi Heron, we have five chooks and get at least four eggs a day (for the time being) but this will drop off over the darker winter months. They are definitely pets first and a food source second and I don't think I would survive suggesting where we might get our Sunday roast from! Lol
As for mites, I do know some about them but I'm always open to any advice. I will keep your very kind offer in mind for any such emergency.
I do know that they will live in any cracks in the materials used so my OSB board will need careful and regular checks and quarterly disinfecting as a safety precaution. I "pooh pick" every day and they get a complete clean out every week.

well done you. I wonderful job well done.

Thank you SBG. I do enjoy building things but it takes soooooo lonk now-days to get things finished. I've still got my "trommel" to complete so I can get the garden started.

It's nothing to do with hygiene Ian, the little blighters are so small it's difficult to spot them until they're in the millions. I first was alerted when I read an article in a farming mag. It pointed out that they just love hiding in between a wooden roof and the felt covering.

Looks like top notch accomodation for chooks Ian ... well done!

A job to be proud of, Ian! Your "girls" will be very happy with their new home.

I'd recognize that Shirley anywhere! LOL
Great accommodation for those chickies Ian, I hope they reward you with lots of eggs. I'll spare you an 'egg' joke, bet you've heard them all by now anyway Well done :o))

Watch it, Lily, I think it's very kind of Ian to have named one of chickens Shirley ! I put a photo of Megan on today, take a look and you'll see why I love her to bits. : o )))

Morning all.

Heron, It looks like I will be PM'ing you then. I'm very grateful for your advice!

Hi Fluff, thank you very much. They seem very happy this morning.

Cheers Balcony :~))

I've heard more than my fair share of them Lily! Lol. Thank you :~))

You're very welcome Shirley.

well done ian looks great and am sure the girls will love it come winter ;o))

They have settled in really well San, probably because I put their little coop inside the new one. I closed them in there for an hour or so when I had finished it (to get them used to being in there) and now as soon as it starts getting dark they go straight in there!

That's great Ian....my daughter sometimes has to use corn to entice her hens into the coop. Glad they're settling in nicely.

Hi W'lass,

My chooks roam free for much of the day but they have always headed "home" as dusk settles. They are really friendly and when Holly comes home from school they almost line up waiting for a cuddle from her!

I do have a cane with a bit of rag tied on the end though, that I wave at them if the need arises. Lol.

Our daughter lets her chooks out if she's at home but is out a lot as well and can't safely leave them outside if she can't keep an eye on them. She's only had them a few months but her 4 children like them a lot....and almost need a rota for collecting the eggs! lol

I bet they enjoy Holly's cuddles...it is great for children to get so close to animals. Our daughter has 2 cats as well.

When we got them W'lass they had just come from a battery farm and were really scared of everything. Holly has been so patient with them it's hard to believe she is only 7 yr old. I can pick them up, if I'm fast enough to catch them but Holly just sits on one of our benches in the garden and they jump up and sit on her lap!

That's really lovely Ian ... for her & the chooks. Bless her, she's a natural with animals then.

Thanks Fluff, she certainly has a knack with these chooks. They follow her round the garden like little puppies. ;~))

So none are destined for the pot then I take it? Lol!

OMG Fluff, I think they would rather cook and eat me (or more likely turn vegetarian) before they considered that idea! Lol

Hmmm ... bit tough possibly? Old broiler chook like me??!! ;o)))

LMSO Fluff :~))

When I was first married I decided to cook a chicken dinner. Went to the shop and bought what Canadians call a "broiler"...in other words, a tough chicken! Except I didn't know that until we tried to eat it....you could have knocked out an army with the legs...it was so tough.

Oh the joys of chooks! lol

Oh dear W'lass,

that sounds a bit like my cooking but in my case it's due entirely to the way I cook. I'm the only person I know who can burn water! Lol

(My porridge has been known to break teeth!)

Love the chook house Ian, brilliant bit of recycling there, enjoy the eggs.

Thanks G'mage, I think that's the best part about it for me, the fact it's nearly all recycled. The eggs are lovely and there hasn't been any noticeable dip in "production" either! Lol