ooops i've done it again.....more chickens...

DON79

princess_loki wrote: »

i would love to find out more about rehoming battery hens and will look out for other replies on this thread

cheers for raising this question

loki x

the link for rehoming the battery hens is on darceyvuqua's thread about chickens. there are only four gardens joining mine but it is a concern how neighbours would react.

milkybars

So what size coup and run would you need to keep a couple of chickens? Am I right in thinking they're better with at least one friend? I'm wondering if our garden is big enough.

DON79

I don't know what coop size my OH is getting but we are getting 4 chickens. will need to ask and find out.

SailorSam

I like the idea of getting a few chickens, i have fairly large back garden, the problem i have that worries me is, it's a corner house so my back garden has the road running along side, i suppose it's a little less secure than the type of house where the back garden is at the rear, and not as easy for people to get into. To make matters worse i'm next to the local comp school.
What worries me if the kids realised i had chucks they may come in causing damage or even worse.
WE have been told the school is due to close in about two years, and i thought it maybe better to wait untill then.

Jack's_mummy

You need to check the deeds of your house, especially living on an estate. Our deeds have a covenant on them that prohibits us from keeping livestock in the garden(amongst other things). And I live in the countryside but on a 30 year old estate.

Purple_Sparkles

I have 5 chickens amongst many other animals that have been rescued but I did ask the local council for permission before I got them as I wasn't sure if they were classed as livestock and there can be very strict rules. Luckily the chap who came from the council was fine, said I could have them no problem just no cockerel (not that I wanted one anyway).

I would check first, rather than get your hopes up.

Mine are all ex-batt and to be honest my friend who has fancy hens has to have eggs off me during the winter as hers don't lay at all from about Oct - Feb. They have the run of the garden at the moment but in a few weeks I'll have to fence part off for my veggies. I've also not had to clip their wings as they've not even attempted flight and I've had them for about 6 months.

I hope you do get some, I'd never be without mine now, plus I've given a little bit of heaven to some 'abused' chickens.

milkybars

Done a bit of research on chicken coups/runs. The cheaper variety are a triangle-tent shape, between a meter to 2 meters long with a coup at one end are advertised as being suitable for 2-4 chickens. The more expensive coups are raised up on stilts with a ramp down to the run, seem to be larger but to have more benefits for the chickens. I think with a bit of time and concentration I could make the simpler variety... which seem to have the advantage of being moved about more easily. Anyone have any experiences of either of these two types of coups?

Thanks for the advice about checking the deeds and with the council. I mentioned the chickens to the neighbours to one side of us and they seemed overjoyed about the idea. Even offered to go halves on things and share the eggs and looking after of the chucks!

DON79

My OH is looking at getting the one with the raised coop and ramp down to the run for the chickens and then he plans to extend the run himself if need be to make more room for the chickens.

about checking the deeds - does that apply only if the property is leasehold or does it apply to freehold properties too? My OH thinks this won't apply because we are freehold but I am not so sure.

Thanks, Donna.

Jack's_mummy

We are freehold and it's definately there as the conveyancer pointed it out to us when we bought the house

Hans_Mum

i checked with local council just to be sure, ive got 2 girls at the moment and they make less noise than the local kids & dogs;) if you get a cockerill you might get objections cause they are noisy:eek: i'm getting 6 ex-batts to join then in a couple of weeks, i would get or make the bigest coup and run you can cause they are addictive and you'll want more. We're converting the old wendy house for the next lot and extending the current run.