Getting my old Ugly Hen Houses ready for Winter!

I've read and seen the threads here about everyones great chicken houses, the Home projects and the bought chicken mansions and they are all just beautiful!!! I have One old Cedar pole barn that is divided into three sections , a chicken house on either end with tin roofing. Tin walls and dirt floor. I have covered the floor with about 10 inces of hay and shredded paper from my office. The Plywood walls come up about 4 ft on the interior of the barn and chicken wire tops that to form the wall separation going to the ceiling. Each house has its own fencing and run for the Chickens.
The photo is of the ancient wall where I have added "Trash to Treasure" Milk and Soda crates to make nest boxes.

I want to paint the interior with the old fashioned salt whitewash, but I forgot the recipe! Does anyone have a good one?

Next thing I have to do is cut hay for the interior of the nest boxes. I have a patch in the back of my Hen House that is about a 1/4 acre of Bahia grass and weeds. I deliberately leave it at the end of summer so I can cut fresh grass and hay for the chickens.

I use an old long bread knife that I found at a yard sale and hand cut the grass I need

I also have a wild patch of Opal basil that I cut and bunch to hang in the houses, Bugs do not like basil or...........................

This message was edited Oct 24, 2010 3:36 PM

This message was edited Oct 24, 2010 3:37 PM

Rosemary!! Yep I spread it in the houses too! I have several big bushes of it so whenever I prune it I throw it in !

Still have a lot of work to do but the houses smell good anyway!! Looks like my Serama roo "Natchez" is ready to check the new nesting material out for his Hens!!

it doesn't get wet does it??? Could cause the hay and paper to mold and make the chickens sick

The little roo looks soo small next to the nesting boxes. I love your idea of using the old milk crates as nesting boxes. I have some similiar type black plastic open type storage boxes that I bought at home depot two years ago that I used as stands in my stocktank pond to put water plants on. Since I have the pond inground now it is in too shady a spot for plants so I don't use them. They are just sitting in the garage. I was going to use them as nest boxes. But I am getting ahead of myself with THAT idea as I need some pullets before that plan can be.

Hey, your houses look good and I don't think the chickens care if its fancy or not. They just want a home LOL :-))

I wish I knew the recipie for whitewash too. I intend to use one existing concrete wall when I do coop and run things and I would like to whitewash it as I think it will look much better that way.

Donna, No My houses are fairly rainproof and wind proof. I have been cutting hay and adding Shredded paper now for about ten years. I rake it out every couple of months or so and add to compost!

Thanks Rita, It s an oldie but was here when My EX and I bought the place so we decided to use until we could fix it up a bit....... well hes gone on to another hen house now ( putting it politely) and i still have to meet a budget, so I do what I can!

Yep that little Serama is my pride and joy! His Hens will not be in those boxes, but he has to check out everything!

Eufaula, I love the things that you do. I have paid attention to your progress with your Seramas, and other chickens as well. Your are without question creative, genuine, and an all around wonderful lady. We have shared a lot of pic's, ideas, and just good old fun and funny things on Cubits and now on here. You have wonderful ideas, and I'm just so glad your a part of this forum...Hay P.S. We have fun with our ideas but I don't think the girls are as impressed as we are...LOL

Ahhh, so nice of you Hay! Yep I loved The other forums too, but I had too many to keep up with and my dial up couldnt keep up! So I had to make some choices . Im here with all my old buddies and I get to lurk every now and then ..Over Yonder..OL!
As far as my Hen houses I have 2 layer houses and one Serama and one Cochin house! one big Brooder and the big aquarium "Chick TV" . Hoping to one day have a Village of tiny Hen houses for my Bantams......forever dreaming!!

I am Impressed..... at both of you, where do you think some of my ideas come from??... I lurk and read and lurk and read...

Rosemary is good for them? is it a treat?

oh I did some research do any of these sound familiar?
http://www.house-painting-info.com/old-fashioned-paint.html

Cool Page
http://books.google.com/books?id=CSZWkVXFW6UC&pg=PA49&lpg=PA49&dq=old+fashioned+salt+whitewash&source=bl&ots=P-JFa2E9vp&sig=nO9uWq0k8b20qTf71NSJnsi2t_s&hl=en&ei=8-jFTN7RG4nQsAP3oKyCDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CC0Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q&f=false

Found this, not sure if it would work for chicknes.
I would as soon have poplar, basswood, or quaking ash as any other kind of timber for fence posts. I have taken out basswood posts after having been set seven years, which were as sound when taken out as when they were first put in the ground. Time and weather seemed to have no effect on them. The posts can be prepared for less than two cents a piece [circa 1860].
This is the recipe: Take boiled linseed oil and stir it in pulverized charcoal to the consistency of paint. Put a coat of this over the timber, and there is not a man that will live to see it rotten.

got this Old-Fashioned White Wash Recipe
7-1/2 lbs unslaked lime, 1-1/2 lbs rock salt, 3/4 lbs cement. Dissolve salt in 1 gallon of cold water. Pour the salt solution on the lime. Next add 1-1/2 gallons of water to the lime slowly allowing it to slake (it will get very hot). Finally, sprinkle the cement on a little at a time and stir mixture thoroughly. Be sure to apply this wash while it is still hot.
The white wash will take about 2 days to harden, but after it hardens it will withstand almost any amount of rain or washing. Warning: Do not spill this mixture on your skin or clothing. It gets very hot, and lime will burn.
from this page which I spent alot of time reading.. http://www.homemade-dessert-recipes.com/household-tips.html

WooHoooo, Thank You MissJestr, just what I wanted!!! Now I Do have to get busy! Just wait til I get that House painted.. My girls will think that they moved uptown!

As for the rosemary, its one of the herbs that I do Not have to worry about in the yard. neither chickens or deer bother it, or bugs! so I figure it might be a good mite deterrent too! Now the opal basil they might nibble on!!

Eufaula, which one? I see an easy one and a semi hard one( the one with Cement) . I would like to paint my new coops with that. I see that it deters most insects, which I think is great.

Thats exactly what it's all about Eufaula, (DREAMING) So dream on darling, dream on...Hay


Thanks for the receipt Missjester, your such a sweetheart...Hay

Missjestr I think the concrete would be just the thing! Hmm I m wondering though how to make it stick to the tin! Oh well theres is a lot of wood that it will stick to!

I had ordered spring bulbs of tulips and daffodils which I just planted and they came packed in these plastic things that looked like lower walled oversized plastic milk crates. Don't know how else to describe them. 23 long by 15 wide by 9 inches high. I have two of them. I thought hen nesting box as soon as I saw them. I am keeping them and am going to use them in the coop for laying. Looking at my tiny peeps in my chick TV I have to laugh at myself thinking I sure am getting ahead of myself on needing something for egg laying :-))

Well ....thats why you got the chicks!! Have fun and dream on girlfriend! sounds like those boxes might just be the thing you need!

Okay,, I tried to do it the easy way! I put the milk crates in and the chickens decided to use them as roosts instead of laying boxes! Yuuucky!!
So it was time to finally get out the power tools. I got a pattern off the internet for a laying box, ( a 3 holer) but I revised it for a 2 holer because of the weight.
I had enough recycled materials from old projects to make the nests.

Tried using the cordless screwdriver.... ARRRRGGGGHHH! Hammer and nails the best way to go for me!!

Got this one done........and figured I might as well get another one done for the other girls.

While I was at it I built them a new roost too!

Gotta have some nice fresh grass in the nests and we are all done! Wheewww!!!

Oh my gosh. That is wonderful. I can't use any sort of power tools. I am so hopeless I can barely hammer in some nails.

Your new nestbox looks so awesome :-))

Thank You Rita!! My first try myself! I had a great helper with the holding of the wood and keeping everything straight .. and taking photos for me! My best friend Deb.
I still have to paint or Whitewash...but that can come later! Right now my Back says.... Oooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!

Well, I don't know what I will do if the plastic milk type crates don't work. Probably BUY premade nestboxes. I certainly can't make them. Yours look so professionally done. Great job :-))

Oh, I just remembered. I read were some people used covered kitty litter boxes. But I think that would get really poopy as they use the top to pearch on. I noticed right away that the roofs on the nest boxes you made are very sloped. No pearching there!

you go girl!!!! Looking good

Rita you will be surprised how soon those babies will be fully grown birds. It's like overnight it seems. Maybe it's because they keep us so entertained, I dunno, but the time seems to fly and you turn around and there they are, grown, and laying or crowing.

Eufaula, I am so proud of you! That is SO awesome. You make me ashamed of myself for not doing more.

One of the recipes found by MissJestr appears to be from a book called "Lee's Priceless Recipes" 1895. I had to look that up, as I have boards outside I need to cover with something to make raised beds, and also my chicken coops at the lot could so use a coat of paint. Eufaula, that is wonderful about the basil and rosemary. I knew you could take the essential oils of those two and make a spray with water to keep bugs off. Supposed to be something safe.

I tried milk paint in my house about 5 years ago and did not find it very good. It cracked and chipped and overall did not look good. I think I used the recipe with plaster of paris. Maybe that was my mistake. Since I am allergic to many chemicals I try to keep them down in my house, cleaning with baking soda and vinegar and natural products.

Our health is too important to play around with.

I was at the horse lot today and looking around at the cobwebs and dirt on the walls. Overall it is made with good thick lumber though, that seems to be sturdy. Maybe I should just try and fix it up and not worry about a new chicken coop and runs for now. Just go with what I have.

Lately I've been babysitting my grandbaby two or three days a week, which I LOVE to do, but I have to drive an hour there and back, and am away from home. I love it, but haven't had much time and energy for things here.

Spent time with my roosters today, and must admit I have a few really nice ones. I love watching them, and hearing them. Wish I had taken my video camera, I might have shared. Thought of Rita talking about her babies talking, well my roosters talk too. :) You might remember, Alvin, Simon and Theodore.

I love being out there. Something about it, even if it is a mess, calms me down and makes me feel relaxed and happy.

Wheww, and I mean whewwww! I didnt realize just concentrating on getting those nests done and the hammering and sawing were going to whip me!! My Friend Deb and I worked most of the day yesterday to get them done.
On top of everything else I stepped into a bed of fireAnts, had to stop and get the old Camphor and antibiotic ointment out and rub my feet down . I hate having to stop in the middle of something Im really enjoying because of something stupid like stepping on fireAnts.... and I knew they were there!! LOL!! This old Great -Granny Head just doesnt think sometimes!
Light_ for_ Jesus I understand girl! After all the hard work and all the things we all get done every day... there is nothing like just spending some "Down Time" with the Chickies just watching them do their Chicky thing!

Eufaula...WAY to Go...that is so cool.... very nice job...
Light I like your comment "I was at the horse lot today and looking around at the cobwebs and dirt on the walls. Overall it is made with good thick lumber though, that seems to be sturdy. Maybe I should just try and fix it up and not worry about a new chicken coop and runs for now. Just go with what I have."

I have done that, used the existing Railroad ties that were already planted upright in the ground for the shell of the coop and went with it. It is sturdy, weatherproof and the chickens love it, so much I built another one right next to it using the other set..

I think one has to be creative, As long as the varmants can't get in and its dry, that it works great. But stending time watching them is the best. They are so much fun to watch.

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! Success!!!

Way to go! Hurray for you. Makes all the work worthwhile. Yippy for eggs and yippy for eggs were they are supposed to be :-))

hey
i raises chicken
we have a big chicken
divien into 4 pen
we use a bjg water
they are the steel kind
we have trouble with the chicken sitting on top
there is all over them
we take an clean them every day
does any one got an idea what to do
elle

Make it a conical "dunce cap" out of plastic or even cardboard so that it has a pointy top upon which they cannot perch.

Woo Hoo Eufaula look at you girl. So happy they like their new nest

Shoot..all mine are living in hoophouses that I built..and rebuilt when Rita n Ike came thru..lol...just got the winter tarps over them so that is windproof and rainproof twice..all I need to do is build another nest box added to my other one..maybe in the spring..lol..

I saw the photos of the hoop house .... looks good! How do they stand up to predators?