keeping chickens

[chuff]

I really want to keep chickens on my allotment. I have permission from the site manager to keep 4 but I'm worried about there safety, I live a distance from the plot and work shifts so even though I can get there every day it would be differant times of the day. I plan to build a completely enclosed run with mesh flooring with a layer of turf on top so that the chickens are free range, is this a good idea. Has anybody out there got chickens on there plot and what problems have you incurred.  :-\

[chuff]

[Jessie]

I don't have chickens on my plot but I do have 9 chickens in the garden at home. You can turf the run but unless it's huge don't expect the grass to survive, they will scratch it up and eat it so you'll be left with sand/mud depending on the weather. Mine don't seem at all bothered with the lack of grass in their run, they eat a balanced diet of layers mash and I give them kitchen scraps and greens whenever they're available.

You'll need to arrange for their water supply to be raised off ground level if you're not around much, they tend to scratch around and fill the water with sand, straw or whatever they're scratching, in hot weather it's important they have fresh water available all the time. In winter you may have to work out how you will unfreeze their water supply in the morning if you can't visit until later in the day.

Make sure they have cool shade in the summer (very important) and somewhere to shelter from rain and wind in harsh weather.

Good luck with all your plans, it's great having your own hens and the fresh eggs are great.

[supersprout]

I'm in the same position chuff, with permish but hesitating over taking the plunge til I know what I'm in for. Got a year's subscription to Poultry World (I think) to see what's on offer e.g. hardware, and also whether it's going to cost an arm and let in vets bills. I've thought of arks (covering beds and doing the digging for me) but since the lottie is a little distance away, I think I'll need an enclosed run with a house, and hopper feeders/waterers. This all seems a lot of trub and expense for a few eggs or chicken soup - so I'm still sitting on the fence lol ;D

[chuff]

Thanks 4 the replies I'm glad I'm not the only person that sits on the fence. Thanks 4 the tip on raising the water bowl it was something I hadn't thought of. The spot I have picked for them is ideal, A nicely shaded sheltered position that gets sunshine on different parts during the day. I have leveled up an area measuring 15ft X 8ft for the run unfortunately the plot manager has only given me permission for 6ft X 6ft which I feel is to small. hopefully we will be able to compromise on this :)

[supersprout]

If your lottie management stick to their 6x6 rule you could always extend upwards ;D. Perhaps they mean a hen house, so the run could be infinite ... let me know how you do when you get off that fence chuff ;)

[Truffle]

We keep chicks in the back garden and they are REALLY easy to keep. However, we do clear out the droppings tray and give them fresh food and water every morning. You could get automatic food/water dispensers, and perhaps design your coop with a grill so the birds wont be standing/walking in droppings when you don't have time to get down the lottie to clear em out.
Chickens are relatively problem free and the most likely health complaint you would have to deal with is 'scaly-leg' and all you need to do to fix it is is bath their legs and cover them in Vaseline once a week (for a few weeks).
I do think 6x6 is a bit small but on the other hand its far better than getting your eggs from battery hens.
Oh, and they are absolutely fascinating to watch and definitely have different personalities!

They are well worth the effort,

good luck,

truff

[BoardStupid]

Here's a thought http://www.omlet.co.uk/homepage/homepage.php

Bit costly though

Seems pretty resistant to most things and not too heavy ... So maybe on uncleared area of your plot, they might clear a few weeds with their scratching and you also get the benefit of chicken poo right from the source, so move it around every few days ?

Or is that just whimsical thinking ?

[agapanthus]

Looks a bit small don't you think?

[AlanP]

Hi Chuff,  go for it,  I have over 30 chickens on one of my allotments that is over a mile away, it is well worth the effort,  a tip on the freezing of drinking water in winter if you are unable to get to the allotment, grow some swedes, cut a large swede in half and impail it on a 6inch nail in the run, they will get enough to drink from this untill you get up there to take the ice off.  good luck

[weedgrower]

tip for you regarding foxes. go down to the barbers and get a bin bag full of hair. fill a few pairs of tights with the hair and place around the plot. store the rest of the hair. do this about every two weeks. foxes dont like the smell of humans and seeing as you cant be there all the time this is the next best thing

[ipt8]

Tip 1: I recomend you get hens, not bantams as bantams can be very flighty and often prefer to perch in trees at night.

Tip2: Have your hen house ready and keep the hens in it with a run of course for for or five days, they will then put themselves to bed at night as they accept it as home. Its better than chasing them around before you shut them in to keep the fox off them. The fox WILL find them....