Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

jennyjelly

Hello again.

After loads of research and reading we have completely changed out plans, and instead of getting one of the all in one coop & run affairs we have bought this coop and ordered 1/2" x 1" mesh (nearly £50 for a 30m roll :eek:) and we are fencing off a good sized shady corner of the garden. As we are at work during the day they will only be out in the garden weekends and summer evenings, so I just couldn't bear the thought of giving them so little space as the all in ones.

May I ask some more questions please?

1. At the moment the ground where the run will be when the mesh arrives is bare earth. Is this ok or should we put down wood chips or gravel?

2. Because out garden is very windy (we are by the sea) DH is convinced that if we roof the run with corrugated sheets as I would like to it will be blown off. He wants to put the mesh over the top of the run instead. I think they probably need a roof for shelter. Which of us is right?

I feel I have so much to learn so I really appreciate your advice.

Thanks

JJ

Mojisola

There's few things as pathetic looking as a wet hen! You might think that they will go into the house if it's raining, but most won't so you will need to find some way to cover at least part of the run.

mardatha

Mine have no roof or shelter. One goes in-one stays out

rachbc

thanks steel - I think she layed today - 2 eggs after a week of just 1 but wasn't around to know which of the 3 it was! She still feels lighter when I pick her up and having felt her today her crop isn't as full as the others so I still think she is not totally back to normal and think she needs fattening up a bit - feeding her up on meal worms and will try that formula as I have everthing in.

TryingToBeOldStyle

jennyjelly wrote: »

Hello again.

After loads of research and reading we have completely changed out plans, and instead of getting one of the all in one coop & run affairs we have bought this coop and ordered 1/2" x 1" mesh (nearly £50 for a 30m roll :eek:) and we are fencing off a good sized shady corner of the garden. As we are at work during the day they will only be out in the garden weekends and summer evenings, so I just couldn't bear the thought of giving them so little space as the all in ones.

May I ask some more questions please?

1. At the moment the ground where the run will be when the mesh arrives is bare earth. Is this ok or should we put down wood chips or gravel?

2. Because out garden is very windy (we are by the sea) DH is convinced that if we roof the run with corrugated sheets as I would like to it will be blown off. He wants to put the mesh over the top of the run instead. I think they probably need a roof for shelter. Which of us is right?

I feel I have so much to learn so I really appreciate your advice.

Thanks

JJ

Bare earth is fine, if it was concrete then Id have said to put wood chipping down. They'll enjoy scratching around in the bare earth and maybe you could put some chicken friendly plants in for them to snack on.

The cover part is personal preference, Id have always said before to yes partially cover it but after having experience Im not so sure now as the stupid hens that wont go inside when its raining wont necessarily go under the covered part either!

My duckling looked a bit under the weather today so spent a lot of time
cuddling and playing with him today, he seems lots better tonight so i think he just wanted more attention lol!

TryingToBeOldStyle

Barney the duckling when he was just a couple of days old..... (he is 4 weeks now Ill have to find a good photo of him at this age and put that up soon)

ALIBOBSY

Nooooo. This morning the kids went out to open up the coop and one of the chickens is dead.

It would be the 3 yr olds as well.

Not a mark on her, no diahoerra (sp?). She has not been ill, except OH said she seemed a bit quite last night as they went to bed.

Can chickens have heart attacks? Other chooks all seem fine.

Ali x

jennyjelly

Thanks for the help.

The plants are a great idea - what sort would you suggest?

Also I saw somewhere that it's a good idea to hang a cabbage on a piece of string so it swings and they have to work to catch it - sounds like a good idea, is it?

Bought the wood to make the run today at the car boot for £6. It's not treated so we'll do it with animal friendly preservative before and after we build it. Hopefully the mesh and the coop will arrive before next weekend so we can get it all finished. I'm SO excited, you'd think I was 5 not 50!

mardatha

I was the same jenny !

TryingToBeOldStyle

Really sorry to hear about that Alibobsy I cried my eyes out when I lost my first one earlier this year and Im 30

Jennyjelly I can't quite remember what plants off the top of my head I can have a look around for you though, but the cabbage idea would work just as well just watch they can't get the string around their necks, but a couple of things like that and some branches they can jump on and perch on and you have a chicken play ground - Yes I treat them like children lol

Oh and I think getting chickens turns us all into excited 5 year olds :rotfl: