Hen House
We originally saw the farm (August 1997)
during the height of Summer and didn't realise that there was a building
situated in this area, as it was completely covered
by ivy, brambles and other green plants. It was nine
months later that we discovered the hen house building and several months
after that. We investigated it further and found that the block work was in good condition, although the
wooden roof timbers, window frames and door were completely rotted.
In August 2000, Derek and I decided to restore it back to a hen house.
We anticipated that it would take one day to clear
the greenery and remove
the rotting wood, but infact it took three days. The
next job was to cut and position the wooden roof beams, window frames and
door frame. A corregated roof was added and painted. Windows were placed into position and the block
walls received a coating of brown, masonary paint.
Areas around the hen entraces were concreted and a
door was added.
It acted as a store room for several years. In 2003
we created a perimeter fence of chicken wire, five feet high and the
base of the wire was based in a concrete bench, in order to deter any foxes from tunnelling underneath.
In 2004 we added a small stone wall to make the uneven ground interesting.
We also concreted a path from the perimeter fence gate to the hen house door. In April I attended
a Saturday course on "Looking after Chickens".
Feeding and water apparatus were bought and a few perches were created.
Finally, a few weeks later, the chickens were purchased.
