Looking into buying Land

FreeBear

twopenny said: But the chickens are in an open field like that but have chicken houses on wheels - there's a name for that can't think of it.

Caravan ?

twopenny

Not quite

We have a lot down here, used to be the thing.

Look like a Shepherds hut but they are for chickens kept in fields.

If the wild winds stop I may go out and practice crashing gears in my newly aquired car.

Because, as is the way, I've deleted photos that show them.

Farway

FreeBear said:

twopenny said: But the chickens are in an open field like that but have chicken houses on wheels - there's a name for that can't think of it.

Caravan ?

Although wrong answer, an old caravan does do the job well

A free-range farm near here used old caravans for the chickens, they could come & go as they wanted, but were secure at nights & sheltered if wanted

I suppose, apart from looks, any old vehicle could also be used, like a van, or even a failed MOT car 2p?

twopenny

Cruel Farway

I'm still in mourning for my little purple people carrier.

But I can wait..............

FreeBear

twopenny said: If the wild winds stop I may go out and practice crashing gears in my newly aquired car.

If you are grinding gears, it may be that the clutch needs adjusting a little.

twopenny

Nope, just finding them with a different gear stick...........I've been driving the same models of Fiestas for the last 40yrs.

This requires different movements slightly.

Finding yourself with a whole different shape size and layout is going to take practise. Christmas traffic doesn't lend itself to calm and zen.

So going to look at chickens is probably a good idea:-)

Will hopefully pick up some eggs and grass fed Jersey milk from Pippa the cow while I'm there. And just seen I've missed an ice cream tasting from a farm up the road.  There's a reason I live out in the sticks.

Wonder what Seabird will have surplus

Dustyevsky

I'm going to upset you now, because there's a very good reason not to use caravans for chickens. Most surviving caravans have some rudimentary rockwool-type insulation. If you ever get red spider mites in that situation, (and almost every chicken keeper does at some point,) the little beggars get into the rockwool and survive no matter what you do, short of setting the van on fire!

It happened to a nice guy we bought eggs and veg from when we firs came here. Wiped him out. We eventually had mites about 10 years later, but their only hiding place was under the roofing felt, so not too bad.

As for being in an exposed place near the sea, a friend and I visited a garden on the North Coast of Devon at 950' back in the summer, and the people there had developed a soft fruit garden and an orchard, so it's possible. This is the fruit part. The sea's just over the horizon.

Higher Tippacott Farm if you want to find it. NGS garden.

RAS

It's mainly ornamental and was in the process of being sold but check out Lea Gardens at Tresta on Shetland for ideas on shelter belts.

If you're overlooking Ireland, the westerlies will be rocking in at high speeds, so get the shelter belts in early unless you've got . Start seedlings now. You'll want low cover to protect young trees.

One idea to find the more protected areas of your plot. Get a load of stakes (or old electric fence posts) and cotton rags. Firmly fasten "flags" to the top the posts and plant at regular intervals over your land. Photo record and observed. You want to find the areas where the flags last longest. Areas where they tatter fastest receive the fastest winds. 

twopenny

Well wouldn't you believe it! The chicken field I was to photograph has had all the bits removed and ploughed up!

Not sure where the chickens are at the mo but I'm still getting eggs

Another where they were kept on a field the new owners have got rid of them.

I did see one field of chooks where they 'd put 3 geese in with the hens. That's a good idea as they'd give off a warning if being attacked.

There was this idea on a field at the edge of woodland. Very MSE

There are billy goats and the chickens have access to the field both sides and come and go between the pen and field. I noticed this in other fields where hens are kept.

Like the way they've built up the sides with soil and turf. Probs dug netting far down too.

Of course the best place to ask is the hens and ducks chat on this forum

This is a part of the field, bigger than it looks and 2/3 more to the left. But its the location I posted for.