The Poultry Keeper

graham · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 11

Hi all,

Apologies if this isn't the place to post this and also apologies if it's covered elsewhere but I only have about 5 mins to post here and I'm quite excited about it so I'd like to check back when I get home Smile

I'd love to have a couple of chickens, maybe 3 at a push but I live in a typical town with not that big a garden. I think 3 mainly because I'd like nice fresh eggs every day and there's a better chance with 3 than 2 no?

Anyway, I was thinking of getting something like http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300036464238&fromMakeTrack=true
to keep them in but my main thought is that are they ok to hang out in the run area all the time?

I'm not at home during the days to let them out and run around the garden and I doubt they'd be safe unsupervised so the run is the only option - how much space do you need to give chickens? Can they be just kept in a run and house thing and let out at weekends for a bit? And are they hard to look after?

Also, are there any laws about keeping chickens in an urban built up area or can I just do it?

The only other problem is probably something you can't help with, I just need to persuade the missus that it's a good idea! I think our little girl (she's just over 2) would absolutely love them so that's my angle at the moment Cool

debcat · Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 5:44 pm Post subject:

Hi,
there's loads of people on here who keep their hens in a town garden Very Happy

thats a nice looking house, they'd be fine in the run while your not there.
They are great fun to keep and really addictive.
they are fairly easy to look after as well, food and water in the mornings, some scratch feed about an hour before bed and cleaning out. You'll spend more time talking to them and watching them scratching about.
They all have different personalities Very Happy

HTH
debs

NannyP · Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 5:51 pm Post subject:

I would suggest that you check the forum out when you have more time. Have a good look around and you'll find all you need to know and I am sure by the weekend or next weekend you'll have your chickens!

This company do nice chicken houses, which are easier to clean and good for resisting pests:

www.omlet.co.uk

Welcome to the forum.

Fenn · Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 2292 Location: Shrewsbury

Hi, welcome to the forum Very Happy

I keep chickens in a town garden, in fact I live in a council house in the middle of an estate! I've currently got 17 birds in a garden 30'x15', so I would think you'll be ok with 3 Wink

I'm around all day though and they free-range in the whole area, which is why I can keep such a number.

Get three birds not two, because hens have a horrid habit of dropping dead without warning and one hen would be terribly lonely (it probably won't ever happen, but better safe than sorry!)

I checked my tenancy contract before I got the birds (actually that's a lie, I only thought to look after they'd arrived, oops Embarassed

) and also looked at the town's bye-laws on the internet.
The only rule I could find about livestock was that if I kept pigs, they had to be so many feet from the back door Laughing

I can't help with housing I afraid - I make mine from anything hanging around (the latest one used to be a record cabinet Very Happy

)

But get a bigger run/house than you think you'll need - chickens are ADDICTIVE Twisted Evil

Have a rootle on the forum when you get more time, there's loads of helpful info here Very Happy

mojo · Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 11:41 am Post subject:

minimum space is 1 sq foot in the hen house and 1 sq yard of space in the run but for best results if you can double or treble the outside area............but spend a week reading all the postings that intrest you it will pay dividends in the long run.....and avoid mistakes .we all made them so read about us and learn...best of luck..............its an addiction you know

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

I started with two at the end of April. Now have sixteen!!

I've made all housing myself, similar to Fenn, beg borrow and steal what you can and cobble a house out of it. Chickens aren't the fussiest residents, as long as they have a house that is secure, windproof and waterproof, they are happy.

stephen · Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 5:40 am Post subject:

... and even then sometimes you get the ones that decide they'd rather sleep on top of what you've made, anyway!

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

..or even no where near their new run/house!! My three new Vorwerks prefer to sleep down the side of the shed, on the kitchen floor, top of the stairs. Maybe they are fussy residents after all!

kirstyfern · Joined: 21 Oct 2006 Posts: 9 Location: great dunmow, essex

hi and welcome to the addictive world of poultry Smile

that house looks lovely.

i go on 1-2 square foot inside with 8 inches of perch space per chook and 4 square foot outside

so a 3' x 4' house with 6' x 4' run would happily hold 4 chooks

the run will get muddy if they are in it all the time so consider a woodchip or concrete base unless you have a large garden and get an ark which you can move every few days

you don't have to let them out every day and i would keep them in for 10-14 days initially anyway so they get used to their new home before letting them explore the garden.

you can have one of their wings clipped (ask the breeder to show you how to do it when you collect your birds) if you don't want them flying over the fence! but they can still jump 3' without using their wings.

chose a nice calm bird, a hybrid like the amber star or a pure bred like the light sussex to start with get your confidence. I always recommend a minimum of 3 girls to start with.

as long as you only get girls then they are no noisier than dogs so unless you are really worried about your neighbours i would just get your girls

go and see a breeder in your area (look in practical poultry mag) and have a chat to them. many also do starter kits at a good price so you can get your house, food, etc all in one place - and the breeder will be familiar with the house types as well. you could reserve your chooks, get a flat pack house, build it and collect your chooks the next day Smile

many people i know regret their impulse house buy (too small, too fiddly) when they come to get their chickens and see my houses, so don't be impulsive and end up with something unsuitable

BUT i do like that little house you linked to Wink

good luck

kirsty
www.hensforhomes.co.uk

graham · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 11

Back again!

I didn't expect to be back as all my conversations with family and friends all ended up with my justifying the "Why on earth do you want them?" questions. Then on Christmas day, I went to my Wifes Aunties (who was the only person that thought it was a great idea as she wants them too but wants someone else to have them first) and got a pressie Smile

It was only an envelope and as I opened it, I just laughed when I saw pictures of two bantams. Then the coup came in and that was that

So, I have one of these

and am building a run this weekend. The bantams (unsure of bread as yet) are with the breader who my Auntie-in-Law knows well ready for me to collect when the run is built, so come midweek, I'll be the proud owner of two bantams. I was actually thinking of getting a third just incase, but the two we are getting have been seperated already so I don't know if the third will mix in ok.

Do I need a light inside the coup? someone said that it's better but I don't think I can do it - it would certainly have to be battery operated but it didn't sound right to me anyway.

Do I need grit or crushed oystershell? I'm only hoping for a few eggs from them. Don't they use these to grind up food? I was going to feed them layers pellets (or is mash better?)

I'm sure I'll get the hang of things but I'm having last minute nerves making sure everything is right for them.

Other than that, I can't wait. I'll bore you with piccies once I'm all set up Smile

Cheers for the info.

rubychik · Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 2:00 pm Post subject:

Hi Graham,

what a fab Auntie-in-Law!
I just wanted say don't listen to the people who try to put you off having chickens as you will find those people after your eggs once they know how much tastier they are than supermarket ones! Chickens are addictive too and before you know it you'll be wanting more! and I would say yes get a 3rd hen at the same time and they will all be new together (you also don't want one to be on its own if anything happened and you lost one)

You don't need a light inside the coop as your girls will go to bed and sleep. A light is only to extend the laying and I prefer mine to do what comes naturally and have a break from laying eggs. (they lay less in winter when the days are shorter)
Pellets are fine, as is grit.
We will look forward to lots of pics too, we love a photo or two on here, enjoy,
Ruby Smile

CP · Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 6:08 pm Post subject:

Ditto!

Rubychik said it all. Wink

We would all love to see the pics when you get your new girls. And if you still won't know what breed they are, we can try to guess for you too! Very Happy

arwen · Joined: 11 Oct 2006 Posts: 2 Location: wiltshire

Couldn't agree more! Wot a great Auntie-in-law - would she like to adopt me? Laughing

Like you, I spent ages justifying my reasons for wanting to keep chickens. 2 months, and 6 hybrids, later the people who thought I was mad can't get enough of the eggs!
Hope you get as much enjoyment out of your hens as I have from mine Very Happy

graham · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 11

Cheers guys, I'm pretty excited. I knew I was right and they were wrong, but they wore me down Very Happy

debcat · Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 7:21 pm Post subject:

wait till they taste the eggs Very Happy

bet you won't be able to keep up with demand Wink