Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

Chickenopolis

3v3 wrote: »

:rotfl::T:rotfl: Too funny! :rotfl:

3v3- its so rough even the Staffy dogs go around in pairs!!!:rotfl:

3v3

Chickenopolis wrote: »

3v3- its so rough even the Staffy dogs go around in pairs!!!:rotfl:

:rotfl:Time you set your chooks on 'em

ionahenor2

Chickenopolis wrote: »

3v3- its so rough even the Staffy dogs go around in pairs!!!:rotfl:

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:


Mine chase the magpies and the robins but they recently made friends with a young robin that got locked in their pen. In the evening they are visited by a little field mouse who manages to scamper about while they are having their treats. It's made me jump a few times as it's run very near my feet. :rotfl:

Chickenopolis

ionahenor2- gosh mine certainly would not be making friends with a robin:) They would think hhhmmm lunch !In fact a friend of mine gave me a plastic bird which had feathers on it which was about the same size as a robin . I stuck it in the grass and the hens ignored it .. I then went indoors for five minutes and came back out and you guessed it it was torn to shreds ....

Perhaps they are zombie hens!

Mojisola

ionahenor2 wrote: »

Mine chase the magpies and the robins but they recently made friends with a young robin that got locked in their pen. In the evening they are visited by a little field mouse who manages to scamper about while they are having their treats. It's made me jump a few times as it's run very near my feet. :rotfl:

Ours look on mice as a "treat". Seeing them swallow a mouse whole is quite a sight!

jennyjelly

Mine are fond of frogs. We have a garden pond where they spawn ever year so there's a constant supply, but I still hate that they eat them!

mikeyboy

Hello,

I hope you can offer me some guidance on what's best for our situation.

Ok, we live in a three bed newish build house, a semi, and have a small garden but easily enough for a coop and a run in a corner. This area is. Grass at the moment. Garden secure and fenced too.

We also have a small dog and a cat, but to be honest they are both so relaxed and wouldn't say boo to a goose!

We are really keen to start keeping a couple of hens, not just the fresh eggs that appeal but also we both like hens!

Firstly, is there anything wrong with keeping hens in the above environment?

Do you know of anywhere local who can supply a reasonably priced coot and starter kit?

Where is the best place to purchase hens? Again, ideally local to Manchester.


Any advice really appreciated.

Thanks

jennyjelly

Hi mikeyboy

Your situation sounds much like ours - we have a semi with a small garden (10m x 10m) which is walled all round with fences on top so about 7ft high in all. We also have a dog and a cat (and a couple of rabbits) but there has never been a moment's trouble and they all wander round the garden together.

We built a walk in run approx 8ft square using reclaimed wood (apart from the longest bits) and aviary mesh. This cost about £95 in all - £50 for the mesh from here (though we bought much too much and could have spent less), and £45-ish for the wood, metposts, hinges, bolts etc in Wickes. It has a mesh roof so is completely safe and fox proof.

Then we bought this coop from ebay and raised it up on legs about 18" and built a longer free standing ramp. We also found it was a bit lacking in ventilation so cut a hole over the door and covered it with mesh. The feeder and drinker came from ebay and the dust bath is a litter tray from the pound shop filled with play sand (though they prefer making their own dust bath, preferably in the best bit of our garden :mad:)

They seem very happy to stay in when we are at work but love being out in the garden when we are home and co-exist happily with the other animals.

Here are some pics:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46671849@N08/6066022543/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46671849@N08/6066557600/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46671849@N08/6066008635/

and here are the girls:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46671849@N08/6066019095/

Hope this is helpful. I only wish we had done it years ago!

ETA Please ignore the mattress - we don't normally keep one in the garden, it's just resting there on its way to the dump!

Chickenopolis

jennyjelly - what a nice set up you have for your girls:)

3v3

mikeyboy wrote: »

Hello,

I hope you can offer me some guidance on what's best for our situation.

Ok, we live in a three bed newish build house, a semi, and have a small garden but easily enough for a coop and a run in a corner. This area is. Grass at the moment. Garden secure and fenced too.

We also have a small dog and a cat, but to be honest they are both so relaxed and wouldn't say boo to a goose!

We are really keen to start keeping a couple of hens, not just the fresh eggs that appeal but also we both like hens!

Firstly, is there anything wrong with keeping hens in the above environment?

Do you know of anywhere local who can supply a reasonably priced coot and starter kit?

Where is the best place to purchase hens? Again, ideally local to Manchester.


Any advice really appreciated.

Thanks

When I first began on the chook journey, I lived in a house with a small garden (max 30'x30'). I bought an Eglu as it was hailed as the modern, suburban chook house/run. It was a bit pricey and initially it housed a solitary ex-bat. She died one year later But, the Eglu was solid, contained, and a good investment. It did take up most of one side of my garden, but it did the trick.

Last year, I moved to a garden that is 1/4 acre (still with Eglu in tow). I could have chooks again I bought 7 bantams. Foxy took all but one (who happened to be a broody and sitting on 6 eggs in the Eglu). In the meantime though, I'd bought a wooden coop, (which is how Foxy gained entry and distruction!).

Do give it a go, just think through how you will house them to prevent suburban foxes from destroying your hens and your dreams.

As for where to get them, no advice on the M/chester area.

JJ - loving your setup!!!