I am being realistic in wanting chickens?

[JuzaMum]

I hope that I can get some helpful input from experienced Chicken keepers. I want to keep chickens for eggs. I live in town, with overconfident urban foxes visiting my rabbits at night (no mishaps though). I have a L shaped bit of front garden, about 400 square foot, mostly north facing - is that OK? How many could I keep? (2?3?) Do you let them out in the morning then leave them out all day? Do rabbits get on with chickens? (Currently rabbits are in the back garden but I want to move them.)
I have been reading up but in some ways I am more confused the more I read.
Lastly is there a section on chuckens on here for me to read.
Thanks

JuzaMum

[happyhippy]

Do you know anyone else in your area with chickens?IYou mentioned your visits by the urban foxes,and that would be your main worry I would think?You would have to make absolutely sure your coop/run was fox proof.Not sure about having them in the north facing garden.Chickens love to bathe in the sunshine,so if your coop/run is in solid shade all day,would they have some access to a sunny part of the garden sometimes?Chickens are quite easy to look after,and you could leave them alone for much of the day,but I think the foxes again would worry me.Like all pets/livestock,they should obviously be checked not just for their safety but to ensure they havent knocked over their water/food etc.

[Potter's Farm]

We have kept chickens in various town gardens over the years, fox proof fencing is a must, as is the correct size housing/run for the birds. How many eggs can you deal with per week? We generally kept 3 birds, at the time we had 5 kids and 2 adults at home, and could have done with a few more eggs each week but had been told to get/keep birds in multiples of 3 no idea why. They're such a pleasure to keep, for little cost and effort, go for it!!

[Thomzo]

The general advice is that you shouldn't keep chickens on their own. As they aren't very long lived, it's best to get at least 3 in case one dies that way you still have 2. No need to keep them in multiples of 3 though.

I keep chickens in an urban garden with very experienced urban foxes resident in the garden next door. I keep my chickens in a house with a run. But you could consider a chook tractor (a mobile house/run) that you can move around.

I'd say go for it. But don't underestimate the foxes.

Zoe

[JuzaMum]

Thanks for the responses

Happy hippy - the section of garden I want to use is an L shape. The short arm of the L is a sunny westerly aspect so hopefully should provide ample opportunities for sunbathing (should the sun come out!)

I had imagined the chickens would run free in the day and just be put in foxproof coop at night. I am a stay at home mum so they would not be abandoned everyday but equally I would not be constantly watching them. I only see the foxes at night so hopefully daytime is safe? I want the chickens to have a decent life as well as providing eggs. I have 4 children plus 2 lodgers from the local language school so can get through plenty as well as providing lots of scraps/leftovers to supplement the chicken food. How many is realistic in the space I have available?

JuzaMum

[Thomzo]

Sorry but foxes are not nocturnal if there are chickens around. I've lost chickens to foxes at 10am and seen the foxes around in the early afternoon. If you do let the chickens out, make sure you're around all the time.

Zoe