Spring Chickens

[Hinksy]

We are getting some Chickens/Chooks in the Spring and using the time we have now to gather as much info as possible so that we can offer them a good and stable/healthy home.

Now the Plan is to get one for each of the kids and us so we can all name them and the likes... this would be 5 Chickens possibly leading to a maximum of 6. We have a Chicken Coop which is apparently rated to 9 standard Chickens, the House and Run area is about 10foot by 7ft.

They will also have the run of the garden which is about 150ft by 35ft, the middle of it being taken up by the kids playground and the end as my veggie area. So we should have enough space for them to run about and play in and the garden is pretty much fox proof now, (well as fox proof as it can be!)

Like said we are getting 5 possibly and at the very most 6 Chickens, question is though.... Is it best to get them all at the same time so they can all start off together? Just we found a place we wanted 2 from but not found anymore as of yet.

Whats Best?

Thanks

Ja

[Bramble-Poultry]

You don't have to get them all at the same time but it is best to get them in at least pairs, the longer birds are established in their environment the more terretorial they will become which can lead to problems when intorducing new birds. It also depends on the breeds as introducing bantams to large fowl can be difficult but the other way round is fine.

I think that 5 to 6 would be a nice number and give you plenty of opportunity to get a few different breeds in, if that is your desire.

Word of warning fence your veg bed - 6 chooks will destroy even well established veg in less than 1/2 hour!!!

Questions are happily answered on here and we are always happy to induct another person into our chookoholics anonomous group! Look through the Sticky posts lots of info in thoses!

[Eco-Chic]

I'm planning to have battery caged raised veg beds in order to allow my 3 banties to continue to free range. Veg beds need net protection against white cabbage fly and other caterpillar dumping flutterbys, 2.5 dogs and a cat, so it makes sense.

I've got Orpington Blue Bantams which are fairly calm, not at all flighty and are friendly and easy to handle (except Madge who doesn't seem to like me touching her much). They'd be good with kids I reckon (the breed, not my laydees)

[Bramble-Poultry]

if you arent sure about buying birds, try and get hold of novembers Homefarmer magazine - jennie did a 3 page article on buying your first chooks - might help you out??

if you cant find it, i will see if i can get a copy cut and pasted up here......assuming copyright allows.

[Hinksy]

Thanks very much for the replies and info, will try and see if I can find the November issue on internet somewhere as the plan is to get everything ready for them and make sure we know exactly what we are doing first.

The Veg area is protected like a prison anyway from the Local cats!

[Bramble-Poultry]

if you cant get it on the net, give the editor - Paul Peacock a call and i am sure they do back issues. its a great magazine as its not all small holding this and smallholding that - its more about being self sufficientish in your own back yard!

their latest campaign is 52 meals to save the planet - in other words if you cooked one meal a week from everything you grew and raised yourself rather than import it from far and wide then the amount of carbon you have saved will only help the planet. if everyone did it then the UK's target for climate change would surely nearly be met!

[Eco-Chic]

I've just ordered the Nov back issue via Home Farmer - Home @ £3.40. It's on page 2 of the back issues options.

[Bramble-Poultry]

its an addictive little magazine Eco - down side to it you have to put up with my ramblings

[Eco-Chic]

If they ask me how I heard of them I shall mention that I was eager to read an article written by a forum acquaintance for whom I have great respect

[Hinksy]

Thanks for the link Eco, just found it on ebay though for the same price from the same people, so went with the ebay option to some points as points make pennies!


Another strange question..... Would chickens get on with a Tortoise?

[Eco-Chic]

They do like to 'test' things ie toenails and toes the first time you go out in flipflops. If you introduce them so they don't hurt the tortoise if they peck his head or legs I should think they'll get along just fine. Can imagine a chook sitting on the shell and hitching a ride across the garden

[Hinksy]

Ordered and received the November issue, but there does not seem to be much in there about Chickens, if anything at all....

Was it in another issue or have a missed the info?