Small hen-houses with capacities ranging from six to thirty birds are ideal for the small producer.
They should be designed to give maximum protection to the bird, winter and summer alike.
The framework should be constructed of 4 x 4cm (1.
05x1.
05in), clad with 1.
5cm (0.
05in) shiplap.
Both the floor and roof should be clad with 2.
5cm, (1in) tongue and grooved boarding, the roof being overlaid with heavy duty mineral felt.
A wooden house so built provides sufficient insulation for both winter and summer, provided that the poultry house is low to the ground.
The coolness of the ground helps to keep the poultry house cool in the summer while in the winter the area covered is warmer than exposed land, assisting in maintaining a warmer house.
A poultry house built high up off the ground will not be beneficial to the bird, as there is no protection from cold or hot air flows and provides no control of temperature to the hen-house or birds.
The roof is where most heat is lost, and a wooden roof overlaid with mineral felt will, to some extent, assist in maintaining temperatures, acting as a partial insulator.
If, instead of wood, a corrugated roof is used, it must be insulated beneath to protect birds from extreme heat or cold and draughts.
Ventilation inlets should be place at the front of the house, as close to the eaves as possible.
Six birds will require a total ventilation inlet area of 30sq.
cm (4.
05sq.
in).
By using a sliding baffle or shutter, this area may be reduced still further during the winter month.
When looking at larger chicken houses, all these factors need to be taken into consideration.