Keeping chickens in a paved garden?

[Bluemchen]

Hi all,

I'm considering getting some chickens, but our small garden is fully paved. My husband has said we could lift the slabs in the area designated to the chickens (about 2.5m x 1.5m) but as I understand it, they would just decimate the ground really quickly.

We have a walled garden (walls about 5ft high) - would they escape over the walls if we let them out? There are shrub beds they could scratch around in, and about the only thing I know about chicken is that they like to scratch around in the dirt.

Could we get a mobile run and move it around the garden or can you simply not have chickens 'running' on a paved area?

There is no point us getting them if we can't give them the right environment to live happily in, so will appreciate feedback from you knowledgable lot!

Thanks
Bluemchen

[lynda66]

paved gardens wont get muddy .... as long as they have somewhere to scratch, dustbathe food shelter and somewhere to lay eggs, they will be happy, some chickens will go over a 5ft wall, some won't, (some are better at flying than others) and some will have no desire to escape, different breeds have different characteristics.

foxes can easily get over 5 foot though.

[Flummery]

I've heard of people deliberately paving a run area - so it can be hosed down. You'l need to provide something for them to scratch in though - straw or wood chippings - anout 6" deep. A bowl or tray of sand or soil to dust-bath in will be appreciated too. I agree with Lynda that you need to think as much about foxes getting in as hens getting out!
How many would you be thinking about? The suggestion is 1 sq metre per hen as a minimum.

[Johnny Appleseed]

Please heed the advice on foxes

We quite often see them rolling on their backs, just like a dog, on a crisp frosty lawn some mornings and we have 6 ft high brick walls and 6ft high fence panels to the entire plot.

I've never seen them get into the garden but if they see us watching they scramble up and over with only a moments hesitation.

Any chickens wouldn't stand a chance. The foxes kill everything that moves and will wipe out all your stock in one visit if they can. Not a pretty sight or an enviable task to clear up. It happened to us twice.

[digthatchick]

We quite often see them rolling on their backs, just like a dog, on a crisp frosty lawn some mornings and we have 6 ft high brick walls and 6ft high fence panels to the entire plot.

I've never seen them get into the garden but if they see us watching they scramble up and over with only a moments hesitation.

Any chickens wouldn't stand a chance. The foxes kill everything that moves and will wipe out all your stock in one visit if they can. Not a pretty sight or an enviable task to clear up. It happened to us twice.

As I know to my cost - we lost our six hens in broad daylight two weeks ago and our garden is totally enclosed with 6' fencing. A chicken Ark is not a bad idea for a couple of hens, make sure it is for hens though as the rabbit ones are too small and the wire mesh is too light.

[Flummery]

We are going for a decent sized fixed run with protection from digging (sunk into the ground at the sides) and a mesh roof. We have farm land adjoining our garden. No chance to avoid foxes so you have to be prepared.

[elizajay]

Chicken love sunbathing as well as dust bathing, so make sure you give them sun and some shade too if it is too hot. If they don't have grass to eat, make sure you give them veg and fruit. Mine won't touch veg I guess they prefer grass and my plants as they tree range, but they love fruit.