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Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

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  • Hi,

    I have a couple of queries about keeping chicken.s We have a small garden, it has a small lawn on which you could probably fit three or our of these arks side by side to give you an idea of size -
    http://green-change.com/2008/11/17/chicken-ark-plans/

    The lawn steps down to a patio. We grow quite a lot of veg in containers as well. I was thinking of getting two or three ex-battery hens.

    I've read they can destroy the lawn, and given the size we would only be able to rotate the ark around 3 or four sections of lawn if you see what I mean. They would probably be let out during the day though as the wife would be at home, presumably this would save on lawn damage but would the veg be at risk? Also how much poo is likely to end up on the patio? We have a 6 month old and 6 year old daughters so we would need to keep on top of that.

    Otherwise I think it's just a case of convincing the wife, the landlord and the neighbours!
  • N9eav
    N9eav Posts: 4,742 Forumite
    Loads of poo. They will tear up everything. If you keep them in an ark with a wire mesh floor they cannot dig holes or scratch the roots of the grass up. But wintertime the grass does not grow so the chickens dmaage it more. Battery chickens will take quite a time to learn how to be a chicken again though.
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  • Badger_Lady
    Badger_Lady Posts: 6,264 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    My battery chickens were normal within a couple of weeks... I've never given them grass, and they're fine in their run with soil at the bottom (they do dig it out and make dust baths etc!) so I don't move it around at all. I let them out under supervision and they are liable to eat the veggie patch. One of my birds is brilliant cos she keeps going for the weeds (she can spot the seedlings much more easily than I can), while another bird loves my rhubarb and raspberry plants :rolleyes: so I have to chase her off sometimes.

    If you're keen on the idea of keeping chickens, just think about your priorities - how worried are you about keeping a neat lawn, or would you be happy with a garden that's regularly dug up for worms? Some people I'm sure just keep the chickens in their arc, which I couldn't personally do but it is still better than a battery farm...
    Mortgage | £145,000Unsecured Debt | [strike]£7,000[/strike] £0 Lodgers | |
  • Badger_Lady
    Badger_Lady Posts: 6,264 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    Oh, and maybe bantams (smaller birds) would be easier for you to manage..?
    Mortgage | £145,000Unsecured Debt | [strike]£7,000[/strike] £0 Lodgers | |
  • steady__eddie
    steady__eddie Posts: 1,455 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker Uniform Washer
    Bantams, easier to manage ? I should cocoa. I kept these for years and they provided endless enjoyment and therapy for me but they would do just as much damage to my well kept plot as "normal" fowl would if allowed to.
    I would love to relate some of the things that they got up to (especially the c0ck) but what may be construed as offensive posts are not allowed on here.
  • Frugaldom
    Frugaldom Posts: 7,136 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Hi Penelope Penguin and others, thank you for pointing me in the direction of this thread :) Hope you don't mind if I join in once I've caught up with all the posts.
    I reserve the right not to spend.
    The less I spend, the more I can afford.


    Frugal living challenge - living on little in 2025 while frugalling towards retirement.
  • thepb
    thepb Posts: 5 Forumite
    Hi, I want to keep two chickens in my back garden, and have been getting quite excited about the prospect. I called the council this morning and they have no issues, just said to check the house deeds. I've come home, and the deeds state "no poultry keeping"

    My house is over 30 years old and the builders went bust in the 1980's. What do you think I should do?
  • milliemonster
    milliemonster Posts: 3,708 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped! Chutzpah Haggler
    We have 3 chickens and our deeds say the same but we have had no issues so I would say go for it!, just make sure they can't escape from your garden into a neighbours
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  • Primrose
    Primrose Posts: 10,703 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper I've been Money Tipped!
    Go for it! Restrictive covenants like this are almost impossible to enforce. If neighbouring houses are identical and object, bringing up the covenant, you can always tell them that you negotiated a release from that restrictive clause before the builder went bust. Unless they can get hold of your house deeds to prove otherwise there won't be much they can do about it. Just don't keep a cockerill though and be very careful with food hygiene to avoid any problem with rats. A few free range eggs to your adjoining neighbours will probably keep them happy. Also before you get them be clear in your mind about who will look after them when you go away on holiday. The neighbours might not want to be asked.
  • thepb
    thepb Posts: 5 Forumite
    Thanks for the replies. Just need to decide on what type of coop now.

    So excited!!
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