Rebuilding the chookhouse; part 2

We're moving very slowly with our progress of the new chookhouse since hubby's working during the day.

The lid to the laying box is on now

and it's looking very cosy inside! They even have a new little ladder I was able to get done fairly quickly.

Are we following any specific plans? Well, no. We're kind of making it up as we go along, but I have seen some pictures of nice looking chook houses in the past. My quick diagram drawn up originally has been put aside, as hubby restructures based on the materials at hand.

Basically, though, we've worked it to be 1m sq at the base and top, and around 1.5m heigh. The perches are 80cm from the ground as we know that the hens can jump that high to roost.

The laying box was just made to fit in the space left, 50cm high and 60cm deep. This will be protruding out the wire fencing so we can easily access the eggs.

The door is facing east to minimise the heat entering the chookhouse at the height of summer, and a window facing north for ventilation, which was just a flap of timber we'll prop open, reinforced with wire. ** I would have preferred the window to be facing west, minimising light into the laying box so the chooks felt secure, but it didn't work out that way. I've nailed some scrap timber across the front of the inside of laying box to help make it 'cosy' for them.

That's about it for now, I'm afraid. Hopefully the door will go on soon, then the roof with some left over colourbond steel from our fencing. Then it'll be time to seal up the gaps and get out the paint!

If you want to follow-up with more information on building chook houses, here are some interesting sites: Chooks and Veggies, an A frame plan you can purchase, more plans for various types of houses as an ebook, and the Backyard Poultry forum has lots of extra links too.

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This week's been so mild. It's been delightful being outside. Our pear tree is turning all lovely shades of reds, browns and yellows.

The neighbour's tree is completely bare now, but already full of buds waiting to erupt into new life. It's nice to actually see the birds cavorting there than just hearing them as I hang the washing out on the clothesline. This cheeky starling was showing off with a fancy song of clicks and whistles.

We've been watching Maestro's trial patch of wheat coming along, but as it was sown much too late in the year, the ears are not at what they should be. We'll keep going, though, see what the end result will be, and then sow another patch properly in September.

Now, I was wondering where out cat was hiding most of today, and then heard a rustling in the long 'unkempt' grass at the back of our garage. Someone's been busy soaking up as much sun as possible on this lovely day!