1) Using the house as a guide. Produce from joist material a ‘rectangular frame. The inside of the frame should be 10 to 20 cm larger than the house

2) Mark lengths with a pencil and saw off excess. Nail the frame together away from the house

3) Equally space enough boards onto the roof frame to cover the hole in the middle. Choosing the best part of the board avoid any splits, knots and holes etc

4) Nail the boards in place around all of the edges of the frame

5) Using the house as a convenient work bench, saw off the excess boards flush with the roof frame.

6) The roof can now be dropped onto to the house. Its sheer weight should be enough to keep it in position. Alternatively you can fit hinges to the back of the house

1) This is as simple as a door can be. Select a board offcut and check that it fits in the gap with at least 2mm gap each side. The gap is essential in case the house swells in the damp jamming the door.

2) The length of the door should allow for 1cm to go up and under the roof joist and 2 cm below the existing front boards to form a door removal finger grip

3) From a board offcut, cut two ‘toggle’ door retainers and screw in position

4) Using a small joist off cut create a block that is nailed from the outside of the door in a position to sit internally on the house floor. This stops the door from sliding down out of position

5) Because the door can be removed it can be turned over and used as a ramp into the house for the smallest of chicks

1) Once again, using the house and roof as a convenient work bench, screw an over hanging board in position into a roof joist with at least four screws

2) Once again, using the house and roof as a convenient work bench, screw an over hanging board in position into a roof joist with at least four screws

3) Carefully saw along the two pencil marks for the full length of the board to produce three battens

4) Produce at least twelve battens from four boards. Do not worry if the ends are in a poor condition as each batten can be will be trimmed and shortened