Chicken A-Z

[Paul D84]

I've had a look an couldn't find a post about this but sorry if I've missed it (Early Morning)

I would like to get a couple of chickens, and from all of the posts from everyone on here they seem to be a joy to have and of course you get eggs everyday. I'm trying to work out how much time you need to give them and the sort of cost that is involved with feed, maintenance etc. I have a house ready for them so that won't be a problem.

Any hints, tips and ideas are really appreciated as always.

[Paul D84]

Sorry, also how big the run should be for two chickens as i want them to be happy chicks

[MaureenHall]

Give them as much space as you possibly can, don't think about "minimum space".

As for what kind of chickens ............ oooooooo that's a difficult one as we all have our favourites and preferences. I think you should start making a list of what you want from your chooks, i.e. lots of eggs, colour of eggs, pretty to look at etc. Then Google some images and see what you like the look of, find out their characteristics, do they dig a lot etc. The final choice will be yours Good luck in your search

[beulah59]

Would you consider giving a home to 'retired' battery chickens?

[TEB]

Time I would say between 10 and 20 minutes per day for a bit of cleaning, checking over, feeding etc, abit longer on the proper cleaning days.
You wont get eggs every day with just 2, egg production varies between breed, I would go for at least 3 anyhow as chickens are a flock animal and if one were to die then you would have 1 on its own - not good.

I cannot see your costs being more than £15.00 per month

[Flummery]

I'd agree with having 3 - I have 4. I spend about 10 minutes in the morning cleaning out, poo picking in the run and changing water, filling up feeder etc. I give them an evening poo-pick when I give them a scattering of mixed grit and mixed corn (about a handful of each for all 4) and I usually add a few mealworms then as they love them and really try to mug me! I also (because I'm retired and have the time) give them some time on grass in the garden - fenced off to save them from the ponds and some of my poisonous plants - and when they are there, because we're in a foxy area and this grassy bit is not fox-proof, I stay out there with them and read my book and talk to them and shove them off my knee etc!

So yes, minimum of 15 minutes but as much time as you want to spend too. They are not expensive to run but are expensive to set up as you need to ensure your run is fox-proof (and believe me, you do. You may not see them but they are there.) The run should be as big as you can make it and for your own convenience it's better if it's big enough to walk into. DEFRA's minimum is 1 sq metre per bird but if you can at least double it they'll do better. More closely packed birds can turn to feather pecking. The run should be big enough to allow for things to amuse them - perches, dust baths, things to fly up onto. We have a plastic garden chair in ours. It's supposed to be for me but they don't agree!

If you are looking for plenty of eggs a hybrid is best. If you are looking for an ornamental addition to your garden which also lays some eggs then you want a pure breed. There are lots of websites out there with descriptions of breeds and their laying abilities. I think the Omlet website has some. Try googling Henderson's Chicken Breed chart too.

Good luck - I hope you take the plunge!

[Hans Mum]

and whatever you decide make the run and accomodation twice as big as you need because you'll want more....its an addiction

[Paul D84]

Would you consider giving a home to 'retired' battery chickens?

I don't see why not, is there a difference between them, apart from giving the battery ones a bit of the good life?

[Paul D84]

I'd agree with having 3 - I have 4. I spend about 10 minutes in the morning cleaning out, poo picking in the run and changing water, filling up feeder etc. I give them an evening poo-pick when I give them a scattering of mixed grit and mixed corn (about a handful of each for all 4) and I usually add a few mealworms then as they love them and really try to mug me! I also (because I'm retired and have the time) give them some time on grass in the garden - fenced off to save them from the ponds and some of my poisonous plants - and when they are there, because we're in a foxy area and this grassy bit is not fox-proof, I stay out there with them and read my book and talk to them and shove them off my knee etc!

So yes, minimum of 15 minutes but as much time as you want to spend too. They are not expensive to run but are expensive to set up as you need to ensure your run is fox-proof (and believe me, you do. You may not see them but they are there.) The run should be as big as you can make it and for your own convenience it's better if it's big enough to walk into. DEFRA's minimum is 1 sq metre per bird but if you can at least double it they'll do better. More closely packed birds can turn to feather pecking. The run should be big enough to allow for things to amuse them - perches, dust baths, things to fly up onto. We have a plastic garden chair in ours. It's supposed to be for me but they don't agree!

If you are looking for plenty of eggs a hybrid is best. If you are looking for an ornamental addition to your garden which also lays some eggs then you want a pure breed. There are lots of websites out there with descriptions of breeds and their laying abilities. I think the Omlet website has some. Try googling Henderson's Chicken Breed chart too.

Good luck - I hope you take the plunge!

I think I'll go for a hybrid then as I'm looking for eggs really, ones that I'm after is what I suppose you could class as the typical looking chicken, the red ones that you see on tv (god shows how amateur I am at this)

[MrsC]

Hi Paul

Total newbie here with 8 chucks. I've got 2 brown warrens, speckledy, white sussex, rock sussex, bluebelle, white star and rhode rock. The one thing we did do is spend 5/6 days building a big run and hen house, although I will be letting them out in the garden soon. The kids had 2 guinea pigs which were killed by a fox, it ripped the wooden top of the run we had. I spent lots of time reading and speaking to people before finally deciding on a design and area to put the girls and taking the plunge. It is soooo important to make sure the run is fox proof. We built the majority of our run out of recycled floorboards and used galvanised mesh panels along the bottom and top the run as well as some wire fire guards (nice and strong.) Good luck and let us now how you get on

[Suechooks]

I think I'll go for a hybrid then as I'm looking for eggs really, ones that I'm after is what I suppose you could class as the typical looking chicken, the red ones that you see on tv (god shows how amateur I am at this)

They are called Warrens usually but have lots of names ISA Brown, Lohmann something etc.
Ex-batts are little brown jobs! Ex-batts are lovely BUT they do come with baggage - they have lead an awful life in the cages and are released because they are past their best laying both in quantity of eggs and quality of shells, hence the supermarkets won't buy eggs from older hens. I'm not trying to put you off them but just to ensure you do research before you commit to them.
I have a mix of hybrids plus some ex-batts who are mostly now retired but I love them to bits so am happy to keep them as pets. I will always have space for some ex-batts.
Hope that helps!

[SMS6]

Also consider what arrangements you can make when youwant to go on holiday or need to be away from home.

This is the one obstacle that is preventing me from getting any, I have no one to look after them when I'm away.

[Flummery]

Mine are Rangers - you can see pics on my hen blog. They are also the Little Brown Hen cross type of thing - same as battery hens but I got them at 17 weeks old. I like to look at it as rescuing them BEFORE the battery cages.

[TPeers]

I'll state a case for pure breeds!

Beautiful colours in both feather and egg and genetic diversity! Should, God forbid, some horrendous disease start killing chickens the same way as we are loosing our bees then it is imperative to have as wide a diversity of hen 'stock' as possible - the chance of natural immunity will be greatly enhanced. Unless 'back garden' keepers consider these issues and take appropriate steps there is every chance of loosing breeds of hen for ever.

And yes, I do believe in using heritage seed and the work of the millenium seed bank!

Ok, I'm off my soapbox

In the end analysis - buy what makes you happy - if that is ISA warrens then go for it, you must be happy with your purchase or you won't want to give the necessary time to the hens care.

I'll get my coat....

[MaureenHall]

I'll state a case for pure breeds!

Beautiful colours in both feather and egg and genetic diversity! Should, God forbid, some horrendous disease start killing chickens the same way as we are loosing our bees then it is imperative to have as wide a diversity of hen 'stock' as possible - the chance of natural immunity will be greatly enhanced. Unless 'back garden' keepers consider these issues and take appropriate steps there is every chance of loosing breeds of hen for ever.

And yes, I do believe in using heritage seed and the work of the millenium seed bank!

Ok, I'm off my soapbox

In the end analysis - buy what makes you happy - if that is ISA warrens then go for it, you must be happy with your purchase or you won't want to give the necessary time to the hens care.

I'll get my coat....

I agree, but why not "mix and match"?