keen to get chickens but need advice!

[angelat]

hi all

I am new to this site but am so exited as have been thinking of chickens for a while now but need some advice, so great to see so many other chicken keepers.

I am thinking of 2 or 3 chickens, but don't have a big garden and want to give them as much space as i can. have seen a covered 5 and a half foot long cage, with sleeping area with ramp and run, it is 3 and half foot high and 2 and half foot wide. In addition to this i was going to section of a part of my garden for them to run around in. i need the covered, roof type house as my cat is a bit nasty and would not want any accidents. do you think this sounds okay? also i have a very established wild bird table in my garden that attracts many birds. would chickens scare the birds from the garden? hope someone out there can give me some advice! many thanks.

[milly2306]

hi
your run sounds great to me. i have 2 chickens and we have a lot of cats in our area but we haven't had any trouble with them. the birds still visit our bird table, the chickens aren't particularly interested in them. i have sectioned a part of my garden - about 5metres by 3 metres for them and i have the chicken coop inside of it. my girls are happy and friendly so it seems to be working ok. you will have lots of fun with your chicks, not to mention lovely eggs. good luck and do post a pic when you get them
xxxmillyxxx

[Snadger]

I built my coop and run (fully enclosed) and intended getting chickens in March 08. The run has been standing idle since Feb 08!

I've just got round to getting them a couple of weeks ago and wish I'd got them earlier!

Just do it!, and I'm sure you'll never regret it!

[MaureenHall]

Chickens can usually stand up to cats ok. They stand as tall as they can, fluff out their neck feathers and open their wings. Mine have seen off a few cats this way, and now my cat thinks she's a black chicken, joining them for "drinks" out of the water bucket

[terrier]

Welcome to the Vine, Angelat. Your run sounds plenty big enough for 3 chooks. Don't worry about the cat, they're no match for hens but make sure you are dog and fox proof. Far from frightening garden birds, you'll probably find them trying to get into the run to pinch the chook food

[Flummery]

I'm watching this thread with interest! Last weekend, Mr Flum and I discovered that each had a secret hankering for chickens! I've ordered a book from Amazon about building your own henhouse and coop though we will let them range in the garden when we are around. So much of our produce is grown under cages to keep the pesky pigeons out that we should be able to let them roam a bit. (Even better now we have the half allotment.) He fancies a winter-time project to build the house and run, I'm busy hen-proofing the fences (and reading old Rule the Roost threads! Hoping to re-home 3 or 4 ex batts in Spring.

[Kristen]

I'm very happy with my Omlet Eglu, but they are expensive (extremely easy to clean and look after though)

[Snadger]

I'm watching this thread with interest! Last weekend, Mr Flum and I discovered that each had a secret hankering for chickens! I've ordered a book from Amazon about building your own henhouse and coop though we will let them range in the garden when we are around. So much of our produce is grown under cages to keep the pesky pigeons out that we should be able to let them roam a bit. (Even better now we have the half allotment.) He fancies a winter-time project to build the house and run, I'm busy hen-proofing the fences (and reading old Rule the Roost threads! Hoping to re-home 3 or 4 ex batts in Spring.

Good on yer Flum! Take it from a seasoned chook keeper (all of 3 weeks now!) You'll never regret it. Having said that, mine escaped from the run for all of ten minutes and caused utter devastation in the allotment. Like you I have a lot of stuff netted but they managed to get under that and also loved scratching all the woodchips I have on the paths.

If you've ever watched Rocky the movie where he was chasing chickens to keep fit........that was me on the allotment, great fun!

[Flummery]

Our 'netted' crops are under cages made of timber and chicken wire - with a roof on - rather like a hen-run! If they get inside one of those they'll think it's home!

[Snadger]

Our 'netted' crops are under cages made of timber and chicken wire - with a roof on - rather like a hen-run! If they get inside one of those they'll think it's home!

Lots of savvy these chooks.........my brassicas have netting over top and sides also so one must have lifted it up like a curtain for others to get under! Guerilla chooks!

[MaureenHall]

ooooooooooooooooooo wonderful There's going to be some more very lucky ex-batts joining "the big wide world" next year You'll enjoy them, I know. Make sure you get all your "spring cleaning" done before they arrive though, they're the best time-wasters ever

[Flummery]

ooooooooooooooooooo wonderful There's going to be some more very lucky ex-batts joining "the big wide world" next year You'll enjoy them, I know. Make sure you get all your "spring cleaning" done before they arrive though, they're the best time-wasters ever

I've NEVER needed help wasting time - that's why I'm here so much!

[angelat]

hi, thanks for your advice. have ordered my run now. How big is your enclosed cage? I worry mine won't have enough space, intend to thoroughly spoil them!!!

knowing my husband i can see my coop standing bare for a few months as well!!