Hen Hilton

Last weekend (well, so it was Monday/Tuesday, but that's the weekend for us), saw us finishing off what is hopefully our last big project for a little while. Although the chicken shed had been cleared out, and they could get into it, they had still been sleeping (by choice) in their little shelter outside. Since it took them so long to actually sleep in it in the first place, with us having to go out every night for a week after dark and move them into the shelter, I figured that they only way to get them to sleep in the new shed would be to lock them in. However, the lack of windows meant that it was very dark in there, and I didn't really want to lock them in in the dark.

So DH cut out two panels in the colourbond, and we replaced them with some clear corrugated polycarbonate sheeting. The second 'window' is on the left hand wall.

We also added some roosts. We used natural branches rather than bought wood, as it's supposed to be better for their feet. The support boards are hanging off the shed support there on L shaped brackets, so that they can be removed if we need to give the pen a through cleaning.

And finally, some recycled nesting boxes. We're really hoping for some eggs soon!

The chickens were a little disconcerted to find their usual shelter gone, and wandered around clucking in distress for a while, and yes, after dark I had to go out and lock them in. We had one attempt to fly through the polycarbonate, then they settled, and tonight, wonder of wonders, they put themselves to bed. Now to teach them to roost...