I am all excited but need advice please

[jayne&tony]

OH surprised the life out of me last night. I got home from work and he had bought me a chicken house (I have wanted chickens for so long). I need to know if chicken wings are clipped how high can they get? If this seems a stupid question please excuse us as Tony is not a chicken person he is just the DIYer. Basically we have a tree stump where we would like them to go which stands about 2 and a half foot high and need to know if they get on this would they be able to fly over the run area which we are planning on making about 4 foot high, or do we need to make it higher and put a top on it.Enclosing it completely. Also another question straw or hay for the nesting boxes?? Which is best?

[daisychook]

Hi Jayne & Tony
Our run is about 4 ft high. If you clip their wings then this should be fine.

We use wood chips in the house and nest box, but you can use straw. If I am correct I believe you mustnt use hay because it can give chooks respiratory problems.

Good luck!!

[jayne&tony]

Thanks for the Daisychook, thats a great help.

[TPeers]

If you use wood chips and/or sawdust do make sure it is dust extracted!

Enjoy your hens.

Terry

[terrier]

If you just get Silkie chooks they can't fly so you'll not have a problem. Straw bedding rots down in your compost heap a lot faster than wood chippings or sawdust. Have fun.

[jayne&tony]

Hi there terrier, this is all new to us so excuse my ignorance. Are silkies known by another name as i have never heard of them and also are they good egg layers or for the table or both. Think straw is going to be our best bet as i have a dalek.
Now a couple of other things if i may, what to feed them, and i know i need to provide some sort of dust bath, but do i need to know do i have to add additional vitamin supplements to their food and also when cleaning the coop do i need to disinfect it and what is the best disinfectant to use??
There is so much to learn and i really dont want to get this wrong as this is my next step to living off the land so to speak. Many thanks for everyone's help by the way.

[jayne&tony]

Just found a picture of a silky on a web site and they are the strangest yet cutest things i have ever seen

[ChrisB]

Can I add my pennys worth

Don't worry is the order of the day. Chickens are so amenable. Give them food, water, somewhere warm and dry to roost, somewhere to scratch about and they'll love you forever

I would suggest a netting cover over the run, not necessarily wire netting, just something cheap and cheerful, to keep the wild birds out, and it will also keep yours in. If you are able, it might be an idea to make the run taller than 4 feet, saves you banging your head and working is a stooped position.

Feed - layers pellets

Now to the fun part, which breed, what do you want your chickens for, eggs or good looks, and do you want large fowl (normal sized chickens) or bantams (little ones)? These factors can help you decide which birds you want.

How many are you going to have?

Be warned though, chickens are a bit like allotments, they're addictive. There's always that one more that you want.

Second order of the day is ENJOY them, sit and watch their antics, hilarious

[terrier]

As you see, Silkies are really cute. The ones we had layed well, giving medium size eggs. For lots of info on chooks go here > http://www.practicalpoultry.co.uk/

[witch-1]

Just to add - my chooks have had their wings clipped. OH made a 'pen' for them and the fence is just over a metre high.... and they fly over it

They jump onto their house first to gain abit of height then off they go! I am at present moving their house into a different position.

Good luck - I love mine, even the extra work they are creating at the moment Oh and the eggs are soooo worth it!

Jan

[Birdie Wife]

Hi Jayne&Tony,

Have a look at some heavy breeds, they are more docile and much less likely to fly - I'd suggest Orpingtons or Bramas for starters. Both these breeds are lovely lookers but often don't lay many eggs. The main benefit to you is that a 2' fence will contain them! Sussex (various colours, most common are Light Sussex) are also very popular, a bit smaller so might need a higher fence, and lay lots of eggs.

[Sue]

Hi Jayne and Tony
Might be worth considering a roofed enclosure, then you don't have to worry about clipping their wings and they'd be safe from foxes etc. Also as suggested having a pen you can stand up in is well worth it. If it's sturdy enough with a wire skirt then if you go out/away they'd still be able to potter around in their pen. It would also give them some protection from the weather.
best wishes
Sue

[jayne&tony]

Thankyou all for your advice, we are going to go for a 6ft roofed enclosure as we do have a lot of foxes round these parts. Now just have to build the enclosure and find some hens.

[janeyo]

Hi I am in the same position - coop nearly ready and so many things to learn! I found a book by katie Thear - Starting with chickens to be really useful.

janeyo

[jayne&tony]

Thanks for that will look out for that book, i am feeling like a sponge trying to soak everything up