Advise on kepping Chickens

[Veggie Virgins]

Hi all,
we have 4 unused chicken pens with houses inside them wew would like to give some chickens a nice new home but we have no experience or knowledge about chickens can anyone give us some advise and HELP.


Thanks

Veggie Virgins

[Suechooks]

Get yourself a book for starters - Starting with Chickens by Katie Thear is a good one. That will give you some idea of what it's all about. Then read the threads on the forums. Beware though keeping chooks is VERY ADDICTIVE.
Good luck

[digthatchick]

A couple of books you may like to read - The right way to keep chickens by Virginia Shirt or Keeping pet Chickens by Johannes Paul and William Windham (the owners od Eglu Chicken Houses) both will tell you all you need to know. Good luck and welcome to the vine.

[lynda66]

ooooooo how exciting, can't wait to see how many you end up with ...... from my limited experience of nearly 6 weeks, i would say ..... as long as they have food, water, shelter nice warm bed and did i mention food? ....... they seem to be very happy pets

and theres always someone around here that can answer most questions .... it's definitely addictive though

[MaureenHall]

Welcome to the mad house

Give the chicken pens a good clean out and get on to the Battery Hen Welfare Trust to see about re-homing some ex-batts. Get some feeders and drinkers, a load of straw, dust-extracted wood shavings, a good book (like the others have said Katie Thear's is a good one) some layers pellets, and whatever else you think might be a good idea. Then just go for it

[Hans Mum]

ive only been keeping chicken 2weeks and 1 day, and ive been surprised at how easy they are, and they are real characters, ive got the 2nd book digthatchick recomended and its really well laid out with lots of info in simple terms and pictures to back up, ive put the Katie Thear one on my wish list. Do get some you wont regret it and yuo get eggs as a bonus

[HayleyB]

You could spend a day at Lesley's Henschool, it was a real confidence booster for me. She's near Stowmarket. lesley.austin@bhwt.org.uk

Also PM Noodle as she helps with the Norfolk releases for the Little Hen rescue. They regularly need homes.

[Hashette]

I've had my ex-bats for three months and can honestly say it's the best thing me and hubby have ever done. Or to be more exact, my ex-bats have had me and hubby as parents for three months, and have got us pretty well trained!

We're having a crappy time on the w*rk front at the moment, and they've been lifesaving, they make us howl with laughter. The thing I wasn't expecting is that it's just like having my dogs back in may ways, all we have to do is go into the garden and call them and they all come running/flapping up to us clucking frantically, they're so pleased to see us. It has nothing to do with our ability to produce mealworms, it's chickie lurve, okay?

Go for it Veggie Virgins. All the advice, help and support you could need is on here

[kirsty b]

Its addictive, I started with 4 and that wasn't enough, and I now have 15, (14 ex-bats and a Light Sussex) with plans to get a couple of Black Rocks in Spring!!

All At Anglia poultry is at Eye. They have a selection of different breeds, but re-homing batts is very rewarding.

[vicky]

The most difficult bit is deciding which ones to have! They really are that easy plus you get rewarded with eggs. Get a book, the ones mentioned are both good.
Welcome to Chickens Addicts Anon... and the vine!

[Nickkelly55]

Im getting some more as I lost my 3 to a FOX attack in Oct