Every girl needs a shed.

Before I started keeping hens I Googled and researched like a woman possessed to make sure I got everything right and had everything I needed for my new arrivals. As caged hens they’d had a potentially bleak future and I wanted their retirement to be happy and healthy.  Once the girls had moved in, I realised quite early on that I needn’t have panicked and that having happy hens wasn’t as difficult as I’d thought. Hens appreciate the simple things in life and live in the moment; the wonderful avian vet I go to has often said we should all ‘be more hen’!

So, if you’re thinking of getting hens, have a look at my list of essentials. It might help you decide what you need to start with. All these are things that I wouldn’t be without and I keep most of them in a little shed near to the chicken run. (from the left, anti-clockwise)

Rubber Gloves – an essential for poop scooping and cleaning!

Pet Carrier – this has been great for trips to the vets.

Poop Scooper – on a day to day basis I access the inside of my hen house by lifting off half of the roof. This long handled poop scooper is great for reaching down into the house.

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) – a completely natural fine powder made of fossilised remains of deceased diatoms. This is invaluable in the fight against mites and lice – a must have for me.

Apple Cider Vinegar  –  this has so many benefits and it helps support digestion and the immune system of your girls – another must have item.

My seat! – This plastic tub had bird food in but I’ve re-purposed it as my go to seat for hen watching. It’s sturdy and portable – who needs a chair!

Stalosan F – this is a broad spectrum hygiene powder that I use after I’ve cleaned the run out. It helps destroy worm eggs and has anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.

Magic green tub – this little green tub is my secret weapon for gathering the girls in from the garden; fill it with corn and give it a shake! It won’t take them long to work out that it means treats!

Bliss & Bedmax – I buy both of these from the Equestrian section at Decathlon. They’re really good value for money and as they are dust extracted they’re perfect for the hens. The Bliss has a lovely Eucalyptus smell and because it’s quite fine, I use this in the house and the nest box. The Bedmax is chunkier and is ideal for the run.

I store my layers pellets, corn and grit in the shed and initially I had them in grey, plastic kitchen bins. I noticed that teeth marks were appearing on the plastic and that small holes were being gnawed in the bins. These holes gradually got bigger and holes started to appear in the floor and side of the shed. The day I saw a rat furtively creep out from underneath the shed was when I decided enough was enough! I replaced all the plastic bins with a lovely, shiny, metal dustbin. This bin has all the grit, corn and layers pellets in and as yet, has proved impenetrable to the rats.

I love the traditional look of this bin and if I’d have known the damage rats could cause, I would have had this from the start.

The final thing that I’ve found useful to have is my VSB automatic door on the hen house. This isn’t really an essential but it does give me peace of mind. The door is battery operated and works off a light sensor that sits on the roof of the hen house. The door opens and closes slowly and has a built in function that stops any stray hens getting stuck in it if they’re a bit late to bed! It wasn’t my cheapest purchase but I’ve had it for 5 years so it paid for itself a while ago.

Your essentials might be different to mine but if you’ve just got your girls or are thinking of getting some, hopefully this will have given you a few ideas.

If you’ve found this post helpful, then why not subscribe so you don’t miss any of my new posts?