another chicken question

tryingtobegreen

i have 6 chickens, got them in nov. theyre just fantastic.
i bought a coop from ebay and was very very very disapointed with it. i then went on to meke my own coop, i did try to duplicate the design but tweeked it so my chooks would not be in drafts etc.
so i now have 2 coops, 1 large run which the coops sit inside an 6 very happy chooks.
if ur talented look at this link
http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2803
LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT

chloecat_2

tryingtobegreen wrote: »

i have 6 chickens, got them in nov. theyre just fantastic.
i bought a coop from ebay and was very very very disapointed with it. i then went on to meke my own coop, i did try to duplicate the design but tweeked it so my chooks would not be in drafts etc.
so i now have 2 coops, 1 large run which the coops sit inside an 6 very happy chooks.
if ur talented look at this link
http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2803
LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT

:T That has made my day:D

chloecat_2

lka200 wrote: »

Unfortunately yes some girls come out in a very bad way..we usually keep any particularly poorly ones back to go to experienced homes and i usually end up with some at my gaff..have 2 house hens at the mo:rolleyes:
Yes you can donate as much or little as you like.
The forum you have joined is the place to be for any thing Ex batt:D
Im a mod on there and there are quite a few of us involved in rescue.. in fact 100 girls are being rehomed tomorrow locally to me so im very excited:D
All the aadvice on ex batt care and rehab is on the forum and everyone is really friendly.
PS i noticed you have joined us:T

Without wanting to sound like a total fool Ika200, i have an average sized back garden and 2 cats. Can i keep chickens or will that dream have to stay on my "When i win the lottery " list?
Ta, chloecat x

richyrich7

Chloecat, I've kept hens for years and as yet never met a cat that will take a hen, we have two moggys at the minute ones a real big lad rats squirrels are no problem to him, but he's scared stiff of the hens. If he gets too close to them they go for him :rotfl:

darcyvuqua

right i need advice i am going with this coop and going to doctor the side with no door ( give it a bigger space) box it into the corner of the garden to give them the run with a added on boxed in 10x8 foot piece of garden with 6 foot fence garden when i can and able
link here what do you guys think 4 hens and the run above
http://www.thepetpads.co.uk/shop/chicken+coops/

tryingtobegreen

hi darcyvuqua, I have the same coop but without nesting box. Ive since added one.
Theres no mention of PERCH, the pull out tray sounds good but in practicality does not really work as the wood shavings (dust extracted of course!) go up the side so u have to "brush" it out anyway.
The run, once uve put the food and water in thers very little room left. its so small my 1yr old had to bend down to get into it. which makes it a pain to get the food and water dishes out if u have to get on ur knees and reach inside to retreave them. Ull also get covered in poo it so small u just cant avoid it!
Does the run come off? mine did which was a god send as it weighs quite a bit and u would not be able to move it round the garden. if its on concrete ull still need to move it round to avoid diseases plus ull want to clear the poo. They do poo alot

tryingtobegreen

That said u can make/purchase a perch. U can get some lenghts of wood and the exact same mesh u can get in sheets from [EMAIL="b@q"]b@q[/EMAIL], homebase etc they are roughly £4.50 each to extend the run. Alternativley just get chicken wire roll, (much cheaper) about £10 from the same shops and make a run that fits up to the run and coop ur going to buy. That way ur using the bought run but giving the chooks extra space. u can even use the "made" run to put them in when ur cleaning the bought coop and run out! or when ur re painting it etc

BillScarab

darcyvuqua, I'm in the Midlands (Stourbridge) so not far from you. For food etc. I got to Countrywide Farmers, they have a branch in Bromsgrove. It's handy fior me as I work in Redditch. They have a lot of other brachnes too.

I also use Romsley Country Store, in Romsley amazingly. There's also a feed merchant in Blackheath I've used.

I made my own coop and run. Whatever coop and run you go for I would advise having a raised coop so the chooks can get underneath, it increases the run space without taking up mor of your garden. Also make the run tall enough to walk in. I didn't and it's a pain having to duck down everytime, although it is tall enough for my kids so I send them in whenever possible.

Don't worry about getting chooks back into the run, it's easy, sprinkle a bit of corn and they'll be there like lightning. They also return to the coop automatically at dusk.

You should be able to see my coop here Since I made the run I've put a a corrugated plastic roof over the run as well to keep the rain off.

My girls (all Sussexes) are here they were quite young in these pics, I don't have nay more up to date ones on Flickr at the moment.

This is a good website for supplies and houses as well

One other thing, chiken wire is not recommended for runs etc. as foxes can get through it. Weldmesh is better, a good supplier is Hills of Devon. Quick delivery and pretty cheap.

darcyvuqua

hello guys well i have bought a coop and delivery is tomorrow i want to extend the run any ideas on how to do this as it will be a self build!

BillScarab

Get some mesh from here I use 1" x 1" but a lot of people prefer 1" x 1/2". Then get some timber from a DIY shop and make up a run. Then you can cable tie it onto the run attached to you coop.