After my failed attempt at keeping my chickens...
04 June 2009, 03:21 PM
#1
After my failed attempt at keeping my chickens...
I now how more chickens and have a new safe home for them, i hope 
We decided to have their home against the shed on the north side of the garden.
To do this we had to move the shed door across so we had enough room.
When we put the coop inside there was not much room so i had the brainwave of cutting a hole in the shed so the nest box would fit through the hole.
Then we used the plastic sheets from my old greenhouse for some rain protection. We used welded quarter inch wire this time. The sides of the house are 18" underground and there are slabs and rocks around the edges. The painting needs to be finished then it will look a lot nicer
To get the eggs i go into the shed and lift the nest box lid up, its easy, and to clean the coop i pull out a big tray underneath and it goes straight into the compost bin.
The eggs are so much nicer than ones from a shop and prolly healthier too.
We got ex battery hens again. They are now very friendly and sit on your lap and like being stroked.
My homestead is a happy one
We decided to have their home against the shed on the north side of the garden.
To do this we had to move the shed door across so we had enough room.
When we put the coop inside there was not much room so i had the brainwave of cutting a hole in the shed so the nest box would fit through the hole.
Then we used the plastic sheets from my old greenhouse for some rain protection. We used welded quarter inch wire this time. The sides of the house are 18" underground and there are slabs and rocks around the edges. The painting needs to be finished then it will look a lot nicer
To get the eggs i go into the shed and lift the nest box lid up, its easy, and to clean the coop i pull out a big tray underneath and it goes straight into the compost bin.
The eggs are so much nicer than ones from a shop and prolly healthier too.
We got ex battery hens again. They are now very friendly and sit on your lap and like being stroked.
My homestead is a happy one
04 June 2009, 03:42 PM
#3
They make hardly any noise, i was surprised!
When i walk up the garden they make a little cooing noise and in the afternoons the make a little laughing noise
My neighbour didn't know i had any till i told her. They will talk back to you if you pay them some attention. I let them out into a run on the garden so they can eat grass everyday but its not essential. They will eat grass you pick for them to.
I paid £6 for a 20k bag of pellets and it looks like it could last more than 6 months. They don't eat much at all and 10/14 eggs a week puts me in profit
When i walk up the garden they make a little cooing noise and in the afternoons the make a little laughing noise
My neighbour didn't know i had any till i told her. They will talk back to you if you pay them some attention. I let them out into a run on the garden so they can eat grass everyday but its not essential. They will eat grass you pick for them to.
I paid £6 for a 20k bag of pellets and it looks like it could last more than 6 months. They don't eat much at all and 10/14 eggs a week puts me in profit
04 June 2009, 03:57 PM
#5
It must feel like a mansion after the wire cage it lived in for 18 months
This house is going to be one of three. One will be at the top of the garden and one behind my greenhouse. I am going to grow grass in the other two so they can graze. I can rotate the birds about. Hopefully it will work
04 June 2009, 04:17 PM
#7
There is a drawer built into the bottom of the coop. i lined it with lino then newspaper. They **** where they perch so there is a column of it lol. I will need to empty the tray weekly. Its easier to just pick it up and put it in the compost bin when you see it. On the ground it just disappears under the bark chippings. No smell either
Its good for the garden anyway
Its not like keeping a rabbit, they stink
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04 June 2009, 05:16 PM
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04 June 2009, 07:16 PM
#10
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There is a drawer built into the bottom of the coop. i lined it with lino then newspaper. They **** where they perch so there is a column of it lol. I will need to empty the tray weekly. Its easier to just pick it up and put it in the compost bin when you see it. On the ground it just disappears under the bark chippings. No smell either
Its good for the garden anyway
Its not like keeping a rabbit, they stink
Its good for the garden anyway
Its not like keeping a rabbit, they stink
Do they get on with dogs and cats?
04 June 2009, 07:23 PM
#11
My dogs are smaller than cats at under 3lb. the dogs know that they will get pecked if they get too close so they keep their distance. A cat would prolly **** itself if a chicken came near it but are not a problem. Now, if i put my dogs in the chicken house then they would peck them to death. I have read stories where they will rip a mouse to pieces if they can. They have a very good pecking order and their home is THEIRS. If they are in the garden the chickens just do their own thing and so do the dogs.
04 June 2009, 07:35 PM
#12
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you seem to have a specific plan for the chickens and coop, like the deep walls and thicker wire, is it as a result of problems with your previous chickens, what went wrong with your last chickens, i am asking as i have thought about keeping a few chickens, but don't know much about them. also well done for giving some batt hens a much nicer life to live.
08 June 2009, 11:38 AM
#14
you seem to have a specific plan for the chickens and coop, like the deep walls and thicker wire, is it as a result of problems with your previous chickens, what went wrong with your last chickens, i am asking as i have thought about keeping a few chickens, but don't know much about them. also well done for giving some batt hens a much nicer life to live.
Quite a lot went wrong
https://www.scoobynet.com/non-scooby...o-shocked.html
Had a bit of a panic yesterday as the chickens were soaked, the nest box leaked in the night and they got dripped on. All fixed now but it made them lay eggs later than normal.
I clipped the chickens wings this weekend, nothing to it
I have also noticed that since i have had the chickens i have hundreds of birds in my garden feeding all day long from the bird feeders. I was told that smaller birds feel safe around chickens because if there is a danger anywhere the chickens will act as a look out and react to a danger. This gives the small birds a warning.
I want to keep a couple of quails now but i have never eaten their aggs, has anyone else?
08 June 2009, 04:28 PM
#21
I'm completely intrigued now.
So, I already know that they only "talk" to you when you go inside.
I therefore now have this weird picture of you in the coop making "buck buck" noises
Please tell me you don't walk like the chickens - doing all that jerking motion with your neck etc
So, I already know that they only "talk" to you when you go inside.
I therefore now have this weird picture of you in the coop making "buck buck" noises
Please tell me you don't walk like the chickens - doing all that jerking motion with your neck etc
Last edited by urban; 09 June 2009 at 04:51 PM.
09 June 2009, 04:10 PM
#23
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Can you honestly blame them Sara? Its got me laughing!
Les
11 June 2009, 02:05 PM
#24
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I have also noticed that since i have had the chickens i have hundreds of birds in my garden feeding all day long from the bird feeders. I was told that smaller birds feel safe around chickens because if there is a danger anywhere the chickens will act as a look out and react to a danger. This gives the small birds a warning.
11 June 2009, 02:12 PM
#27
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11 June 2009, 02:19 PM
#28
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Thanks for your words of wisdom. Do you really think you are responsible enough to keep living creatures?
11 June 2009, 02:32 PM
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