hello, newbie here - I've got myself an ark......

[MaureenHall]

Wonderful news

Great news......I collect my hens tomorrow.....


Any suggestions on the best way to collect the hens????

I use those collapsible crates from B&Q (5 for £10 or something like that). Fasten a cardboard lid onto them with string and when collecting 4, put 2 in each crate. You can use strong cardboard boxes, not too big though, make sure there's holes in so they don't suffocate on the way home, and again, put 2 in each box. Also cat-carrriers are ok, but you can usually only get 1 (depending on the size of the bird) in those. Oh yes, if you do use anything plastic or with a slippery bottom, put some newspapers in.

[tlck9]

Wonderful news


I use those collapsible crates from B&Q

good idea I have a couple of them in the garage.....

[Hilary B]

Depends how far you are going. For a really short journey (less than a couple of miles) I sometimes transported hens in paper feed sacks, 2 to a bag (the size that once held 40Kg sugar beet pulp), with 'armsized' holes right through the bag just below where the neck was tied. I really wouldn't recommend it for any longer journey, but it was sometimes all I had, and they must be plastic-free bags (which you probably won't find these days anyway).
The advantage is that it is so much easier to put a second hen in without the first one escaping.

[frias]

The advantage is that it is so much easier to put a second hen in without the first one escaping.[/QUOTE]

I like the last bit Hilary. When I went to collect my first ex-batts I had been given a large basket which just fitted into the back of the car with the seats down. Easily big enough for 6 but try holding down 5 heads while trying to get number 6 in the basket.

[tlck9]

I used the collapsable plastic thingy's, with a mdf lid on, tied in with a couple of plastic ties.

we only live around 10minutes from the breeder, so they werent too stressed, in fact in one, the two were sat all nice and calm!!

it took them around an hour before they ventured out of the ark into the run, but they seem to have settled so quickly

The down side to all this, is that i feel attached to them already!!! and didnt want to leave them up the allotment on their own

So chucking it down, I'm popping back in a minute

My OH, said he wanted nothing to do with the chucks....however he has been up and decide that the Bovan's Nera is called omlet and its his apparently

My cornish meadow ranger is so tame and has already took corn from my hand. The white leghorn is very nervous and the cornish meadow red is indifferent at the moment

the window of my shed overlooks the chicken run and I've spent about an hour just peering out to see how they are.....

[bluemoon]

My OH said he didn't want anything to do with the chickens either, he agreed to help erect the house, construct the run and he drove me around when I bought them so someone could drive and someone could keep an eye on them - well an escaped angry cockerel flitting around the car whilst you're trying to drive over one of the Pennine passes wouldn't have been healthy. Anyway, shortly after we bought our growers I broke my toe, couldn't really manage the day-to-day care and he did it for me with the result that all the chickens, but the growers in particular, now think he's some kind of god... he started choosing names too, and this is a man who's had no input into any of our dogs' names... or any children's names either come to think of it.

[tlck9]

well i'm back from my first day of chicken keeping and have locked the safely away for the night.....

My Cornish meadow red - still to be named

My cornish meadow white - leghorn is souffle

My cornish ranger is Hen-na

and my nera is Omlet

the jury is out on my red's name, choices are Cilla, Lulu, Chicken Joe (from surfs up) or ????

[tlck9]

my only regret was not buying the run/house from the local supplier....in hind sight, I'm finding the ark too small

which was the first thing the guy said to me when I went to see him, dont buy small as your'll buy twice

Any ideas on extending this ark?????

[CoraxAurata]

I second Maureens comment about the plans.....a winter project for the OH

nice coop kevnsue

Me too! Or should I say me Three!

[Glutton4...]

my only regret was not buying the run/house from the local supplier....in hind sight, I'm finding the ark too small

which was the first thing the guy said to me when I went to see him, dont buy small as your'll buy twice

Any ideas on extending this ark?????

Welcome to Chook-addiction. BUY A SHED, sorry to shout, but I ignored the advice too - got a small coop, got 8 chooks, got addicted, ordered 8 more, so had to get a shed and convert it!

It actually works out cheaper too, these Arks and Coops cost more than a cheap shed, and all you have to do is provide somewhere for them to lay their eggs, and perches for them to roost. Oh yeah, and a run. I bought a leccy fence kit and a 2nd hand lorry/bus battery and all is well.

Got 2 leccy kits now for a bigger run (20 Chooks now ) they are soooooo fab I waste hours just sitting talking to them - they even listen which is more than him indoors does!!! LOL

[kevnsue]

Me too! Or should I say me Three!

I tend to build from scratch so i make it up as i go along.
The price of good timber these days is so high,you might as well buy a shed but avoid the cheap and nasty ones.
I do like a challenge though.

[tlck9]

well what a morning.....

The chucks were all ready to come out this morning (thought they should be kept in the coup overnight as they are used to the barn.....

Well trying to clean up after them - not a problem, but the white leghorn was insistent on getting out and once she got out into the main run (they are not allowed in yet) she was then so desperate to get back in...that she was banging on the wire....so I showed her where she had to go and she wasnt too chuffed at that

alls well ends well...but panic I absolutely did, I had visions flash of her flying over the fence and disappearing into never land

I'm not so sure she is gong to settle as the others, are, I thing she is going to test my new chicken handling skills before the week is out

[Suechooks]

well what a morning.....


alls well ends well...but panic I absolutely did, I had visions flash of her flying over the fence and disappearing into never land

I'm not so sure she is gong to settle as the others, are, I thing she is going to test my new chicken handling skills before the week is out

Leghorns are ....shall we say .....flighty!

[tlck9]

i did read this somewhere I'm sure of it.....I think I should have two rangers my henna is quite the little quiet bird.....

But I didnt take on the allotment or chucks for an absolutely easy life, so my OH had better get that run done

Piece of advice though, will she get as friendly as the others, as I've read somewhere that they are friendly and somewhere else that they are a knightmare?

[Flummery]

My four are all Rangers. Lovely friendly birds. I can heartily recommend them.