Good News - Council have let me have chooks!

[Old bird]

At last - I am really relieved!  I didn't think that they would let me have them as I upset the Council with my polytunnel!!

I will now need advice from you lot! Please?  What to get - how many to get - where to get them from - housing etc.

I did keep chickens many years ago but that was at home and they had a shed as their home - so any advice will be gratefully received!

I was considering getting about a dozen or so!  The idea is that I am going to sell surplus eggs to workmates etc which I am hoping will offset the cost of purchasing house and hens and food?!

All suggestions welcomed!

Thanks - Old Bird

::)

[Old bird]

[Tohellwithweeds]

I am so pleased for you  :) :) and i suppose size of house depends on size of bird (its only a guess as I'm still learning) you could try and get ex batts and give them a good home but sorry i don't know how you go about that no doubt some one will be along soon with more info and well done to you Old Bird

[Lauren S]

Congrats on your new project. I'm sorry I can't offer any advice (the experts will be along shortly). Perhaps ask on freecycle for any bits and pieces?

Check out this EBay site for poultry keeping bits and pieces. I have used her several times for various things...She is very reliable.

Good Luck
Lauren :)

http://home-garden.search.ebay.co.uk/_Poultry-Hatching-Incubation_W0QQcatrefZC12QQfrppZ25QQsacatZ46292QQsassZbirdsQ5fandQ5fbeesQ5fonline

[jonny211]

Congratulations! I would have never thought that a local authority would ever do anything nice for anyone (grumble grumble moan moan).

If I were you I'd have a look at practicalpoultry.com forums, these helped me out a lot and they're a friendly bunch as well. I read every post until my eye's bled but it helped me decide the size of the house and run etc.

As a rough guide I'd allow 1.5sq foot of floor space per bird in their house and 1 nest box per 4 birds. I can't remember the area per bird for an enclosed run but enough for them to run around in and stretch their wings a bit.

[kt.]

Here are some web sites to keep you occupied a while. They will have most of the information you need.

http://www.keepchickens.info/index.php?pageid=6

http://www.blackrockhens.co.uk/

http://www.glencroftpoultry.co.uk/

http://backyardchickens.yuku.com/

[alan42]

i have no poultry now i got rid of all of them for one very simple reason i just didn't have the time to keep them, if you struggle to get to your allotment every single day come wind rain snow sun then seriously reconsider keeping poultry they need to be fed daily they need clean water daily a lot of people on our site only feed when they get over and that is wrong they need you there every day without fail.
and as for selling eggs i couldn't give them away never mind sell them people are suspicious of anything not sterilised and want to buy from suppermarkets, next door didn't want any eggs of me because one egg had chicken poo on it ?
just an observation on my part and not intending to preach or infer.
Alan

[growmore]

Good to hear you have permission Old Bird. I would  always go for a good utillity hybrid breed. Like Warren ,Black Rock or Speckledy . These are all good laying strains..
I would always buy point of lay birds from a good supplier  this way you know the age of them. If someone is selling  hens cheap as in yearlings etc it means usually  they have had the laying out of them. Hen food ain't cheap and a good bird only eats as much as a bad one..
An 8x6 Normal utility shed would house them ok  nest boxes running down the side with a  wider dropping board across the top of them and a perch fixed on this  ..  As well as room for  the birds You would also  be in the  dry when collecting eggs  and  cleaning them out .  I would avoid  the  fancy priced small poultry arc  type  things.
At least you and those who get your eggs will know what a good  fresh egg looks and tastes like ..I don't have any trouble disposing of my spare eggs on the contrary ..
Whatever you choose good luck with em .. Cheers Jim
P.S. Having just read the thread on rats and you saying you have them. Make sure your shed is stood on batons etc so there is a good air space between your shed floor and the ground, a foot if possible,  also I would get the  round enclosed galvanised  feeders that hang from the roof of your shed, put them at an height the hens can reach em but the rats cant ..