The Poultry Keeper

no2lurch · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 5

not sure if this is the right section...

my name is neil and some close family friends have some hens and a cock on thier farm which run all over and sleep in thier coop.

a few months ago, they hatched 2 eggs and the chicks are now doing great.

these have been offered to me and my wife as i have often showed a close interest, but i need some advice please....

may next year, we will be having our first baby, we have 2 lurchers and a large garden. i was thinking about taking the chicks on and having a movable coop in the garden on the grass, so the dogs cant chase them.

i need to know with all the stuff on our plate, are we mad to take them on? i have read an idiots guide to chicken keeping and they look quite low maintenance, but is this the case? can i make a cooop and run easily, as i would be looking to spend as little money as possible.

thanks for the advice i advance.

jaydee67 · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 12:46 am Post subject:

In my opinion - if you could face taking on a pet rabbit you can take on the hens. You've done research, you know what you need and we'll be here to help if you need it. There are many designs of coops and runs on the forum - have a look around and if you have something in mind say so - someone will know the pros and cons of it! I would say go for it!

Oh - and welcome to the forum!

debcat · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 12:50 am Post subject:

they are really easy to look after, like Jaydee says hens are little more effort than rabbits
with the added bonus of fresh eggs Very Happy

as long as they have somewhere dry and draftproof to sleep in anything will do as a coop. they do need to have good ventilation though - more than you'd think
some of my bantams live in a converted rabbit hutch
I'd make the run really sturdy though, because of the dogs

coco · Joined: 24 Jan 2006 Posts: 318 Location: Northants

If you have the space and the means to construct a coop and run, then definately go for it. But I would suggest making the coop and run big enough for about 6 to 8 birds because that will be about the minimum number you are likely to have before you are aware of the numbers creeping up Very Happy

Sparklepeeps · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 1901 Location: Cheshire

The baby is a good few months away yet, that would give you chance to get over some teething problems and they would soon become part of the furniture.

My chickens are very low maintainance now I know what I am doing. However I found that week after week I was having to learn something else for the first month or so. Mites, Red mite, Moulting, Feeding - all the stuff that you will have already read about, but when it happens to you you will have to bury your head back into the books and this forum to find out what to do.
If you start now, you should be sorted by May. Chickens are a pleasure to own, they are so funny once you are confident with them.

Aussie · Joined: 30 Nov 2007 Posts: 25

Keeping chickens isn't stressful. On the contrary, I find it is the best therapy. A quiet half hour outside, feeding the ladies, seeing them peck your boots Very Happy

looking for eggs! Best way to de-stress. And Neil, if you are having a baby, you'll find that as he/she grows up they will love the chickens. My youngest one adores them.

Barny_Velder · Joined: 29 Dec 2007 Posts: 164 Location: North Wales Coast

You have already proven yourself a good poultry keeper by asking questions first Wink

They are very low maintanence and very rewarding, I wouldn't be without mine now.

no2lurch · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 5

thanks for the replies... i have a few questions.

-will the pooh burn the grass? i plan to move the run every now and then and hose the pooh into the grass.
-will the chickens eat the grass?
-will hens lay good eggs if there is no cockrel?

Diane · Joined: 05 Feb 2006 Posts: 271 Location: Dorset

l) Yes, the poo will burn the grass but if you are going to move it around and have enough space to rest the burnt bit then all will be well.

2) Yes, the chickens will eat the grass (very quickly) and it will help make the yolks a lovely dark colour.

3) Hens will lay eggs without a cockerel - it makes absolutely no difference.

Good luck.

no2lurch · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 5

thanks diane for the speedy response.

by law, can i keep them? do i need a licence etc?

CP · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 4:04 pm Post subject:

You don't need a licence.

Some newer houses can have conditions written into them whereby you're not allowed to keep livestock, so check your deeds.

You could also check with your local council but most will probably say as long as the neighbours don't complain you'll be fine. Watch out if you plan on getting a cockerel though! Wink

no2lurch · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 5

thanks CP.

i asked about the hen laying without a cockrel for the simple reason of noise!

Old Man of the 80's · Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 305 Location: Wittering, UK

There are ways to lessen the effect of a cock crowing evry morning. The easiest way I found was to leave him shut in the coop until a sociable time and then let him out. He still made a noise in the morning (and the rest of the day), but it was no-where near as bad as it could have been.

With regards the dogs, every dog is different, but my two show little interest in the girls in the back garden. Any other dogs that come round are curious to start with but not overly bothered by chickens running loose.

What a great start for a little one though. He/she will grow up learning more and more about where there food comes from, and chickens are a great source of amusement for our little lad (16 months).

Welcome to the world of poultry keeping. Top tip, build a run/ark/coop about tree times bigger than you need. You will fill it within a year!

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1230 Location: Carmarthenshire

no2lurch · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 5

UPDATE: SAD NEWS...

Well, i'm ack after dipping my toe in the 'keeping chicken water'.

there is no easy way to say this, bu my wife lost the baby at 40 weeks and 5 days.Nathan was stillborn on 22nd May weighing 7lb1oz.

anyway, i now need something to keep me busy, so the possibility of keepoing chickens is back on.

in follow up to the advice above i have a few more questions...

-how much time do chickens take up?
-whats the least spec house do i need? saw some in country shops but cost over 200 quid so i think i could make one cheaper than that...

any advice to try to convince my wife that they will be easy to keep???