Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

Mumof2_2

I have to say I quite like the idea of chickens since I've become a lot more OS (since I joined here!), but we have a Jack Russell who has a high prey drive. The chickens would be kept in a run at all times, and we could keep the dog out of the back garden - do you think it could work? I really like the Eglu chicken runs and they seem very sturdy and well able to keep the chickens safe against a rampaging dog!

Sorry if this seems a really daft question by the way

jexygirl

As you can see i have an inquisitive boxer, he is soooo interested, but i have a secure run thats huge (i wanted true free range but the road put paid to that...) He comes out to do everything with me, he stands outside as i feed and let out first thing and tries to herd!, he comes to egg check later, then feed again, then put them away, he loves it, tho it frustrates him! HAve to be careful when going in and out as he can be very sly at trying to go in and play with them (but when we built the run, he was restricted to being in it so its territorial too), but atm, they look forward to seeing him as much as me, and I bring food! He tried to show them who was boss, and got his nose pecked!
I say as long as you are careful I see no problem, but others have more experience than me (and buster!)
Jex

help_me_please_3

Hi, my Light Sussex eggs arrived today! Ive only raised chicks from eggs once but that was using a broody bantam i had and it was about 12 years ago:)
Im going to incubate (try) in a homemade incubator. (one cardboard box inside another with packing inbetween, a lightbulb for heat, thermometer and a tray of water for humidity) Hope it works.
Has anyone else tried this and was it successful?
jexy, love your photos. Lovely scenery and:D the chickens look so happy:) Hoping to get some exbatts myself soon:)

oystercatcher

Gigervamp wrote: »

My coop arrived today and hubby and I have just finished building it. I got this one from ebay. It cost me £10 less because they had it in an auction and I got it for the starting price.
I also ordered the small run to go with it. Still need to put that together though.

Now, I just need to get some chickens!

Ohhh I am so envious of you.

I am researching busily but am seriously wondering if our tiny garden is big enough for chickens.
Can't do anythng until husband has had a knee replacement and recovered anyway.
I soooooo want some birdies though.

Frugaldom

Help Me Please - have you got a thermostat of any description to ensure the eggs don't get too warm? I have 6 eggs in a little polystyrene incubator but it has a thermostat and fan attached to the bulb to regulate the temp. They aren't as reliable as the modern purpose made incubators but we've hatched quite a lot of eggs from these. I love seeing the chicks at day old! Good luck! (The chick in my avatar was the first ever Silkie hatched in my little incubator last year )

Mumof2, if you can give a good home to hens and have agreeable neighbours then I don't see why you shouldn't keep 2 or 3 in your garden, assuming you can keep the dog from killing them. Just make sure said dog is out of the way when you let the hens out for exercise and make sure the hens can't get access to anything that may be poisonous in your garden - rhubarb leaves being first to spring to mind - as they'll demolish almost anything.

Giger, have you got a run for your hens or are they going to freerange in the garden? Just wondering if you have someplace safe for them when you aren't at home.

poohbear59

Does anyone know of any rehoming centres for hens in the Cumbria, Durham areas, please?

Gigervamp

Frugaldom wrote: »

Giger, have you got a run for your hens or are they going to freerange in the garden? Just wondering if you have someplace safe for them when you aren't at home.

Yep, got a run for when I'm not around, but as I'm at home all day everyday, I'll be letting them free range too.

ginnyknit

My 3 girls arrived today, ex batts and not too shabby. they stood in their new home and looked amazed.Have just put them to bed and they are settling down nicely, we all keep looking out of the window at them! DH asked what we were planning to do tomorrow and I said ' Looking at the chickens all day' The Battery Hen Welfare trust are such hard working people and the collection day was really well organised, can't fault them.

wen3

Mumof2 wrote: »

I have to say I quite like the idea of chickens since I've become a lot more OS (since I joined here!), but we have a Jack Russell who has a high prey drive. The chickens would be kept in a run at all times, and we could keep the dog out of the back garden - do you think it could work? I really like the Eglu chicken runs and they seem very sturdy and well able to keep the chickens safe against a rampaging dog!

Sorry if this seems a really daft question by the way

I have a jack russell, a german wirehaired pointer and a rather large cross breed (Spinone x Bracco) they now share the garden with 3 chickens who live in an eglu. We find the eglu great we have also had a fox having a look but when he couldn't get the chickens he stole and ate our fish from the pond!! I have to say when we let the chickens out we keep the dogs inside as I wouldn't trust them together. The dogs were very interested when we first got them but now do not take any notice, we have had the chickens nearly a year now.

citroennut

Mumof2 wrote: »

I have to say I quite like the idea of chickens since I've become a lot more OS (since I joined here!), but we have a Jack Russell who has a high prey drive. The chickens would be kept in a run at all times, and we could keep the dog out of the back garden - do you think it could work? I really like the Eglu chicken runs and they seem very sturdy and well able to keep the chickens safe against a rampaging dog!

Sorry if this seems a really daft question by the way

My sister had a small flock of ex-battery hens some years ago who were absolutely fearless. Both her dog and my dog were terrified of them (so were our kids!). They would charge at the dogs and peck at their toes.

One day the doctor arrived for a home visit and was attacked by the demon chickens. He got such a fright that he fell through the front door, bounced off the hat stand and landed on his behind in the sitting room! She no longer keeps chickens.