Am I Mad?

[julesapple]

I have this burning desire to keep a couple of chooks. Just two (I think)

This past few days I've spent looking into the subject, but I need some real people's thoughts so here's our situation.

Our garden is in a smallish village, with other houses behind us. It's walled in completely, and nothing can get through the gate. I've never known foxes in the village, but then I've not looked for them. We've got 11 cats though.

We've got enough grass room to have an ark with a 7ft by 4ft floor space, and keep it circulating around the garden four times - so if we move the ark every fornight the first plot has 6 weeks to recover itself before the ark goes back to that plot.

We don't go away much (we should be so lucky) and there would always be some one here to feed/water/put to bed the chooks.

We have a chicken specialist place about 4 miles away, for food supplies etc. Our usual vet has avian training.

So, advice please! Am I completely mad even to contemplate chookies? What else should I take into consideration/have I forgotten?

Jules

[lettucegrow!]

Goodness 11 cats!!!!
No you're not mad at all.I've had mine a couple of months now and they are wonderful. Very rewarding. I would say get a minimum of three as then if something happens to one you wouldn't be left with a solitary bird- they like company.My cat still hasn't got the hang of the girls and I wouldn't trust him -he thinks they are hunting material! So you have to think of cat training techniques.Get a good book and have a read.Good luck!

[bluemoon]

You are absolutely not mad. After dithering for nearly 18 months I finally got some chickens - and I'd probably be dithering still if I hadn't said I'd take Coco and Elvis - and it is the best thing I ever did. I just love my chickens. OK so I often lay awake at night worrying about something, but a few minutes here the next morning usually sorts that out. My one regret is that I'm nearly 50 and I wish I'd done it years and years ago.

[HayleyB]

Nope not mad, but be careful, they're addictive

[Flummery]

Definitely make it 3. A chicken on her own is very sad. 3 aren't any more work than 2 and you'll LOVE the eggs. They are SO not like shop eggs!

[Nicos]

Yup- I'd say you're mad...you should be getting 3!!!!!

...3 bantams would fit in there- but their eggs are smaller of course.

If you can't manage a bigger run- then try getting more space by giving it some height- they love to go upwards too.

I'd be surprised if the cats bothered the chooks- mine just had a good stare for the first few days- then gave them a wide birth.

[HayleyB]

I was only gonna get 3 or 4 now it's 35

[frias]

Yes deffo 3. I worry myself sick over mine too but wouldn't be without them. My neighbours cats have all been to see my girls but decided they were too big to tackle so now they don't even visit our garden. Foxes are a different matter, they can and will get over a wall or gate.

[frias]

I was only gonna get 3 or 4 now it's 35

Hayley !!!

[Nicos]

Oh..urmm...I've just realised we now have 17 chooks!!!!

[HayleyB]

See........ they're addictive

[RedThorn]

LOL get three but be very careful! we were only going to get 4 but now have 9

[Flummery]

Oh..urmm...I've just realised we now have 17 chooks!!!!

Hope you've aded them to the appropriate thread!

[lynda66]

i've got 3 ... and 18 in the incubator

you may not have seen foxes, but they will be about .... knowing we have a fox, i made the run into a complete cube so there was no access .... so i know they are safe in there, and they also have time out in the garden every day ... but only when i'm around.

I have 2 cats, when the chooks were little cleo used to sit staring at them and she liked playing with them ...... now they are big, she's still very protective, and rounds them up when they go where they shouldn't be .... she doesn't like it when they go out of the end of the garden..... asbo doesn't like them much so avoids them, and they chase the dog round the garden.

they are so much fun .... i wouldn't be without them now

[julesapple]

Thanks Everyone!

Brilliant advice!

Three chookies it is then. Below is the ark I want to get. Now it's time to be extra nice to OH, who remains a tad unconvinced. He's a Somerset farm boy at heart though so chickens are in his genes

Jules