my chicken house plans

can i run my ideas for a new chicken house past you please?

I have a solid concrete base in my garden that I previously wanted to get rid of but now think it will be useful.

My idea is to build a breeze block oblong coop on it, nesting boxes inside as they were the achilles heel on my wooden house.

I have done some (poor and not to scale drawings ) which I have attached with notes.

Picture 1.
(a) I plan on leaving small drainage gaps between the front base row of breeze blocks to allow for drainage when I clean.
(b) sliding wooden door that sits behind the breeze blocks at (a) and in front on another breeze block, so that fox cannot claw at base of wood or push it out of place.
What can I use to secure it at the end overnight so fox can't slide it out?
(c) Fixed wooden roof sunk down and fixed to battens, so it is flush with top of breeze blocks. No overhang that fox can use to lever his way in. As it is flush it will leak so I will attach a perspex rain guard on top with over hang so rain can drian off, is fox levers that off, can be replaced and the solid roof is still solid!
perforated breeze block for ventilation.

Picture 2 ,
inside I will make two raised platforms at each end (a) and put removable dividers for nesting boxes. Across the two platforms I will fix two perches,(b) the dropping will fall direct onto the concrete floor, I will probably make a lift out tray for that area. the breeze block at (c) will be behind the sliding door.

The width of the coop will be about 150cm and 100cm deep. I will probably make it 80 - 100cm high. Any suggestions what I can coat the breeze blcks with to fill the holes and prevent bugs hiding in them?

If the feedback is good, it will make it easier to convince OH !
Any feedback would be much appreciated.

 

Hi Louise ,looks like a serious bunker for your chooks:D...i don't blame you after recent events though.....:(
You could maybe render the outside to seal the blocks and what about a galvanised metal sliding door....i'm still thinking of a way to secure it.....
Does the hen house have a run attatched ? if not how about a welded mesh 'cage' secured to the concrete base...with a roof...it oviously needs to be tall enough for you to be able to get in and clean the hen house out ,it would be another barrier....
Keep us posted and i'l keep thinking

 

Not sure from the drawing but IMHO you would need drain holes at the bottom for the occasional pressure wash.Otherwise a bunker indeed,very lucky future chucks to have such a thoughtful owner,just make sure they have enough ventilation as they do produce alot of heat of their own.

 

Thanks everyone. I will put drainage gaps in at the bottom and plenty of perforated breeze blocks for ventilation. It will work out much cheaper than using wood and hopefully more secure and make use of a thick concrete platform that was just looking ugly in the garden. As luck would have it the concrete platform was just behind where the old chicken house was sat and was only being used to stand a composter on.
Just need to convince OH that this is the way forward now ! If I get the planning permission I will keep you updated of the progress, but I won't be starting it just yet. Never so much as mixed cement before so need to do a bit more reading.

 

Building sand x4 + cement x1 should be ok for what you want,dont try and lay the blocks on a freezing day or a really hot day a bit of washing up liquid in the mix can help and you want a mix like a bit of butter!

 

Use 3 hinges, not 2 (the door will be harder to rip off) use screws not nails, again it makes for a lot better and stronger construction, use mastic on the corners (inside the house) and along all edges, this will leave no place for red mite to breed and hide, and make cleaning easy, the nest (where they lay eggs) should be dark, or they may start eating there eggs (they have very bad eyesight in the dark) what they cant see they dont eat, and ventilation, it gets very hot in summer and at night it can be too much for them, it would be good to have a sliding tray at the bottom of the perch for ease of cleaning but its not necessary, as long as you dont mind reaching in to clean them out, mine dont perch, they sit on the nest and sleep