Chicken Info

[Hilary B]

It's not so they can "snoop" around. It's just so they have a record of approximate numbers of birds being kept in various places. If avian flu hits your area, you would want to be notified, wouldn't you? I keep upwards of 60 chickens, and certainly wouldn't want my flocks decimated by Joe Bloggs down the road with a few infected chickens that no-one knew about. I would be mighty p*****d off I can tell you if I had to cull all my birds because of that guy.

They have not inspected me, and I suspect they won't unless there is a disease threat in the area. And they are welcome to, I have nothing to hide.

I'm afraid that anything 'government' has me in the 'not-if-I-can-help-it' camp, and when it comes to disease, I remember the child whose pet goats were slaughtered because there was F&M on a farm a mile or so away, even though no livestock had been on the ONLY field belonging to her parents' farm and within the 'specified distance' of the infected farm. When you add that the outbreak was the result of carelessness at a research establishment......

[Eco-Chic]

It's not inspection that worries me Richmond, it's the over-reaction of officials who may insist that everyone in London culls their birds with immediate effect because there is a suspicion that a seagull found dead in Regent's Park just might have avian flu and could have pooped on London.

I'm aware that avian flu, NCD and Marek are notifiable and would immediately cull my girls and co-operate with DEFRA if I suspected they had, or had been exposed to any of the above in order to contain the diseases.

[Suechooks]

I think DEFRA are probably aware of any hens on our allotment sites as they're Council run and although no one is refused, we do have to ask permission to keep them so that the animal welfare guy can have a look if there are any problems reported or suspected. There is also a restriction in numbers so things don't get out of hand.
I see your point RH and I'd also be really p''''d off in those circumstances!

[Eco-Chic]

Also Eco chic, have you had many eggs yet? I've had 3, thinking they might just be settling in still...

No eggs yet Dashy. They're about 19 weeks old now so may not lay until the New Year now that the days are shortening so quickly.

Having said that, they are all redder in the face and comb (if you can dignify it as such) and Maud was so grumpy and spiteful to me yesterday I may yet be surprised.

[tonyreay]

stoopid is as stoopid does....

hey c'mon.. howzabout some REAL BASIC INFO.... the missus has watched far too many "back to nature" shows and now, as well as the greenhouse and the indoor spice/herb garden and the bird sanctuary she THINKS she might want chickens (although she won't be able to kill, pluck, gut or eat them - and I, frankly, would just as soon buy one in plastic wrap all ready to go in the oven) for the eggs and the manure (for the greenhouse and the herb garden).
So - my theory is to build a two story coop in the back yard with a ramp down to the grass. Do they really eat flowers and plants? Will they go peaceably back up the ramp at night or should we just leave 'em to wander around the lawn? Do they screech at dawn or is that just the boys? Do they need a good roosterin' in order to lay eggs? Will they intermingle with the visitors at the birdfeeder and give us birdflu and kill us both? Should we get cute little Easter chicks and raise 'em so they're comfortable with us? Do we have to bring 'em indoors for the winter? How much vet stuff do they require? How much personality do they have? Will they attract fleas, foxes/cats/wolves? What do you do with the ones that die for no discernible reason?.... and any other info for those of us who don't even have the most basic idea.
thanks for the time - apologies in advance if she changes her mind and wants a worm farm instead.

[RedThorn]

hey c'mon.. howzabout some REAL BASIC INFO.... the missus has watched far too many "back to nature" shows and now, as well as the greenhouse and the indoor spice/herb garden and the bird sanctuary she THINKS she might want chickens (although she won't be able to kill, pluck, gut or eat them - and I, frankly, would just as soon buy one in plastic wrap all ready to go in the oven) for the eggs and the manure (for the greenhouse and the herb garden).

Well I get a regular supply of eggs although the number does taper down during winter.
As to the manure, you'll sure get some of that The amount will obviously depend on the amount of girls you plant to keep

So - my theory is to build a two story coop in the back yard with a ramp down to the grass. Do they really eat flowers and plants?Yes they do! including your lawn

Will they go peaceably back up the ramp at night or should we just leave 'em to wander around the lawn?

Most girls will put themselves to bed each night

Do they screech at dawn or is that just the boys?

They do start to make a noise if you're not there in time to let them out, but it's not a screech

Do they need a good roosterin' in order to lay eggs?

No a rooster is not required

Will they intermingle with the visitors at the birdfeeder and give us birdflu and kill us both?

Nothing in life is guaranteed, but would say that there is about the same risk/fractionally higher chance of catching it from a pigeon in your garden

Should we get cute little Easter chicks and raise 'em so they're comfortable with us?

Down to personal choice, My ex-batts are the friendliest girls I've got bar 1 and I got her at 16 weeks

Do we have to bring 'em indoors for the winter?

No need. My girls actually enjoyed scratching in the snow

How much vet stuff do they require?

Again down to personal choice and where you go. I made a decision not to use a vet, except to get medication

How much personality do they have?

Like people and the usual pets one owns, each has it's own personality

Will they attract fleas, foxes/cats/wolves?

Foxes are a problem which you need to consider.
cats - mine get chased by the chickens and all the neighbourhood cats now give them a wide berth
As with any pet, you can get your vermin, the 2 biggest are mites and fly's

What do you do with the ones that die for no discernible reason?

Take them to the vet to be disposed of

.... and any other info for those of us who don't even have the most basic idea.
thanks for the time - apologies in advance if she changes her mind and wants a worm farm instead.

See comments in green

I find them a pleasure and a enjoy keeping my girls and they are far easier than you first imagine. They do however destroy your garden given half a chance. This includes any lawn that you might have.

There is nothing better that fnding those little treasures in the nest box.

Oh and welcome to the vine by the way

[Eco-Chic]

If you love your garden, cage the garden and allow the chooks to free range

Chooks eat slugs and snails and caterpillars if you let them free range.

Make a very big coop. If you decide to get 4 chooks you'll soon find you want another 4.

Dogs can be as dangerously fatal as foxes to chooks

[tonyreay]

Just to pursue this flower/lawn destruction a little further... do they eat the flowers and grass/clover out of hunger or just plain ornery-ness? Could this be fixed by simply ensuring a plentiful food supply? (what do they eat, anyway?) Will the flowers run the risk of poisoning them? Eating slugs is good, but not if the hens eat more veggies than the slugs did. I can ASSURE you that my postage stamp garden will not handle more than four hens.. we were thinking of only two actually.

[RedThorn]

no
nope
no way!

no matter how much food you leave out, the plants are toast... even rose bushes!

[tonyreay]

would this be big enough for two birds?
CHICKEN HEN HOUSE COOP ARK POULTRY RUN NORFOLK STYLE on eBay (end time 29-Oct-09 19:09:16 GMT)

[RedThorn]

Will the girls live in there permanently or will they also free range? If it is permanent, then I would recommend extending the run...

I do suggest a minimum of 3 girls. Reason being they do occasionally die unexpectedly and to be left with 1 is not a good thing for the poor girl left behind.

[tonyreay]

Well, space IS quite a bit of a premium.. what exactly would happen to the sole remaining hen before I could simply get another - or do they not like to share with strangers?

[RedThorn]

For starter's, they are flock birds and secondly introducing 1 at a time is not easy/good idea

[tonyreay]

I'm not trying to be argumentative, just trying to get some info.. I'd like nothing better than to have a dozen or so roaming around a good sized garden, but I don't ... so, what would happen if I had one hen and then got another one? will they attack and kill each other, stop laying, write to their lawyers, what...?

[Suechooks]

I'd suggest you get a book or do a search on this forum. All the stuff you need to know is there it just needs winkling out. The book I started with is "Starting with Chickens" by Katie Thear. I still use it as a reference
Hens need as much scratching about space as they can get to be real hens and not just egg machines.
Welcome to the Roost!