On moving to my new house, I built the chicken coop pictured above from two pallets, recycled sarking boards and recycled slate. I essentially made the design up as I went along, but have plans if you would like me to build similar for your chooks.
I’ve kept chickens for a number of years now. They are fascinating, stupid, stubborn and lovely creatures. Yes, they show ‘cupboard-love’, but you can earn respect from them with some time and patience. I never get too ‘close’ to chickens which I keep as I see them as livestock, but they are individual sentient beings.
One big Blackrock which I kept really took a dislike to me- after all, I was the one who used to cover her in louse/mite powder and force tonic/vitamins down her throat in the coldest weather. But, slowly (and with lots of sweetcorn) she let me pick her up and I used to carry her round the garden like a big fluffy cat.
I absolutely abhor battery farms- there is simply no need to buy eggs from these places.
Think before you go for the ‘value’ eggs.