Time to get serious

Eager_Elephant

EatingTheElephant wrote: »

I need to do some research, he thinks they can live in the space behind a barn up the new field. Has anyone got any chicken tips? Do they stay in the chicken run all day then go in the box at night?

Hi Cousin!,

I keep chickens - at the moment I only have 10 but usually have about 50 of them!!

When we first started we had about 6 and then it gradually grew and grew.

If you buy a chicken hut and run then they would stay in the run all day and go in the hut at night to sleep.

The problem is not all the runs are very big and so a few chickens pecking about all day would soon demolish the grass and then they have nothing to forage so you would need to move the hut and run a lot.

If you have the room you are better off buying a chicken hut and fencing off an area separately so they can roam within that area rather than just in a small run. You would fence with posts and chicken wire (I know you are experts in fencing!!)

If you keep them in the small run and then one day think that as you are outside they can come into the garden - DONT!! Chickens can demolish a flower bed/vegetable bed very quickly - even if you think you are watching them well:rotfl:

Chickens like to be stimulated so extra nourishment in the form of cabbage heads/sprout stalks/spaghetti etc are great.

We have also fed ad-lib, their food is in a large metal container with a spring system so they feed when they want. We use a normal chicken layer pellet and then also feed a handful of corn every now and again (corn has no real nutrition for them but it is very tasty (think humans with donuts) plus vegetables etc.

By law you cant feed chickens scraps from the kitchen - this is to prevent disease but if the eggs are only for you and family then I wouldn't be concerned but obviously don't feed them meat of any sort.

BE WARNED - chickens will take up hours of your time. Not because they are hard to look after but because they are great characters and you just want to stand and watch them all day:rotfl:

Any questions give me a shout.

Good luck with the house move.,

EatingTheElephant

Thank you EE for taking the time to write all of that, it is amazing

I'm starting to formulate an idea now of what/how to do it.....I'm thinking a long thin run alongside the hedge (fenced off so they can't escape!) will be more interesting for them.

smallholdingsister

Oh lovely. Breed chickens or rescues?

EatingTheElephant

Not sure yet SHS. I will see what is around. I will be looking at the notice board at MVF next time we are in I think.

smallholdingsister

I didn't know you had MVF.

EatingTheElephant

We've been spending a lot there recently!

EatingTheElephant

I'm so glad it is a BH today, I'm not planning on doing much.

Saturday we were out with the dog, when we got back I started feeling very ill so didn't do anything else.
Yesterday we went to $ainsburys to get enough food and other bits to see us through to next weekend. I do not like shopping this way, but needs must.

We then popped down to see my mum followed by DD1 & DGS coming round for dinner.

Today I need to start the quarterly accounts as the VAT return is due end of May, ideally I'd like to get it complete before we move so will try and do a bit each day this week.

EatingTheElephant

Well I haven't moved much today, as my f1tb1t will testify. Currently on 1151 steps :eek:
I have however entered all the receipts and regular outgoings into the database and balanced the February accounts. I'm counting this as a win as I haven't done much (a much needed rest) but have also achieved something!

We have an m'n's dine in tonight as I was too unwell to eat it Saturday, so I'm looking forward to a relaxing evening before things get hectic tomorrow.

The other little job I've been tinkering with this weekend is sorting my walking/riding routes on ViewRanger for the new house and field. Just need to get moved now so I can test them out!

EatingTheElephant

All paperwork has come through to read through for the new house and request for money, so we are poor now.

I'd like to think we will be exchanging soon, however the issue raised about the title deed boundary that we raised about 6 weeks ago has not been addressed. I really despair.

Karmacat

Good grief ... I really hope somebody starts paying attention.