House for my hens

[Shellbell72]

Hello, I am looking to get some hens in a few months time and need a little bit of advice.
We have a playhouse that the children don't go in anymore, do you think after a few modifications ( egg box/laying area fitted) it would be suitable for about 5/6 ladies?
My husband is dead keen to recycle it but I am worried it is too big and tall and the hens will never warm up in the colder weather. It is 4 ft x 6 ft and I can stand up in it (5ft 3")
Would appreciate your thoughts :)

Plenty of people do this and it works fine. chickens have their own duvets after all

Ah, thanks :)

Yes, we did that. Very useful to be able to stand up inside when it comes to cleaning out/ collecting eggs they have hidden at the back!

Ours is an ex-den too. It's be fine.

Make the laying area accessible from the outside if you can, and put several perches far enough from the wall so they don't shit down the walls in their sleep.

And the pop-hole needs to be easily opened and closed.

Ours sits on round fencing stobs so I roll it round the garden to give the run fresh grass.

oh, yes, that sounds like agreat idea!

if you're worrid it'll be too big, al lyou need to do is parition it.

They need about 3 ft high; I'd recommend space of 9sqft as the sleeping area,
maybe put the sleeping area up on a "shelf", or something similar (if you put in a small dining table - get one from a charity shop for a tenner) you can build the sleeping area on that.
and a couple of boxes for nest boxes (plastic or wood)

Hello :)
I collected 5 warrens this morning from a"free range" farm.They didnt seem to have much room but did have access to an outside field.
After a closer look, the playhouse needed several repairs and we thought it would be quicker and easier to get something custom made.
Thank you for your help.
I am delighted with my little ladies

outside field d'oh. So excited have disengaged brain!