Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

RebekahR

So what do you do in winter with the dirt? As I won't want it all muddy to look after lol.

Gigervamp

You can put gravel down or wood chippings (but not bark chippings).

My girls free range in the garden. We used to have grass, but now it's just mud, lol. That's why we're moving them to the top field.

RebekahR

We are looking at booking into a chicken course. Do they help? I still don't know what chicken coop I want LOL. I want one that is wooden that I can open up and take out a plastic box. Wash it down and put it back in. Do you still need to look out for and treat red mites if the rest of the coop is wooden but the sleeping area is plastic?

Gigervamp

Coops with slide out floors make cleaning easier. You'll still have to keep an eye out for red mite if the coop is wooden. Hens *should* perch on a roosting bar overnight, but you'll always get some that prefer the floor or nesting box to sleep in.

I've not been on any courses, but I was reading and reading about keeping chickens over the course of the 5 years it took to persuade hubby to get some! It's probably a good idea though as it's better to actually see how things are done (like how to hold a chicken or clip wings etc) rather than trying to work it out from a book. Also, you can have any questions answered that you might have.

mardatha

The RV delivered his opinion of the chickens today;. He thinks they look like minature vultures and honestly can't see the attraction !!

cyclura

my chooks still have not started laying yet this year so I am still having to buy my eggs..............come on ladies I woudl love an egg a morning from one of you

I love watching them though, we had a show down about an hour ago with my chooks, cat and dog. The Chooks were watching my cat and following her round the garden, my poor cat freaked :rotfl:

The dog just hid, he doesnt know what to mak of my girls even though they have been living together for the last few months

Gigervamp

mardatha wrote: »

The RV delivered his opinion of the chickens today;. He thinks they look like minature vultures and honestly can't see the attraction !!

Haha! My bluebell definately has the look of one of those veloceraptors from Jurassic Park. And she gives you *The Eye* at times. :rotfl:

Still considering birds are decended from dinosaurs, it's not surprising really.

mardatha

Cyclura - how old are they ? did they lay before ? Mine must be too young, they haven't got the wee floppy headress thingy yet. I hope they do lay ....

ionahenor2

Last week all 3 were laying but this week two of mine have gone off lay so down to one egg a day.

I also noticed Lettie had a bare tum so she may be getting ready to be broody again with this in mind I bought a dog cage so I can cool her down in it. I cobbled something together last year having tried and failed with the brick and ice packs in the nest box.

Memory_Girl

Quick question please - how much space do you need for 3 little ladies? DS1 has decided he would like to keep some chickies, but I'm nt sure our "urban garden" would be suitable.

Memorygirl