Inspired by Poor Reli's shed building efforts I decided to make a chook house this weekend. Feeling pretty bloody happy with myself too. Jarrah window and corrugated iron from verge pickups, jarrah for the structure from the scrap yard for $40... and $100 for new wire mesh from Bunnings (too impatient to find a cheaper source). I'm 1.5m of 4x2 jarrah short to finish the door. Whoever said that making something makes you feel good was right.
Looks good 
. Love the coops built from scratch, they look so much better than the prefab chook houses that you just rivet together. (like mine!)
Can I make a teeny tiny observation without bringing you down?? 
It appears you have gaps between the frame and the corrugated iron. Make sure you make it fox and cat proof.
It appears you have gaps between the frame and the corrugated iron. Make sure you make it fox and cat proof.
well done mate! You cold chuck a hammock in it and use it as a summer get away... Makes my farm chook run look dismal
Nice chook house! 
...on the subject of chooks.....
My chook run is made from mostly recycled/reused materials. The nest box is obviously a TV, the feeder is made from and old light fitting that I found in a bin...
Now, if anyone has a couple of Plymouth Rock hens for sale...
Thanks for the comments fellas - I had to come fishing for them on here as the missus and kids weren't too forthcoming with the compliments.
Herry - good point re the gaps. There's not to many and they're about 50mm, and I have been wondering about them. 50mm doesn't seem much, but I reckon foxes and cats would be crafty buggers (and I remember reading somewhere that a mouse can squeeze under a door, although I'm not sure how relevant that is). I've also since discovered that I either need a wire mesh floor, or walls dug 500mm in, or something like that to stop unwanted guests from burrowing under. I'm wondering if a row of 350mm x 350mm x 30mm pavers around the inside perimeter would be enough.
Skid - I was wondering what to do about nest boxes. and you've just answered it for me. Old TV's it is!!
many a gen of chook
lucky not lost to a fox
but we see them hide, at the end of street when driving home
they can't hide long, craftey critters
chooks like family,
even dogs love chooks
cause
they eat the poo
and cop sly egg
and catch sly fox
n' play with tail
for weeks until
next fox come along
sorry you are not allowed chickens or a chicken coup or any other sort of fun activitys in your backyard anymore..
poor chickens ;-(
no axcess for disabeled chickens.
not enough car parking spots for chickens
no fire management plan for chickens.
no Alteration hazard analasis of affecting exits and paths to exits side and rear setback of structure
no building permit
no termite risk assesment
unauthorized clearing of native weeds.
public hazard sinage "beware of chickens"
no chicken emergency evacuation plan.
.
no smoke alarms
Had chooks now for 2 years and across the road we have 30acres and have seen foxes drivin home of night but have never had the sly buggers take a chook, my prob is with the crows that theif my eggs and laugh at my scarecrow. Any good ging designs out there. Heard if ya catch one paint it white let it go and his mates will chase him miles and miles away and they will never come back.
Top coop DH, chooks must give out a few bum berrys for your love
wicked chook house DH.
Unfortunately, due to some neighbors, I had to sell my lovely chooks, even though I complied with local regulations. we have a pretty small property in suburbia so I guess its always a risk. I bear the neighbors no ill
.
Make sure the chooks get out for a bit of a run around during the day when you are home. even an hour makes a difference to their mental and physical well being. Just be careful of letting them into your vege patch .
They like scratching around so feed em some grain mix and don't forget the shell grit for egg production.
Our black Australoppers have just started laying. I have had a word about the size of the bum nuts but I cannot criticise the quality. You have to crack them to get them open and I have yet to break a yoke and the colour is different.
I let them out every day,(they have a big run), and their antics always have me spell bound. When they go to roost they talk to each other for ages.
It is very soothing
We're getting chooks.
The old shed in the corner was going to be thrown out or at least 'verged'
Following this thread its gonna be converted to a chook house with the run under our massive grape vine.
Thanks Dirty harry LOL
We had two isa browns, got one egg each per day, good size too. Made up a good size run for them and got a 2nd hand chook house, nothing flash. Sold them though as they were digging up the newly planted garden.
Didnt mind a bit of digging / scratchin, but did get a bit annoyed about them sitting on the doorstep begging for food scraps (crapped all over door mat! lol)
Will def get some more after the move,, great recyclers and kids love em
