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Original poster

my crazy idea about keeping chickens under the decking...

75 replies

BabyDubsEverywhere · 16/04/2011 21:15

Okay, i need some perspective.

my new plan to encorporate chooks into new smaller backgarden is to have a raised decking area, about 3-4 foot above the ground, and have the chickens under it, so an area of about 9 meters x 3 meters. what do you think??

I need to put the wine down dont i :(

Grin
OP posts:
Original poster
BabyDubsEverywhere · 17/04/2011 19:01

maybe a sunroof? could have the odd glass square instead of the decking square?

OP posts:
chickchickchicken · 17/04/2011 19:05

i'm here OP, we can look stupid stand by our fabulous idea holding hands and planning dragons den. deborah wotsit is into renewable energy, maybe we could patent poo power

chickchickchicken · 17/04/2011 19:06
Original poster
BabyDubsEverywhere · 17/04/2011 19:13

DH is now sucked in, he recons we could deck 3/4 of the space for us, then have the last bit just meshed so we could sit at the table and look over into the run, that bit could be free for the elements from above, then the rest of the decking bit could have a water proof roof to stop the mud bath?? also the open side is the side that faces the sun so would have as much daylight as poss from the day....but would it look a bit odd having an open end...

well i supose by the time chickens are living under your decking odd isnt really worth worrying about Grin

OP posts:
ChasingSquirrels · 17/04/2011 19:16

oh I am SO loving this.
The house could be outside the decking with the pop hole opening into the under decking space (if you have room outside), if the decking is high enough then the house sits just under the decking.

Not sure about the raking etc, am struggling to visualise the space, mine were in a smallish space in my front garden, for the last year have been free ranging in the back, and yesterday went back into the front as I have now securely fenced it. it must be about 8m x 8m, so you are looking at half to a third, hmm, yeah, they probably would smell wouldn't they.

I'm not seeing the "making them live under the decking" as overly cruel?
They are originally jungle fowl, so I guess they wouldn't have had a lot of sunlight on the jungle floor.

No idea on rats - I am constantly amazed that we don't have a problem with them, as I don't do any of the things that you are supposed to, and I know we have had one (at least) in the shed (opposite side of the house to the chicken house, but not far really) last year - but the layer pellets, which are just left out all the time, including at night, are definitely not eaten by anything other than the hens.

ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 17/04/2011 19:18

Flies. Great hordes of chicken-shit loving flies

Original poster
BabyDubsEverywhere · 17/04/2011 19:19

thats it squirels, the house will be just at the front of the decking, looking all pretty like a childrens dolls house, then wooh man your deckings moving? - no its my chickens - wow thats genius! - i know!

OP posts:
ChasingSquirrels · 17/04/2011 19:20

how high will the decking be?

ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 17/04/2011 19:21

They wouldn't have lived exclusively on the jungle floor. They would have spent a great deal of time in the trees. And chickens bloody love to sunbathe by assuming the position of roadkill.

It could possibly work if you slabbed the under decking area and used horse bedding as a scratch layer. Then you could sweep it all out once every 6 weeks or so and replace. The flies would still get to you, though.

RespectTheDoughnut · 17/04/2011 19:21

I love this thread. I've never owned a chicken in my life (I live in a poky flat!) but if I were a Dragon, I'd be in Grin

ChasingSquirrels · 17/04/2011 19:23

pah, how high could they get in the trees? Jungle trees are massive.

Honestly, am not completely convinced it is practical, but I am so loving the idea.

And having an open bit at the end of the decking is even better, you can sit over them in judgement while they gaze up with menace Grin.

Original poster
BabyDubsEverywhere · 17/04/2011 19:24

flies....yes they will get through my mesh.... but i never had any flies about when i had chooks before. Nor smell come to that. the Lime was great at getting rid of odur, and blasting the bark with the pressure washer made the poo disintergrate. hmmmmm

chickens if you dont start being a bit more positive you will not be joining us when we go global with this Grin

OP posts:
ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 17/04/2011 19:27

Hey, I suggested slabs and aubiose! Grin

MollieO · 17/04/2011 19:33
Grin
mannicmummyhavinaiccy · 17/04/2011 19:39

I'm lovin the idea, build it then Market it, coops need to multi task! Also love the chicken nappies, thought through the design, would you have a hole for a few tail feather? Or would the nappy form some sort of point? Now imagining my fave hen curled up on the sofa in her chicken nappy ( nap'ken or chick'py?!) there must be a Market :)

Original poster
BabyDubsEverywhere · 17/04/2011 19:41

Grin your all coming on board I love it Grin

After Chickens worries about the chooks not getting enough sun, how about if the front removable pannels were angled in line with the steps, creating half an arc at the front or the run, slight increase in the floor area and therefore increase the sun area?

I was thinking of a sandpit for dust bathing but would they only do this if sunbathing?

How cool would little portholes be in the decking for viewing the chooks??

I'm never going to be able to sell this house on am I Grin

OP posts:
IngridBergman · 17/04/2011 19:44

LOL at this Grin

Brilliant.

Original poster
BabyDubsEverywhere · 17/04/2011 19:47

Priced it up with Bnq at a quick glance, recon i could get ther decking built for a grand, say another 500 to convert it for the chooks,

'luxury ground floor appartment living for your featherd friend'

Grin
OP posts:
MissBeehivingChoclitWabbits · 17/04/2011 19:53

What about using sunpipes to let in more light through the decking?

Original poster
BabyDubsEverywhere · 17/04/2011 19:57

how do they work?

OP posts:
chickchickchicken · 17/04/2011 19:57

'luxury ground floor appartment living for your featherd friend'

that could be our usp! but maybe we should add 'bespoke' to it as well. sounds posh

as this is a bespoke design you could get dh, who is a mechanic, to make a sunroof style retractable glazing area. so imagine the decking is a roof of a car, you put tables and chairs on it etc. one section is glazed (a la car sunroof) and the large glass partition slides under the decking when it is sunny and can be closed when it is raining. remote control of course. just like a large sunroof but on your decking. bound to improve house values. potential buyers could use it for kids play area, study, utility room, extra storage............the possibilities are endless

chickchickchicken · 17/04/2011 20:01
Original poster
BabyDubsEverywhere · 17/04/2011 20:01

ah proper retractable sun roof....genius, Im infectious haha Grin

You know what i could do that so cheaply, i could make a lift out section of the decking to reviel a meshed roof for the run, and just put the decking on when in use, cheap as chips, only an extra frame for the lift out bit, dual usage to the extreme.

How the hell do i explain all this to my chippy Grin

OP posts:
MissBeehivingChoclitWabbits · 17/04/2011 20:02

They bounce light down a shiny tube into the dark recesses of chicken hell the luxury apartment.

chickchickchicken · 17/04/2011 20:03

show chippy this thread. he will have renewed respect for your abilities Wink