Chickens

biggirafe

Guest
Right off the map :)
Does anyone keep chickens and have any advise of good websites on the subject ?
 
I've kept chickens for years-so simple.

Loads of info out there.

Just go and get some and enjoy, something about just watching chickens scratching around and of course eating the eggs! We had our first egg of the year today (our ladies are getting long in the peak, but they are pets also).
 
Had hens, ducks and Goats once.

If you live on a housing estate make sure you are able to keep hens. There maybe a local bye law preventing you. Do NOT have a cockerel or your neighbours will be sick of being woken at 4 am in the summer.

If you have a problem with slugs then definitely get a duck. Best thing in the world for getting rid of slugs AND eco friendly, no poisons.
 
I've still got a trio. The last duck died last year. Don't keep ducks unless you have loads and loads of room. Although with the right ducks, they lay more than chickens.

Loads of info and books available including your local library, but there is nothing difficult to keeping them. You need to decide what you want them for, eggs, looking at, letting loose around the garden or for sitting on eggs for little chicks.

Personally I always go for bantams.

Don't forget the cockerel. My neighbour has got an asbo for having them. Strange really, as I have kept cockerels for approx 13 years, perhaps he got the asbo instead of me;)

Also who's looking after them whilst your away.

Jon
 
Telstar said:
I've still got a trio. The last duck died last year. Don't keep ducks unless you have loads and loads of room. Although with the right ducks, they lay more than chickens.

Loads of info and books available including your local library, but there is nothing difficult to keeping them. You need to decide what you want them for, eggs, looking at, letting loose around the garden or for sitting on eggs for little chicks.

Personally I always go for bantams.

Don't forget the cockerel. My neighbour has got an asbo for having them. Strange really, as I have kept cockerels for approx 13 years, perhaps he got the asbo instead of me;)

Also who's looking after them whilst your away.

Jon
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really dumb question for you... :D
you still get eggs without a cockerel but not chicks, right?
we have a very lovely lady who fish-sits for us when were wildcamping and hopefuly she'll be looking after the chickens too.
also how much room do they need roughly?

thanks Nic
 
How do I answer that one. Easy, you only need the cockerel to fertilise the eggs, its the hen that lays them.

Mine are kept in the space occupied by approx a 8x6 greenhouse. But when I get allowed, I let them run around the allotment.

If you are wanting them for fun and a few eggs you do not want a large hen that will destroy your garden and eat your plants as well as the weeds/bugs.

There are a couple of mags available at WHSmith these days, practical poultry and smallholder. A good hut is key, that is easy to keep clean.

Jon
 
Telstar said:
How do I answer that one. Easy, you only need the cockerel to fertilise the eggs, its the hen that lays them.

Mine are kept in the space occupied by approx a 8x6 greenhouse. But when I get allowed, I let them run around the allotment.

If you are wanting them for fun and a few eggs you do not want a large hen that will destroy your garden and eat your plants as well as the weeds/bugs.

There are a couple of mags available at WHSmith these days, practical poultry and smallholder. A good hut is key, that is easy to keep clean.

Jon
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very well put. lol. i was hoping that was the case as a cockerel will drive me mad let alone the neighbours :D
ok, we are thinking of have them runnning around at the bottom of the garden (fenced in of course) with a house so they can be put away each nite.. didnt know how much garden we would have to give them.
Our lad, whos 7 wants to help Mark build the hen house so hopefully it will be easy to access and clane out ;)

Nic
 
yep

We do keep chickens......but just the two. Two chickens will give you approx 12 eggs a week, though this can fluctuate.

We house them in one of these..... CHICKEN HOUSE, HEN, COOP, POULTRY, ARK, LARGE , FL1 on eBay (end time 27-Apr-10 16:24:39 BST)

But we didnt fit the end bit of mesh, opting to use that as their entrance into a fenced off area of garden. However, we also let them roam our entire garden a few hours a day.....which I wouldn't advise cos you have little uns.

chickens give eggs without cockerels. The cockerel just fertilise the eggs, which is not what you want.

In my opinion, avoid the fancy looking chickens.....they are more hassle than they are worth.

Try Buff Orpingtons, Warrens, Light sussex, white star or Welsummers. They are good utility birds.

You'll need layers pellets (corn can be given to fatten when ready to eat them or as a treat), grit and fresh water daily.
We mix the grit in with the pellets. Grit gives added calcium which makes the egg shells thicker. Some will say to crush the old egg shells & use as grit but I avoid this because it gives them the taste of egg shell & they could develop a taste for it & eat their own eggs.

We give a little vitamin type supplement in their water sometimes.

You'll need straw for their nesting box.

Jeyes fluid to clean out & Disinfect. This helps avoid red mites.

Holler if you need to know anything else.....we're no experts but have walked your shoes already.
 
I just keep the one bird. Only lays lays one egg a month but she make a cracking brew in the morning and would not change her for the world. Shhh don ever mention this to her when you see her.:D:D:D:D:D
 
bigboack said:
I just keep the one bird. Only lays lays one egg a month but she make a cracking brew in the morning and would not change her for the world. Shhh don ever mention this to her when you see her.:D:D:D:D:D
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I cant believe i said that. My account has been hacked I bet it was Hay Jay.
;););););)
 
mrsBiggirafe said:
really dumb question for you... :D
you still get eggs without a cockerel but not chicks, right?
we have a very lovely lady who fish-sits for us when were wildcamping and hopefuly she'll be looking after the chickens too.
also how much room do they need roughly?

thanks Nic
Click to expand...

yer bedroom should be OK :p..

regards
aj
 
these are our little cluckers waiting to be fed this morning
landy 008 [640x480]-9960.jpg

and thi is their thank you
landy 010 [640x480]-9932.jpg

and there freinds
landy 006 [640x480]-9919.jpg
 
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busydaffodil said:
We do keep chickens......but just the two. Two chickens will give you approx 12 eggs a week, though this can fluctuate.

We house them in one of these..... CHICKEN HOUSE, HEN, COOP, POULTRY, ARK, LARGE , FL1 on eBay (end time 27-Apr-10 16:24:39 BST)

But we didnt fit the end bit of mesh, opting to use that as their entrance into a fenced off area of garden. However, we also let them roam our entire garden a few hours a day.....which I wouldn't advise cos you have little uns.

chickens give eggs without cockerels. The cockerel just fertilise the eggs, which is not what you want.




We have the very same chicken house! we've only had it a few weeks as their last home a secondhand shed was well past it best.

Our are free to range the a garden (veg plot fenced off), they even come in house most mornings, wanting some food. They jsut walk past the dogs without a care?

We haven't lost a bird to a fox since the hunting ban, and we back onto fields. A couple of local go out shooting them, weekly, however my friends with urban chickens are not so lucky-killed if not locked up at night! Ours haven't been locked up for years, just come and go as they please. Very low maintanence.
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