The Poultry Keeper

Big D · Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 361 Location: Cumbria

If you where to start keeping chickens as a newbie again, what would you do differently this time around? Think

Coaster · Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:13 pm Post subject:

Rent more land and get more hens, I only have 4 in back garden

Lily · Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:17 pm Post subject:

I've only just started to keep chooks so this thread will be very
interesting to me.

nigel · Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:44 pm Post subject:

use regular 6x4 sheds instead of chicken coups

the difference in cost is minimal and the increased accessibility is worth it

Sprarkleby · Joined: 10 Apr 2006 Posts: 420 Location: Wicklow, Ireland

Buy an incubator at the start instead & buy a decent one with turning abilities!

Castle Farm · Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 2:15 pm Post subject:

Starting from where it matters most.

Are you prepared for all the time and work involved in keeping poultry..They are living creatures and need our protection and help to stay healthy and alive.

Housing.
All the runs would be made from 2" x 2" tanalised and creosoted timber with 2"x2" weldmesh panels stapled on, that are 8' x 4' and cost around £10 each...
Failing that the security panels you see around building sites..usually 10' long and 6' high, galvanised steel,cost around £30 ..cheaper second hand.

The house itself needs to preferably be a walk in, a decent shed..not a cheap one.
Smaller I'd probably buy a good sized dog kennel and put a door on it...as long as it's easy to clean it.
The house,whatever size would be creosoted against Red Mite..

The birds.
I would spend time finding out about my chosen breed..Internet.

Which breed you choose again depends on time and labour..
Brahmas.Cochins, French Marans and Pekins have feathered feet and don't do well wading around in mud.

Some breeds have 2 stains..Show birds that sometime
don't lay as many eggs as the more utility strains of that same breed.

I seem to have strayed a bit..but you get the idea..Buy the best you can afford..Quality may cost a bit more, but the extra care and work gone into producing it is worth the extra outlay.

www.castlefarmeggs.co.uk

EGirl · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 1322 Location: Dublin, Ireland

I'm with you all on buying small sheds rather than poultry housing, much much easier to keep. Wink

Stujan · Joined: 05 Jul 2008 Posts: 465 Location: East Sussex

Yep , definately would have got a shed or sheds instead of hen house and would have made the run bigger and fenced better rather than increasing the run size bit by bit and the fencing a bit more here and a bit more there, it might not be pretty but it tells a story that once biten by the chook bug it just took total hold of us and grew and grew .

The other thing we might have done is to have had a seperate run for meat birds as well as the egg crew we got now ,,,,,,, hmmmmmmm next spring....... hmmmmmmm Laughing

Hen-Gen · Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 6:37 pm Post subject:

I would avoid buying/keeping any breed that habitually goes broody. Much prefer the reliability and predictability of incubators.

crazypianolady · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 793 Location: Nottinghamshire

Realistically - Get a good shed straight off, rather than a coop and then having to upgrade within a few months.

Dreaming - Move house to somewhere I could keep lots and lots.

Smile

slider955i · Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 55 Location: westmidlands

Hoffy · Joined: 12 Oct 2008 Posts: 5

I would have found a site like this before jumping in.
I would have not got a Broody Pekin, even if she is very friendly.
I would have got a big bad shed instead of a hen house.
I wouldn't have told the wife what it all cost and hidden the receipts Confused

shire horse girl · Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 544 Location: lincoln

At present am happy with my 2 girls and their lifestyle apart from the fact they can only free range if i'm at home

diff87 · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 8

I am only sorry I didnt having chickens a few years ago instead of waiting till May of this year .They are such a pleasure to have and there antics make me laugh every day.There eggs are delicious and once they started to lay we still have three eggs most days only on the odd occasion we have two. I did a lot of home work before I got them and now find this site agreat help.

Auntie Noo · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 622 Location: Guildford

If i were keeping them for eggs mainly I would only get hybrids, and I'd also do the shed thing. Saw one in B&Q when I was getting the chrissie tree that was £105, Bargain!!!