Ark Advice Please

[frias]

When I first got my ex-batts I knew nothing about chickens and thought it was lovely to see them scratching about the garden. My pleasure quickly changed to dismay as they trashed almost everything in sight (I haven't got hostas.) I now fence off what they can't have and we're all happy.
My OH made our run and coop so we were able to go much bigger. The last one of your piccies does look better than the first 3 though. (I'm too lazy to do the math but I'm sure someone else will tell you if it's big enough.)

[Hilary B]

That last one should be OK if there is also an 'all daytime' extra run. The number of hens you can keep there will be limited by floor space in the closed bit (not counting the nest box). They MUST have a square foot apiece (but more is better), and that will only be enough if access to the small, included run is permanent, which means that run must be ABSOLUTELY fox-proof. It looks as if the inside floor area is about 4½ square feet, which means ideally not more than 3 hens. In addition to that, the extra run for daytimes must be more than a square yard per bird, AND that still assumes they will be let out into the wider garden for some time nearly every day.
The food and water containers should be under the roof of the inner run, and that bit needs a rat-proof 'floor', whether of mesh (weldmesh, or something as strong) or concrete (paving slabs would do, but must be close fitted).

[julesapple]

Hmm....

....the dimensions of the last one are 250cm long x 90cm wide x 155cm high, so 8.5ft x 3ft x 5ft apprx. They can go under the raised house bit too.

I know it's late (and I'm blonde and over 40,) but doesn't that make it 24 square foot? Is that big enough for three Pekin hens?

Jules

[Hilary B]

....the dimensions of the last one are 250cm long x 90cm wide x 155cm high, so 8.5ft x 3ft x 5ft apprx. They can go under the raised house bit too.

I know it's late (and I'm blonde and over 40,) but doesn't that make it 24 square foot? Is that big enough for three Pekin hens?

Jules

It's the actual 'indoors' bit that counts for the square foot (or so) per bird, the 'house' bit, which looks to be about 2ft by nearly 3ft outside, which would be 6 sq ft, but internal measure would be less, about threequarters of external, hence the numbers given.
24sq ft of run is 2½ sq yds (approx).
I've not kept pekins, but it sounds OK, WITH a larger 'daytime' run.

BTW, make sure the nestbox has a lock on the 'lid'!

[julesapple]

Yup.....It's Late

I thought it was me.....I should maybe go to bed now

I've emailed for detailed internal measurements of the hen house, nesting boxes and perches.

Jules

[dozey1]

Hi, i have hostas as well and my chooks don't touch them. I have cordoned off my seed bed as they do like seedlings and anything they enjoy the taste of. I have bought sturdier flowers for the garden as they do have a habit of scratching. So make sure you just stop them, from getting near any tender plants. I am going to get some sort of netting which i cna attach to sticks and roll it out when they are free ranging and out away when they go to bed. To be honest i love my garden but my chooks mean more now... Go for it.

[Suechooks]

Hi, i have hostas as well and my chooks don't touch them. I have cordoned off my seed bed as they do like seedlings and anything they enjoy the taste of. I have bought sturdier flowers for the garden as they do have a habit of scratching. So make sure you just stop them, from getting near any tender plants. I am going to get some sort of netting which i cna attach to sticks and roll it out when they are free ranging and out away when they go to bed. To be honest i love my garden but my chooks mean more now... Go for it.

Someone on here recommended Scaffold safety netting for fencing off plants. I bought some and it's great - cost less than £30 on ebay and its 2m wide which you can cut in half so you get 100m! It stays up with canes thro the eyelets and a bit of wire and string here and there.

[dozey1]

Thanks Sue chooks it is off to ebay methinks.

[julesapple]

Fab Idea

Someone on here recommended Scaffold safety netting for fencing off plants. I bought some and it's great - cost less than £30 on ebay and its 2m wide which you can cut in half so you get 100m! It stays up with canes thro the eyelets and a bit of wire and string here and there.

What a brilliant idea! There's a load of this orange stuff stuck in a hedgerow along the lane from us. It was abandoned by the builders when they built new houses. I'm going to take a wander down the lane this evening - I wouldn't have thought anyone would mind me rescuing & recycling it as it's an eyesore. Builders have long gone.

Jules

[HayleyB]

What ARE Hostas Sounds like Spanish B&Bs

[julesapple]

Hostas

What ARE Hostas Sounds like Spanish B&Bs

Not my favourites, I have to admit....bit boring. I've read that in Japan Hostas are used for salads!

Jules

[MaureenHall]

I quite like Hostas, especially when they're in flower. Unfortunately, so do slugs - so there's another good excuse for having chooks in the garden

[julesapple]

Watercress?

We have a watercress bed in our pond (something the orange netting will be going around!)....it goes berserk every two weeks or so and we have to reduce it by half. We usually put it in the compost bag. Can chooks have a little of it as a treat?

Jules

[MaureenHall]

If I offered it to my chooks, they'd probably say YUM YUM They love greens, and it makes the egg yolks a lovely deep orange

[julesapple]

If I offered it to my chooks, they'd probably say YUM YUM They love greens, and it makes the egg yolks a lovely deep orange

How much can they have daily? I wonder if it would give the eggs a peppery taste?

Jules