taken the plunge!

[parrot1974]

We looked at getting an Eglu, then looked at the Cube, which is beautiful and seems very sensible. Unfortunately, haven't got that money at the moment, so OH has built a
5' x 3' coop on legs to go with our 10' x 5' run. Our hens are due at the end of the month too, so we'll be able to get very excited with Laineylou!
We're getting:
1 x Barnevelder, 2 x Plymouth Rocks & 1 x Black Orpington.
Can't wait...Does anyone keep any of these birds and have any tips? Have read loads about them, but always want to know more!

[Birdie Wife]

Lovely! I've got some Plymouth Rocks and you may well find they are top of the pecking order. Your Orpie and Barnie will probably be more docile. I would keep an eye on the orpington especially, cos if the other two pairs have been kept together they will know each other but the orpington might be on her lonesome until the flock dynamics sort themselves out.

[parrot1974]

Thanks for that help, Birdie Wife. I was wondering if the Plymouth Rocks would be at the top or if it would be the Barnevelder, as they're all described as placid and friendly. To be honest, the Rocks & the Barnie are for the egg-laying and the Orpie is just because I think they're lovely. Am hoping the Barnie and Orp will team up against the Rocks! We're eventually hoping to grown on some table birds if one of them goes broody, as I've read that Orpingtons will, Barnies won't and PRs could. Do yours go broody? Are they slightly less placid than the other types? Sorry to ask so many questions, but haven't found too many people with them to be able to ask!

[Hilary B]

I have also been looking at the Eglu website, just for a look, its very good, I've now ordered the Brochure, just for a look.

They are at Gardeners World Live next week, which i'm visiting, might have a look.


Its interesting though Wayne, that apparently our deeds state no pigs or Chickens at this house, which is my OH's late fathers house, so my OH lived here since being 3 and they had up to 18 chickens at anyone time.

They never knew about the no chickens rule, the neighbours certainly dint. And I doubt if anybody cared. Back then the neighbours certainly dint as apparently they used to queue up to buy cheap eggs.

I wonder what would happen if we did get chickens now, who would do what to us..?

Interesting deeds don't say why no chickens. My neighbours are keen on burning household rubbish often because they still cannot work out refuse collection days, hence bins overflow so they burn it. I have to tolerate that...i'm ranting and talking rubbish now so I will go and get a beer, calm down and watch Gardeners World.

Tell us more about your chooks lainey when you get them.

If there is a 'restrictive covenant' in your house deeds, it will say who is entitled to object if you ignore it. Mostly it is whoever owned the land before the covenant was imposed (often this was when the house was built) or those who now own the bit of land those owners kept. In practice this tends to mean the neighbours.
You should be able to find out the details from the Land Registry, unless the house has been in the same ownership too long for it to be registered (Last I checked it only went to Land Registry when ownership changed) or from reading the dees carefully (if they are with a mortgage lender, they will usually be happy to provide the information).