The Poultry Keeper

Pete&Jackie · Joined: 03 Sep 2005 Posts: 209 Location: Hertfordshire

Once again thanks for the kind words of welcome. I stumbled across this site when scouring the net for chickeny sites as we are newbies and doing some research before taking the plunge!

Well the plunge has been plunged. We have wanted chickens for some time and have a decent mid sized garden (no grass!) that is nicely enclosed and ideal for free ranging. When we started we were going to get an Eglu and 3 birds, and I have to say the people there were very helpful and friendly, but since then we have moved to a bigger house for 4 birds, then bigger for 6 and we have just ordered a Little Acre Stafford house for 8-10 birds!! Shocked

This has been supplied by Colin at Two Pots Bantams in Cambridgeshire, again, very very helpful and enthusiastic, he is delivering it this Tuesday and putting it up for us!!

The great thing about it is that it has been adapted to have protected feed point under the house and also a 9' run, I was going for the 6 bird Grosvenor but this gives me the option of more birds!!! Rolling Eyes

He also supplies the hemp bedding and also diatom, which has been so well received on here, all being delivered with the house along with all the other bits needed.

Onto the chickens!! 2 weeks today we will be heading up to Letchworth to select our girls from a range of hybrids that will be 12 weeks old. Our intention is to get 6, maybe 7 Confused

and a mixture, there are Bovans, Rhode star, Sussex star, Bluebelles, Lohmanns, Speckles, Goldline and Marans!! That's 8!! mmmmmm, tricky!

Right, that's the plan... now is there anything that the font of wisdom on here can help us both with, I am going to order some ACV from Labtech and I will be getting organic feed from Marriages. As I said we have no grass, quite a lot of small stones, lots of beds with shady areas, the house will be at the top of the garden in a very sheltered and shady spot facing West.

I am confused as to how long to keep them in their run for at the start before they can be let free to roam, but realise that they have to get used to their house and run so as we are not chasing them around the garden for hours at bedtime!! I have heard anything between 2 and 10 days!!

So.... help please for us beginners and we look forward to reading and contributing on here regularly! Very Happy

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

Hiya Pete and Jackie,
2 days is absolutely fine, they very quickly learn where home is and where is safe.

Good luck with your new girls when you get them,

All the best
George

Knobby · Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 11:55 am Post subject:

Yep....2 days should be fine.....but dont be surprised if they dont want to come out straight away !!

CP · Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:12 pm Post subject:

As the food & water is near the house, that is also an encouragement for going back that way at bedtime. A scattering of corn helps too. Very Happy

2 days should be enough time to know where home is. 10 sounds a bit excessive, but maybe they were 'thick' chickens! Very Happy

As you have found out - keeping chickens is addictive (so is this forum!) & you will find you always want more! Rolling Eyes

Pete&Jackie · Joined: 03 Sep 2005 Posts: 209 Location: Hertfordshire

We both like the idea of a Buff Orpington or 2 joining our merry band, but the place we are getting the hybrids from don't sell them.

Could we mix a single Buff with 6 hybrids if all put in at the same time and would there be enough room in the house for 6 medium birds and a big porker like the Buff?? Laughing

Knobby · Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 2:06 pm Post subject:

Buff O's, are the best breed......but i am biased !!! Very Happy

Heather · Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 2:12 pm Post subject:

Though I do love my big fluffy blue/black one too Very Happy

and my silver pencilled one

(But Buffy is my fave - don't tell the others though ! )

If you want a chook to cuddle Orps are the best - I can pick my hybrid (Isa Brown) up but she is not at all cuddly

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

Glad you settled on a larger house, always better to plan forward, although it seems like yours will be filled instantly. Let us know when you're getting the next one!!
Have you thought about getting wood chips for the run for your girls? You say you have no grass ~ do you mean it's all soil? If so it will soon get muddy with the girls feet especially once winter comes. The woodchips would make it easier for all of you.
Like the others I don't really keep my girls in for long, one day is hard enough. Then about an hour before dusk I scatter corn into their run and they all go in ready for bed later.
Hope you have loads of fun, which I'm sure you will. Keep us updated

Pete&Jackie · Joined: 03 Sep 2005 Posts: 209 Location: Hertfordshire

We are indeed going to use wood chips, I just have to find a supplier near to me in Royston. I have just about everything else ordered or purchased already..... still can't find any wood chips yet Sad

I will post some piccies when up and running!!

mojo · Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2005 5:18 pm Post subject: hi

just to stress the point WOODCHIPS not bark chips are they tend to breed mould which thw woodchips dont..sorry if this second hand advice but it is important...............mojo Cool

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I got my wood chips from the local garden centre ~ bit expensive in comparison to having a load delivered, but at the time I hadn't found a man who did loads of wood chips. I've found an ad now so may give him a try shortly when I replace them all ready for winter.

bird_babe · Joined: 20 Apr 2005 Posts: 473 Location: wales

Hi you can give your girls a quick M O T when you get them . have a little look trough there feathers around the vent to check to see if they have any lice. If you see any thing a quick sprinkle of flea powder should sort them out . Don`t want to get that nice new house full of creepy crawlies Rolling Eyes

. check your hens feet and legs see if the legs are smooth with no raised scales if they are OK every things fine Smile

. but keep an Shocked

eye out for scaly leg .they some times get that . Question

ask your seller if they have been wormed this year so you have some idea Idea

if you need to order some of that. every one mostly uses flbemvet . hope I spelled that right . I always worm my birds twice a year.
put some flea powder on the floor of your house every time you clean out your girls . it helps to keep the dreaded mights at bay. make sure there is no discharge around the nostrils and they are breathing OK. hope that didn't scare you to much. but its some thing to keep an eye out for . hope you enjoy the taste of your first fresh egg . there's nothing more satisfying. Very Happy