Newbie chicken tips - UPDATE the girls have arrived!

[Clarry]

Hi

Hubby has surprised me with a homemade chicken coop as an anniversary present

I am soo excited about getting some chooks, I've wanted them for years.

What I'd like to know is: Is there anything you know now about keeping chooks that you wish you'd known at the start?

Hubby is living in a little bubble at the moment and is adamant that they will neither chew up the garden nor escape over the 4 foot fence. I beg to differ!

Cheers



*UPDATE*

Well we went and collected 3 girls on Tuesday, a Black Rock, a Light Sussex, and a Lohmann Brown. They are great and we love them -so much so that we went back to the same place and got a Bluebell and a Speckledy yesterday .
After a bit of pecking they have all settled down quite nicely and appear to be getting along great. They even put themselves to bed last night, clever girls

Only problem is how do you deal with the addiction?? I've already worked out where ducks can go

[Annpan]

Hi Clarry

Loads more people will have more to say about this but I'll get it started

I have 4 hybrid girls (did have 5 but one didn't wake up one morning)

My chickens eat lots of grass, beasties and slugs, but they don't tend to go around taking chunks out of plants or our veggies... but they will scratch up any new seedlings that aren't securely rooted in yet.

My chickens will attempt our 8 ft fence (they can manage a clean jump over about 3.5ft) , but can't make it over a 3ft hedge You can clip their wings but I have never got round it/found it necessary... I just made the fence higher...

What kind of chooks are you planning on getting? most hybrids are very easy to keep happy and healthy. IME

We feed ours layers pellets which we get from an equestrian supplies place (yeah, I know) or the agricultural stores... We pay £8.50 for 25k, which lasts ours almost 2 months

You are not allowed to feed them kitchen scraps (its DEFRA rules ) so some of us prepare veg outside, or even cook up some porridge for them as breakfast in the winter Of course my chickens pick through the compost bin with gusto, whenever they get near it...


Any other specific questions? You know where we are

[Clarry]

Cheers Annpan,

I've been reading through all the chicken related posts on here so I've picked up a few tips.

We're looking at getting hybrids - probably a trio. We've found someone locally with Warrens who wants about £6 each, or another place wants £12 each for other hybrid breeds (light sussex, bluebells, black rocks, speckledys, barred rocks). Is it worth paying the extra or should we just go for the Warrens?

[red]

hi Clarry, welcome

nothing wrong with warrens, nice little hens, and good layers. They dont live as long as the traditional breeds, but if you are buying POL, or younger, should live for some years.

if you want pretty birds, and different coloured eggs, then go for the breeds.

Personally, i think your chickens will clear the 4 ft fence

[Clarry]

Cheers Red.

I have a sneeky suspicion we're going to have escapees!

Would it help to keep them penned in for a while once we get them so that they get used to their surroundings?

[niknik]

Hi Clary nd welcome to Ish...

4 ft.... possibly not high enough...... you not only need to think about them getting out but predators getting in.

Ifyou get any that are escape artists, then not only height is requiored, but it needs covering.
I´ve had 3 escape and the dog got them. I still cant work out how one escaped yesterday, but she must have sqeezed though quite a smal gap., and unfortunately son had left door to garden open ( despite repeated instructions not to, and his dog, got her.

How secure is your garden/plot? from foxes, rats and other predators?

Mine wont touch slugs!

I often ( more in winter though) cook them up left over veg peelings etc, mashed up. and mixed with some of their feed.....and with crushed up egg shells mixed in, otherwise they could be lacking calcium and egg shells go soft.

Greatfun though, the egss taste fantastic.and lovely to see them come running to see what treats you´ve brought them!

[Clarry]

The garden isn't secure at all. It goes all the way round the house and we have a mix of hedges, wall and fence with plenty of gaps. We live out in the countryside in a small hamlet. Some of the neighbours have chickens which wander up and down the road during the day. I've never seen any rats or foxes but I'm sure they're not far away!

[Annpan]

I've never seen any rats or foxes here either, and we lock the chooks up in their house and a small covered run each night. I'm more concerned about neighbours dogs than foxes... the run is as 'Jack-Russel Proof' as I can muster

When you get your chooks it is handy if you get them late afternoon, evening... Put them straight in their house and don't let them out late morning the next day.... that ought to be enough to allow them to learn where home is. If you are happy about them wandering about the village it might be good to restrict their movement for a few weeks and keep an eye on them till they look like they know what they are doing.

Oh, and it is helpfull if you get them used to being handled and used to your voice (I always cluck at them when I throw them food... so if they are up to mischief or I am trying to round them up I cluck and they come running to my feet )

[red]

Cheers Red.

I have a sneeky suspicion we're going to have escapees!

Would it help to keep them penned in for a while once we get them so that they get used to their surroundings?

yes i would - always a good idea to have a pen anyway, if you just want them out of the way etc. and you can let them out when you are around at first.

[Thomzo]

I think the amount of damage they will do to the garden depends on the breed. I had ex-bats to start and they tore the garden to shreds. I had some black pekin bantams and they were much better behaved.

I'm sure you'll love them, whatever you get.

Zoe