Topic: crazy home for chooks?

[nittynora]

We have an old LPG tank in the back garden. Size is about 1.0 m diameter by 2.8 m long (looks like a submarine!)

Disused for 20+ years and empty (we've opened the vent).

We are hoping to keep chickens in the near future. Is it possible to convert the tank into a henhouse or are we bonkers? Anyone heard of this or other unusual henhouses???

[Patrick King]

the main thing to sort out would be:
    - Window ~ they need a window to roost
    - Vents ~ vents for ventilation.
    - Doors ~ for you and for the chickens.
    - Leaks ~ make sure theres none in the top.

[Old bird]

Hi nittynora (love the name!)

My only concern with plastic/metal (I am assuming it is plastic or metal?) is the heat element!  I would think that in summer it would be too hot with the sun on it and in the winter it would sweat and not give any insulation against the cold.

I am sure these problems could be overcome - and - as you say would make a "crazy home for your chooks"!

Old Bird

 ;D

[nittynora]

Thanks very much - we'll investigate further and keep you posted.

The tank is metal, so the heat in summer may be a problem (but it is under the shade of a big tree).  We can see problems in cutting out doors/windows etc. (angle grinder?) but the attraction is that it MUST be fox-proof!

PS did anyone else see the half morris traveller in this months Gardener's world?  That's what lit the spark of an idea......

NN

[OllieC]

We used an old van as a chicken house when I was a kid - but it was under a tree & in the North of Scotland so maybe didn't get too hot - the chooks went out in the day anyway. I think it's a good idea.