The Poultry Keeper

bailey-bops07 · Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 10 Location: Dorset

Hello everyone

Just found this site tonight and have been stuck on it now for over 2 hours!! What fantastic advice, but now for a stream of questions from someone who is tying herself up in knots about what is the 'right thing' to do!!

I am getting 4 ex-batts in May and have just ordered my new hen house/run which should be here in a few weeks. The overall run size is 5.5' long x 2.5' deep, (house is raised so space under) so it is my intention to either buy or make another run to attach to it to allow the birds more space (ad said this could house 4-6 birds but can't help feeling they'd be bumping in to eachother all the time!!).

Free ranging them is not an option as although my garden is big, it is really open and there are far too many escape routes (over fences, gates, walls etc etc). Now I feel that I am going to be confining them too much and feel bad that they wont be happy if they can't free range (I am a born worrier - incase you hadn't already guessed!!)

My intention was to add atleast another 8 - 10' in length to the run and make it 4' wide. Added to the run I already have, would this be enough space to keep 4 hens happy? I also have the issue of moving it all - would once a week be enough?? And can I move the hen house with the hens in it??

Also, as it is a raised house with a ladder, (please don't laugh) should I be worried about my ladies falling off the sides and hurting themselves? I know the lady I'm getting them from advised that they shouldn't be allowed to jump any heights for a while as their bones will be weak.

Please, please help. I just want to do the best for my new birds (and for them not to have a neurotic mother!!).
Thanks

jaydee67 · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 12:02 am Post subject:

Ok - deep breath! Relax!

I haven't rehomed ex-batts before but there are others on the site who have and will be willing to give more relevant advice.

I would say the original run will be ample for them - remember they will have been used to being caged and not able to move around at all. From what I have read you may find they take a while to get used to that. You may also find you have to lift them out of the house for a few days until they realise they can do it themselves, likewise putting them in at night.

Don't worry if they don't perch - they never have had the chance. Would it be possible to have a solid ramp so they can walk up it and don't have to hop from rung to rung?

Moving the house with the birds in it won't be a problem - I do it - but if the run is permanently attached the length may make it more awkward unless there are 2 of you. Watch the weight of the new run if you want it to be portable.

Taking on ex-batts is probably not the easiest way to start with chickens - but others have done it and found it rewarding. They may take some time to settle and recover, grow back feathers, etc and may or may not lay for a while.

Don't worry - ask more questions, someone will answer -a nd welcome the the forum, you've found the best chicken place to be! Wink

chicken_house_man · Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 100 Location: Brynmawr

Welcome.

move the house at night when the birds are inside. YOu can do anything you want to a chicken when it's dark, their brains stop working.

cheesecounter · Joined: 07 Mar 2008 Posts: 5

Going through the same dilema !
I can't see moving chicken house, run and then run extension every few days. I've got veg plot so plan to go for the chippings in the run option and move the run onto the veg plot in winter. Run will be ~11ftx4ft in total for 4hens. (though we saw a cockerel over w/e and was sorely tempted to get one as he looked sooooo cool).
I've read so much advice on the site it's difficult to work out what's right and what's not. If you look at what the DEFRA guide is for space requirements for chooks that certain supermarkets get eggs from then I figure what we're offering is luxury accomodation. Anyway - if they don't like it I'm sure they#ll let us know one way or another.
Why are all us newbies so neurotic?? (myself included????)

jaydee67 · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 2:17 pm Post subject:

You will get differing advice because each one of us does things our own way. You will find 'your' way too. In the meantime, never be afraid to ask for advice - just be prepared for different advice from different people! Wink

telster · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 240 Location: merseyside

if you pick up the birds at night use a torch with blue light they cant see it

Squidge · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 138 Location: Folkestone, Kent

My ex batteries were absolutely fine with everything except recently (now they are all fit and well) I adopted a very large Leghorn Cockeral and he loves his girls but if he senses some danger and squawkes out a warning alarm call, no one takes any notice because they don't have a clue what they should be doing!

www.woodenart.org.uk · Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 40 Location: shropshire

Good point already made about the ladder; when making Houses for customers who have taken ex-bats, we make a solid ramp instead of runged ladder.

bailey-bops07 · Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 10 Location: Dorset

Thank you so much to all of you for your help. Just want to make sure I do my best for my new chooks.

Have checked the house I'm getting again and the ramp is solid, so that's one less thing to worry about!!

Read an article the other day about all the beasties and pests that seem to be quite partial to chickens so I guess that'll be something else to get in a knot about when the birds arrive!!

I'll keep looking for more info, and thanks to all of you who have posted a reply.