Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

Fruball

Ahhhh I got it... I would never have thought of that... Makes perfect sense tho. Thanks for explaining

ljonski wrote: »

As well as the protein, the most important thing is while they are wiggling in the crop, they are busily munching on the residue that is festering there. Eventually they will eat all the rotten stuff up before themselves being digested. At least they perish on a full stomach (if they have one!)

Kevie192

After 3 years of wanting them, the oh and I have decided its time we got some chickens! I've cleared it with the landlord and got a bit of spare cash for their house, run etc so I'm all good to go!

I've found someone here in Norfolk who makes coops and runs by hand and she says the best thing to do is look on eBay at some I like and she can base it on that... So, I'm looking for recommendations for a coop and run to keep 2/3 chickens. I want the run to be big enough so they can stay in there during the day as we both work full time so won't be here weekdays. Obviously we'd let them out around the garden during the weekend when we can supervise

Does anyone know of a good book I can buy that will tell me the basics and be on hand for reference?

I'd also like some recommendations on breeds... (don't ask for much, do I? :rotfl:) I did like the idea of having bantams but we have a 1 yr old Norfolk terrier x Staffordshire bull terrier and he likes to 'play' with everything and everyone !!! I really really like the idea of having 3 different breeds of different colours and different coloured eggs. We wouldn't use all the eggs they produce and there's something special about gifting a box of multicoloured eggs to someone

Look forward to hearing from you and hanging about on this thread!

Kevin

ionahenor2

I would try your local library for books Kevin. I got loads out and then poured over them.

Some of the poultry websites may be more helpful. I'm sure everyone on here can recommend some.

I use http://www.omlet.co.uk/club/

There is also Down the lane, Practical Poultry.

I can't help with the house/pen as I have an Eglu in a walk in run we designed for our garden but again others may be able to help.

Enjoy having your hens (you'll want more once the bug bites....ask Gigervamp :rotfl:)

Fruball

Just a quickie from me

I have got 16 Quail eggs sitting (more patiently than me) in my new incubator!!!

Wish me luck folks!

Will keep you updated

ionahenor2

Frugal wrote: »

Just a quickie from me

I have got 16 Quail eggs sitting (more patiently than me) in my new incubator!!!

Wish me luck folks!

Will keep you updated

Good luck. how long will you have to wait?

Fruball

ionahenor2 wrote: »

Good luck. how long will you have to wait?

Should be around 17 days so another 14/15 to go :j

Money_maker

Kevie192 wrote: »

she says the best thing to do is look on eBay at some I like and she can base it on that... So, I'm looking for recommendations for a coop and run to keep 2/3 chickens.

Only thing I'll mention about ebay is that you need to be very careful about run sizes as I have seen some 3/4 bird house and runs which wouldn't give enough room for 2 hens. 1m2 as the very bare minimum required per bird.

Money_maker

Frugal wrote: »

We started with a normal garden shed - it was a perfect home for my lot. I put a bale of straw in there for jumping on, a perch and a vegetable crate served as a nest box! Altho they often laid on the straw bale too. Mine use a grassbox from a mower as a nest box (had to do away with wood completely following red mite troubles a couple of years back). Anyone else use anything more 'unusual'?


Have any of you hatched your own? Raised chicks etc? Would love to hear more. Hatched my own a few years back but using a broody. Got some eggs from a friend with a farm so really pot luck on breed. Wonderful broody who would let me lift her feathers and touch the eggs/witness the hatchings. Unlike the bantam broody who would fly at me as soon as I got too close! Happy days and so pleased that one of my little chicks was a Buff Orpington - splendid bird with a very even nature although a little dim at times!

And to add to the mix, no eggs from my ex batts since long before Christmas. Think they have chosen retirement. Got offered half a dozen laying hens last week which I reluctantly turned down as I didn't want to upset my ex batts by stressing them out with new arrivals.

Gigervamp

ionahenor2 wrote: »

Enjoy having your hens (you'll want more once the bug bites....ask Gigervamp :rotfl:)

Yep! We've just taken on (rehomed) 4 new girls. That takes us up to 31.
The new girls are black rocks who have a feather pecking problem, so they're very bald around their vents and underneath. We're hoping that a change of scenery and a larger space will help them.

Their previous owners have tried lots of things to stop it, but they did mention that the space that we've got them in atm (our segregation area) is larger than they had.

Other than the feather pecking, they're bright and alert and laying every day. Hopefully the change of scenery, extra space and more chickens to mix with will occupy them more and break them of the habit.

ionahenor2

Giger do you have problems intergrating the new girls with your old flock? or are they kept apart?

How many eggs are you getting now?:)