First chooks!

[Poledragon]

A friend has very kindly given me her chicken ark as she no longer keeps chooks (too many foxes nearby). It will take 3 regular sized birds or 4-5 bantams and is just perfect for my big garden as the ark is about the same size as my veggie beds, plus it will fit under the fruit trees in the 'orchard' (6 trees )

So - for a first time chicken owner, where do I begin? I've been offered two 1-year-old birds, so that bit is sorted. But before I pick them up, I want to know the basics. I'm used to dealing with much larger livestock, ie dairy cows and sheep! I've never worked with chickens on any of the farms I used to work on. Closest I've come is visiting a poultry processing unit (which is another reason for wanting to find somewhere to rear my own table birds... but that's another thread)

Suggestions for suitable books/websites, hints and tips for a complete beginner all gratefully received!

[roadkill]

cant wait to see some replys to this as im thinking of getting some chickens on my plot and havent a clue where to start , will my fence keep the foxs out its 2ft under the ground and about 4ft high?

[Birdie Wife]

I got three hens in July and as another first-time chicken keeper was also slightly apprehensive, but you'll find it gets addictive! They are such characters, from the bossy-boots mothering types to the hen I fondly know as 'Headless' because she runs round in circles whenever I go near her! All of them were quite skittish as first until they learnt that I usually had food around, and now they happily feed in between my feet.

Poultrychat.com is a great forum website for chicken keepers of all levels of experience, and you'll find several members of the Vine there too. I would recommend you get hold of one or both of the Storey guide to keeping hens and Katie Thear's book (sorry, can't remember the exact titles but you'll fins them both on Amazon without too much trouble I'm sure).

Tips - get your hens acclimatised to your presence, if you watch them for a while each day you'll get to know their characters and this will help in determining what might be odd behaviour that could indicate illness. Hens don't show obvious signs of illness until it's often too late, because the others in the flock may pick on them. Also, layers pellets are an ideal food for all year round - they contain all the nutrients necesesary for health and egg production. One of my neighbours thought that layers pellets made hend produce eggs, so he took them off layers and put them on mixed corn through the winter to discourage egg production at a time when they should be taking a break from laying, but I've since found out that this isn't the case. Mixed corn is handy as a treat before bedtime on cold night, because it provides warmth over a longer period than layer pellets, which burn quickly in digestion. You can also feed some green stuff from kitchen waste and things like bread soaked in milk, tomatoes, fruit (but not too much of any of these things, or they'll get poorly tums) and they yolks in their eggs will be a beautiful orangey-tellow as a result!).

That's all I can think of just know, I'm sure if you have any specific questions you can find all the answers in the books or the webiste I mentioned.

Good luck, and enjoy!

[Birdie Wife]

cant wait to see some replys to this as im thinking of getting some chickens on my plot and havent a clue where to start , will my fence keep the foxs out its 2ft under the ground and about 4ft high?

That should be fine, check the perimeter regularly to see if anything's been having a go. If you haven't already, I'd run a line of barbed wire at the bottom and top of the fence too. Stoats and rats can be problematic too (but more in eating eggs laid free range), but some hens I've heard of can actually chase and kill mice and rats! The guy that lived in my house before me also kept hens and a stoat attacked one of the them during the day, so it can happen. If you think this might be a problem in your area, get some strong mesh of about 10mm x 10mm dimensions and run that around the bottom of the fence too. I don't know how common this is in other areas, so maybe ask around and see what other chicken-keepers in your area do.

[shirlthegirl43]

When I was young my mum kept chickens. We used to boil all the veggie peelings and mix with layer's mash to feed warm in the morning in winter. In summer they got pellets as there were no spud peels. In the afternoon they got mixed corn and any green trimmings from cauli or cabbage were thrown into the run.

Important things are to always have fresh water available and to provide a bowl of grit which helps keep the eggshell strong. Ask at your local farm feed merchants and I am sure you will get plenty of advice.

Oh, and move the ark every day or two to keep the grass 'mowed' all over!

[yoanbob]

congrats pole dragon, keeping chooks is very rewarding and fun, they will be a little bit nervous for the first few days to a couple of weeks till they get used to you and their new rutine. its best to establish their rutine early on so they get used to it quickly, i.e. what time you let them out, feed them treats etc,
i would keep them inside the first day with some water and food and let them out on day two so they know where to go after dark, let them out after it gets light if you can, give them a good quality layers pellet to free feed from and a hand full of mixed corn helps them keep warm overnight in the winter but make sure you give them treats in the afternoon so they dont fill up on them, this makes sure they get a balanced diet.
also they get to know your voice so if you talk to them in the morn they will know its you coming to let them out and wont get upset about the noise, the same in the eve when you close them in for the night.
any q's just ask.

[Crazy Chickie]

Yep, just what everyone else said. Storey book of chickens and anything by Katie Thear I would agree are probibly the best books about. You've worked with larger animals so you'll find chickens very low maintainence compaired to them. Watch them, talk to them (my neighbours all think I'm nuts ) garden with them, they're a great help removing grubs n pests and you'll learn to speak 'chicken' and make the 'took-took' noise they use to tell each other when they've found food (now you see why they think I'm nuts ) And yes chickens are highly addictive.
CC

[Ann]

A book I love is "Hens in the Garden, Eggs in the Kitchen" by Charlotte Popescu. Lots of great suggestions for using your eggs and even with only 2 chickens I have more than I can use. They lay all winter too.

[Birdie Wife]

I've got that book too, it's a good book if you've already got the usual ones but it is more of a glorified recipe book than a how-to of chickens! Very useful nonetheless.

[ChrisB]

Everybody has said all that needs to be said so I'll just add, don't get too hooked up about books etc and what to do, just enjoy them as they are hilarious.