Too many trees?

[purplecatherine]

Hi there. I'm pretty new to this chicken lark and I could do with a bit of advice.
Planning on constructing a permanent run in an underused part of the garden. It will be approx 5X10m. Currently it has several large trees in it which virtually covers the whole of the area in shade throughout the year. Should I take some down? Should I have a roof to the run?
Hoping to get 6-10 ISA Warrens and housing them in an Eglu Cube. Are they a good hen for a beginner? Are they 'child friendly'?
I've also heard of Hemcore and this sounds like a good idea. Anybody had any experience with it?
I'm really starting from scratch and I need all the help I can get.
Please help.

[HayleyB]

Welcome to the Madvine Purple.

Trees will give a fair amount of shelter from the sun and the rain I can't see it being a problem. The run should have some sort of roof if only wire to keep the foxes out, they can climb.

Warrens are a good bet, are friendly and good layers. As long as they are humanised then kids are no problem.

I haven't used hemcore someone on here does though I can't remember who. My laydees are in a foaling box on shavings.

[Snadger]

Please make sure the chooks get at least SOME sunshine as they need it for vitamin D methinks! You wouldn't like to live somewhere sun less would you............I know I wouldn't.

Only about one quarter of my chooks run gets direct sunlight but if it's sunny, they're always in this area!
I even moved a shed which was blocking sunlight and my egg count went up shortly afterwards!

[HayleyB]

You're right Snadger didn't think of that, Shade and shelter is good but they do love to sunbathe so the run needs to stretch further or some trees be chopped back

*off to dig myself a hole to hide in

[Glutton4...]

Hi, and welcome to the madhouse!

I'd say reduce the tree canopy to allow more sunlight in, and get more eggs. My ex-batts are just brilliant. They've laid from day one, and not a complaint from one of them. So few problems that I now have 20 Chooks instead of the original 8 ! !

[purplecatherine]

OMG! Thanks for all the prompt replies.
Keep 'em comin!

[Eyren]

Hi Catherine! I've had an eglu and chickens for almost three years now - it's so nice to have fresh eggs from your own happy hens. Well, I say happy - mine can be quite stroppy at times, but I think that's quite normal for bantams

Hi there. I'm pretty new to this chicken lark and I could do with a bit of advice.
Planning on constructing a permanent run in an underused part of the garden. It will be approx 5X10m. Currently it has several large trees in it which virtually covers the whole of the area in shade throughout the year. Should I take some down?

As has been said, I would thin the canopy a bit, or extend the run beyond the trees, so that the hens get a bit of sunshine. Don't know if they produce Vitamin D that way (not all animals are like us!), but lack of daylight will reduce their laying.

Should I have a roof to the run?

The Eglu Cube run is very secure and fox-proof - if you buy that with the cube, you probably won't need to roof the bigger run. Are you in the country or a city/large town? Urban foxes can be a real problem - they will try to take your hens (and probably succeed!) unless you are literally standing guard - but out in the countryside they are much more shy.

For a large area, an electrified fence may be a useful solution, if your children are old enough to learn not to touch it! The Omlet netting is quite reasonably priced for what you get, and can be electrified since it has metal wire in the mesh - or traditional chicken wire can be used, I think.

Hoping to get 6-10 ISA Warrens and housing them in an Eglu Cube. Are they a good hen for a beginner? Are they 'child friendly'?

They are your standard brown hens as used by the battery industry - very good layers and fairly placid (for obvious reasons!). A good choice for a beginner! Not tried them myself, but I would think they would be good with children.

I've also heard of Hemcore and this sounds like a good idea. Anybody had any experience with it?

I use Hemcore in my normal Eglu run and it's great - very absorbent and smells lovely (it's impregnated with citronella to repel flies). I also use it in the poo tray and nest box, which makes cleaning easier. However it can blow out through the mesh, so I have attached a 25cm-high strip of fine pond netting (about 1cm square gauge) all around the base of my run - this keeps most of it in.

Good luck with your hen-keeping!

[poppy_lillysmum]

Hi, i have just moved on to hemcore and the chickens don't mind it, it's similar to shavings which i was using just finer. Decided to change as the shavings take so long to break down, hemcore rots down quicker and seems to go a lot further.

[Hilary B]

You don't say what sort of trees, or whether they are all over the run or along one side or......... These are matters which make a difference. Fruit trees just need proper pruning (and will produce more fruit if pruned), while Leylandii :::spit::: are well worth removing!

[di]

Just be aware that if the trees are near the fence,your chooks may well climb them & hop over the fence!
But as long as they don't enable them to escape & as Snadger says still let some sunshine in,then they'll make a nice sheltered area from the elements.

[purplecatherine]

Thanks for all the info guys.
I'm not getting the Eglu cube with the run, not much point as they will be in an enclosed run anyway.
I've decided to cut down 2 of the smaller trees leaving 3 larger ones, and chop the lower branches off them to prevent 'hedge-hopping'. It will give me some extra wood for the stoves next winter anyway.
Think I'll try without a roof for now and see how we go. I live in the country and there are many chook keepers around here (non of which would share any if their secrets, hence why I'm on here! Think they feel threatened by the possibility of me muscling in on their egg empire), and they don't have roofs.
I’m deffo going to try this Hemcore stuff if only in the Eglu for starters. Just need to find out where I can buy some.
Thanks again peeps.

[Glutton4...]

Try your nearest Horse feed/bedding supplier. I don't know which part of the country you are in, so can't suggest anywhere near. Good luck!

[Eyren]

Thanks for all the info guys.
I'm not getting the Eglu cube with the run, not much point as they will be in an enclosed run anyway.

If there are foxes in the area, your hens won't be safe in an unroofed run - they can get over a 6' fence, and bite through chicken wire. You might be fine (I don't get any foxes in my garden, on the very edge of Cambridge) - but you might not. Just saying...

[purplecatherine]

I live in the Derbyshire Dales Peak District. Does anyone know of Hemcore stockists around here?

[Glutton4...]

I live in the Derbyshire Dales Peak District. Does anyone know of Hemcore stockists around here?

Not me, sorry. Spent last Easter weekend up there enjoying the countryside (in the snow). What a beautiful area to live!