Author Topic: Rebuilding A Grotty Chicken Shed (Read 30377 times)

awemawson · « **on:** April 08, 2018, 05:58:51 AM »

This is not a project I wanted - in fact I've resisted it until the domestic pressure has got too great

A chicken shed - with a design not entirely practical. The idea I think was that having it on wheels, and with a slatted floor, it could be moved rather than having to muck it out, and the chicken poo would fall through the slats.

In practise this didn't work well at all - the poo sat on the slats, but far more seriously the badgers grabbed chicken legs from below and bit their feet off. Not nice to find in the morning and certainly not nice for the chicken

So some years ago I put galvanised sheeting over the slats. But slowly and surely, like all these things it rotted from the bottom being close to wet earth, and no doubt the rats helped the process by gnawing away as well.

My offered (and favourite) solution was to lay a slab of concrete and build a brick chicken shed along the lines of my Pig Palaces, but this didn't meet with approval despite the fact it would be virtually maintenance free for decades to come. (Apparently we have too much brick work about the place

)

So having previously prepared the ground for a masonry construction, I'm now having to try and make a Silk Purse out of this Sows Ear of a shed.

It's fragile as the base is rotten. The wheels have fallen off the rotten timbers of the base and SOMEHOW it needs lifting two foot off the ground and suspended so the the base on which it was built and the slatted floor can be cut away and replaced. I ended up nailing some re-inforcing timbers across the narrow side internally knocking a plank off at each end, and threading scaffold poles through which I could then jack up onto 'builders band stands'

It would be SO much better to dowse it in a gallon of paraffin and toss a match in

So it was about this stage I started taking photos - so we start when I've got it up on the band stands (one of which is in an extremely dodgy state itself and is going to need repair)

awemawson · « **Reply #1 on:** April 08, 2018, 06:10:28 AM »

So the next step (quick before it ALL collapses) remove the three lower planks to give access to the base to perform butchery on it's fixings. Hopefully I can match the shiplap timbers when it all goes back together - it looks to be a fairly standard 6" profile.

Then out comes the reciprocating saw - one of those rarely used tools that in this case was indispensable - cutting through screws between two timber baulks. At this stage the slatted floor fell out along with other bits of the structure that I wanted to retain

Never mind, they nailed back ok !

awemawson · « **Reply #2 on:** April 08, 2018, 06:26:02 AM »

Next step - make a new base and floor - solid floor this time from 18 mm shuttering ply with the steel sheets I'd previously fitted fixed below to give the rats a head-ache.

Now it just so happens I have a pile of nominally 3"x 3" rough sawn timber that had arrived as cribbing for the steel work for the tractor shed - it's a bit irregular in sizing but none of the base will show. It is of course pretty poor quality soft stuff, but it should last if given a good soaking in genuine Creosote.

So Saturday afternoon I cut it to size - I've decided to add two cross braces that weren't part of the original design making four lengths for the short side and two for the long side in a ladder format.

Had to curtail activity at that point as was due at a friends 80th birthday celebrations.

Then this morning, despite a slight hang over and a very late night (well actually early morning!) I cut all the halving joints and made a trial lay out on the woodwork shop floor.

I need to order up some genuine Creosote before I can do much more - I have 'Creosote Substitute' which is OK for fences but no use for stuff that sits on the ground.

John Rudd · « **Reply #3 on:** April 08, 2018, 06:39:13 AM »

Those pig palaces, I mistakenly took them as a new house build.....it looked so good...

SwarfnStuff · « **Reply #4 on:** April 09, 2018, 03:02:36 AM »

Ah, I see another "Sit with coffee" read coming up.

Just waiting for the next installment.
Thanks Andrew,
Your posts are always a good read.
John B

Eugene · « **Reply #5 on:** April 09, 2018, 04:18:19 AM »

Andrew,

Been there, done that, and didn't think it was worth the journey.

When I'd finished mine (bit bigger than yorn) I stood back, still didn't like it and put it into a farm sale, then used the proceeds to buy some Tanalised timber to make something smaller, neater and lighter.

One tip for the wood thats in contact with the soil and water; put a layer of 1/4" ish plastic material underneath, it makes a huge difference to longevity. I first did that with some kennels about fifteen years back, and they're still as good as new. The base was Tanalised though, so that's obviously helped. The latest gazebo / workshop is the same.

Kennel base ...

Workshop .....

Eug

Pete W. · « **Reply #6 on:** April 09, 2018, 04:28:24 AM »

Hi there, Andrew,

There's something quietly satisfying about your photo showing the real carpentry bench. I bet you can chop out mortices on that without it flexing more than an odd micron or two!

awemawson · « **Reply #7 on:** April 09, 2018, 08:28:37 AM »

Yes Pete, genuine Ex School workshop complete with chewing gum stuck under the top

So today's job - get some Creosote ordered. Much to my surprise my local farm supply place was no more expensive than ordering it on line - usually they are a good 25% if not more, more expensive. So a quick trip to Rye (20 mile round trip) produced a 25 litre drum (£58 inc VAT) and back home to put it on.

I'd intended to up end the timbers and soak the end grain in a bucket, but the sheer volume made that impractical so I dug out my sprayer. This is the type that you see road gangs spraying tar emulsion to seal the edges of new work. 5 Litre tank and a hand pump like a garden sprayer on steroids.

OK empty the 'Creosote Substitute' that was in it, fill with the genuine stuff, and off we go . .. until it blocks

A bit of 'back flushing' with an airline unblocked it and off we go . . . until it blocks. Obviously some junk in the tank. Never mind, press on, get the job finished then sort it out.

Creosote back into it's drum, a litre of red diesel in the tank, much bubbling and spurting as the airline did it's stuff and we are good to go. Pump it up, suddenly no resistance to the pump, piston has come off the plunger

Simple pull apart, and re-assemble and I 'think' it's ok for next time. Simple 5 minute job turns into a couple of hours and a major clean up - still it's done and will take a couple of days for it to soak in and dry.

awemawson · « **Reply #8 on:** April 09, 2018, 08:44:35 AM »

Quote from: Eugene on April 09, 2018, 04:18:19 AM

Andrew,

Been there, done that, and didn't think it was worth the journey.

When I'd finished mine (bit bigger than yorn) I stood back, still didn't like it and put it into a farm sale, then used the proceeds to buy some Tanalised timber to make something smaller, neater and lighter.

One tip for the wood thats in contact with the soil and water; put a layer of 1/4" ish plastic material underneath, it makes a huge difference to longevity. I first did that with some kennels about fifteen years back, and they're still as good as new. The base was Tanalised though, so that's obviously helped. The latest gazebo / workshop is the same.

Eugene,

It's going back on the wheels and they are probably going to be sat on flagstones, so it should be ok as is I hope

DaveS · « **Reply #9 on:** April 09, 2018, 05:26:17 PM »

An idea for a colour scheme

awemawson · « **Reply #10 on:** April 09, 2018, 05:28:44 PM »

Absolutely NOT - not on my land thank you!

Nice shade of BLACK creosote thankyou

awemawson · « **Reply #11 on:** April 10, 2018, 05:08:27 AM »

I took the opportunity of having an early visitor to help me lug out the 8x4 sheet of shuttering ply and cut it to size for the floor. So much easier with two of you!

Then a quick spray with creosote - except again it proved to be far from quick as the sprayer blocked AGAIN

This time I was determined to get to the bottom of the problem. Total dis-assembly of the tank, hose and fittings, a really thorough clean out and internal inspection with a torch, then a test using red diesel.

I thought I was being a bit anal using a cellulose paint spraying filter funnel to fill her up - no issues with the red diesel but just look at what was in the Creosote. No wonder it kept getting clogged, and simply avoided by filling through a filter, but it never occurred to me that the stuff would have so much in the way of contaminants.

This sprayer has given me issues over several years and now I know why - filter what you are spraying

AdeV · « **Reply #12 on:** April 10, 2018, 02:27:37 PM »

I thought they'd banned real creosote

Obviously not... but as I'll have to do all of the fences around my house this year, I'd rather use the real thing than some half-useless substitute...

awemawson · « **Reply #13 on:** April 10, 2018, 03:15:32 PM »

Genuine Creosote is not available to the general public Ade, however it IS available to farmers for use where direct public contact is not likely. So preserving fence posts and chicken sheds but not for instance benches that people will sit on

Creosote Substitute, like many of these replacement products, is pretty useless other than as a water repellent and colouring agent.

modeng200023 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 11, 2018, 02:54:01 AM »

Because of the ban on creosote I have used the waterbased fence treatment. Now that is really useless. It lasted about six months before the wood started going green. So since then I have used the substitute for creosote and have to say that it is much better in that it has lasted around two years without degradation. Nothing like the real thing but the powers that be think that I am not capable of doing things properly

Jo · « **Reply #15 on:** April 11, 2018, 03:46:51 AM »

Creosote is available on the web for delivery... of course you have to say it will not be used on a domestic property.

My current choice of "shed/fence preservative" is one part old Diesel engine oil and one part of the modern creacote-crap stuff. The garage that I take my car for servicing is only too pleased to provide old engine oil so long as I supply a container for the oil

Jo

Bluechip · « **Reply #16 on:** April 11, 2018, 04:13:49 AM »

Creocote is pretty useless.

Some of my fencing has been done with Creoseal and that seems to be a lot better.

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01HR4C5AE/ref=psdc_1938799031_t1_B0098YT924

Probably not as good as the real Creosote though ...

Dave

awemawson · « **Reply #17 on:** April 11, 2018, 06:20:18 AM »

The Creosote had pretty well dried / soaked in so time to put the floor together. A bit like an Ikea kit but with Paslode Nails

Went pretty well, but it's a heavy lump to lug about - particularly when I had it invert it. The floor is a sandwich of the 3" x 3" framework, the rusty steel anti rat barrier, and the 18 mm shuttering ply. Having knocked the loose rust off the sheets of steel I slavered them with Shell Ensis which will slow down the rusting. I just hope that the rats don't like eating it !

modeng200023 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 11, 2018, 11:02:42 AM »

Dave, the version i used was Creoseal. Certainly seems to work.

John

Bluechip · « **Reply #19 on:** April 11, 2018, 01:48:08 PM »

Hi John

Creoseal does seem to sort of work. Not convinced it's anywhere as good as the real stuff though

The water-based stuff wasn't Ducksback perchance? Some of my panels were done with that 2 years ago and they've gone green ...

It might work on ducks but it's no damn good for fences ....

again ...

Dave

AdeV · « **Reply #20 on:** April 11, 2018, 02:43:43 PM »

Quote from: awemawson on April 10, 2018, 03:15:32 PM

Genuine Creosote is not available to the general public Ade, however it IS available to farmers for use where direct public contact is not likely. So preserving fence posts and chicken sheds but not for instance benches that people will sit on

Creosote Substitute, like many of these replacement products, is pretty useless other than as a water repellent and colouring agent.

Fortunately, I'm not the General Public

I can claim it's for industrial use, and buy it through the Limited Company which I happen to have lying about the place...

I also ended up reading (until late at night

) about what you can & can't use creosote/creosoted timber for; in fact, it's not banned at all - although the EU did require it to be slightly reformulated; and it's use is restricted in public areas, especially where "frequent" skin contact is expected (so park benches are out), and for indoor furniture/fittings (domestic or otherwise). So you can still put your chicken shed in the garage... but not in the kitchen.

modeng200023 · « **Reply #21 on:** April 11, 2018, 02:51:55 PM »

The product I used was Cuprinol. All I am saying is that it didn't work for me even though I followed the instructions.
I was very tempted to use creosote but 'ducked' out

John

awemawson · « **Reply #22 on:** April 11, 2018, 03:21:44 PM »

Trouble is, when this chicken shed is finished, which it nearly is, there is another that needs a rebuild - an estimated 30 metres of shiplap to replace - the frame seems ok apart from one corner that will need a bit of TLC.

. . . .and when THAT is done, just perhaps I can start on my Portakabin that houses my compressor. It had a slight drip. Had a chap put a fibre glass overlay on the roof, and now it is far far worse than it was

It was never levelled when installed by our predecessors, so that is the first job.

In fact I've just been researching the price of box profile roofing sheets to put a low pitched roof over it - flat roofs are duck ponds waiting to happen

Biggles · « **Reply #23 on:** April 12, 2018, 01:34:28 AM »

Told you, should have got some Turkeys!

awemawson · « **Reply #24 on:** April 12, 2018, 09:38:16 AM »

At long last SWMBO got round to vac'ing out the cobwebs etc from inside the shed (well it IS hers!!) - i even let her use my workshop vac

This meant I could apply Creosote to the underside of the raised frame so it is coated before lowering. I pushed the wheeled floor under to catch as many drips as possible.

Tomorrow I should be able to unite floor and shed and start replacing the removed planking.

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Author Topic: Rebuilding A Grotty Chicken Shed (Read 30377 times)