Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

Curry_Queen

Marigold123 wrote:

Also, DO go and have a look at an excellent website called Downsizer.com ....

Just went to have a look there and found a website about guns :rotfl:


Thanks to google I managed to find it and it's downsizer.net not .com

I'm keeping my "beady" little eye on this thread as I really, really, really want to get some chucks this spring :j

Thanks for the heads up about downsizer.net though as it sounds perfect for all sorts of advice I'm going to need over the coming months, and even years! ... cheers hun :T

[Deleted User]

In addition to the above excellent post

hens like a good bath in sand. We made a lidded sand box into which we could put some mite powder from time to time

two of my hens had no trouble in getting over 4 foot mesh. It needs to be 5 foot plus

Ted_Hutchinson

kittie wrote:

In addition to the above excellent post

hens like a good bath in sand. We made a lidded sand box into which we could put some mite powder from time to time

two of my hens had no trouble in getting over 4 foot mesh. It needs to be 5 foot plus

You can clip their wings if you object to them flying out. It can be a nuisance as if you don't keep count you can find that one of them finds a nice shady place under a shrub to lay outside and playing hide and seek to collect your eggs on an cold and frosty morning isn't much fun.
We just clip on wing on each bird and that's sufficient to prevent them flying over the wire. The determined escape artists will still try to find a way out though. We've never found clipping one wing stops them getting up to their perch so you don't need to worry about that.

Curry_Queen

kittie wrote:

two of my hens had no trouble in getting over 4 foot mesh. It needs to be 5 foot plus

I'd say probably nearer 6ft would be safer, if you don't want to clip their wings that is, as I've had them clear a 5ft fence quite easily before

Alfietinker

Thanks Marigold123 for the information about corn - for some reason your thanks button isn't displaying on my monitor?

By the way, does anybody know if you need permission off the Council to keep poultry? I can't get through to mine to ask, but my mum said her last house needed permission (it was Council owned so I don't know if that makes a difference?)

Curry_Queen

Alfietinker wrote:

By the way, does anybody know if you need permission off the Council to keep poultry? I can't get through to mine to ask, but my mum said her last house needed permission (it was Council owned so I don't know if that makes a difference?)

Have a look at your tenancy agreement (if renting) or title deeds (if you own your home) as these should have details of what type of pets/livestock you are allowed to keep.

Councils and HA's vary with their policies so you do need to check your agreements. My HA allows me to keep any type of pet/livestock as long as it doesn't cause a nuisance to neighbours (i.e. NO cockerels allowed!) and I don't turn my garden into a farmyard ... as if I would! :whistle: ... (now where can I buy a piglet from :think: :rotfl: )

Alfietinker

Still can't get through - switchboard just rings out

We own the house (well, in 20 years time anyway :rolleyes) but I think our mortgage people hold the deeds. I'll look into it. Thanks

Wirenth

OK, which type of grit do you folks prefer, limestone or flint, and why? :j

I'm currently using the coral sand from my now-defunct marine fishtank and it goes down a treat.

Strepsy

I wanted to bump this up because I just wanted to ask chicken keepers what's the situation with avian flu now. I had said that I wouldn't get any chickens myself until the risk was over, just due to concerns for neighbours and family really but if the risks have gone I can start saving up now and maybe get my chucks at last in 2007.

cuffie

We would like to keep chickens. Just to get eggs. Not necessarily to breed. Now I am going to ask some really dumb questions here.......
I have looked into getting a "starter" chicken home. Comes with hen-house, 3 chickens, everything you need to set up, plus telephone support.
Please forgive my ignorance, but presumably, hens (chickens?? what's the difference?!), will lay just eggs for me to eat without any intervention. What if hen decides she wants to sit on egg to get a chick? Presumably I need a cockeril if I want to hatch chicks? How does egg get fertilised then? Is the egg I eat for breakfast not fertilised? So, if hen sits on it, I won't get a chick?? If I want to get a cockeril (or Rooster?? whats the difference??), would you be pi**ed off if you were my neighbour??
Sorry for being so dumb here!! Hope someone can help me! x