Is 10 too many?

[marathon]

Well we love our 7 ladies they love the 18ft x 5ft run and we let them out near enough everyday for a few hours.

My 3 year old has discovered chicks on the poultry farms website now all three children have fallen in love with the idea of watching the chicks grow into large hens. We have only ever purchased POL.

My husband thinks it would be a great education and the poultry farm say the chicks are days old and sexed ( i didn't realise you could sex chicks so young but its a well established poultry farm)

It's not a small garden I reckon it's 80ft by 38ft I have a cubve which is said to house up to 10 hens.

However is 10 chickens too many for the garden? Is it too much for the neighbours to put up with?

[RichmondHens]

Housing is never really an issue. You can usually squeeze the said amount into most housing on the market. BUT it's the outside space that is the key issue. 18 by 5 feet does not sound much even for 7 hens, but if you let them out each day to free range then you may get away with a few more.

Remember though, chicks grow FAST. They will be feathered up within 4 - 6 weeks and not cute and fluffy any more. Then they go through their ugly phase, which may not delight your children so much. Also if you are getting day olds, you will need to provide brooder box and heat lamp until they are about 6 weeks and can come off heat, then a small coop to let them grow on a bit more before you introduce them to your girls. If you put them straight in with your existing girls as small chicks they would get bullied without a mother hen to protect them. They will need a separate diet too. Chick crumb and then grower pellet. All extra expense.

Don't want to put a dampener on your plans, but just pointing out the practicalities.

[Nicos]

Could you borrow a few for a couple of weeks over Easter?( keeping them indoors?)

It really is too cold for little babies to be out and about- I lost 2 or 3 last February when some of my chicks went walk about away from their mom outside.And yes- the other gals respected her charge over them.

Have you thought of a couple of eggs if one of the gals goes broody- you'd have to be prepared to find someone to cull them - or re home them- if they turned out to be boys

[marathon]

[QUOTE=RichmondHens;625932]Housing is never really an issue. You can usually squeeze the said amount into most housing on the market. BUT it's the outside space that is the key issue. 18 by 5 feet does not sound much even for 7 hens, but if you let them out each day to free range then you may get away with a few more.

QUOTE]


Actually I was wrong with the measurements, they have 93 square foot, however they never seem to fill the run as they all seem to stay together. We've never had any problems with them but I fill the run with woodchip so they are always able to scratch about.

I guessed I'd have to keep them seperate and was thinking about building a small run which butts up to the main run so they can see each other, would that work?

The other thing my OH suggested was that when one of my ladies goes broody buy some eggs but then I'm left with deciding what to do with the males

My head says wait until the regretable happenes when one of the ladies passes away. However I have to admit that I like the idea of watching them grow from babies.

Nichos I was thinking of getting them after Easter or even thinking about school summer holidays when the children will be home everyday. I don't mind waiting the poultry farm has chicks most of the time

[marathon]

Have you thought of a couple of eggs if one of the gals goes broody- you'd have to be prepared to find someone to cull them - or re home them- if they turned out to be boys

Yes I'm thinking about it but think maybe I would get upset with culling them. I can borrow lamp so wouldn't have a problem there.

At what age would they be able to mix with the older ladies in the main run?

[Nicos]

At what age would they be able to mix with the older ladies in the main run?

Sorry- no idea- mine have always had their mom as a body guard!!!

Summer sounds much better!!

[Nicos]

Just thinking about what RH said about overcrowding.
93 sq feet is 9 square metres isn't it??
So that's already just under 1sq m each
What's the recommended minimum???

Maybe bantams would be a better choice if you intend to get some more??
Just a thought

[marathon]

Just thinking about what RH said about overcrowding.
93 sq feet is 9 square metres isn't it??
So that's already just under 1sq m each
What's the recommended minimum???

Maybe bantams would be a better choice if you intend to get some more??
Just a thought

Actually my OH says that it's actually 10.65 square metres, however I don't want them to be squassed in not that they ever spread themselves out. Some on branches and other objects and normally up one end, depending on whats going on at each end for them to look at.

I think maybe I should tell my OH we should wait. Maybe make an effort to get them next easter rather than this easter. I love my ladies so are very happy and healthy so don't want to push my luck

[Nicos]

I know the feeling about pushing your luck!
Mine are also very healthy and I sort of went off the idea of rescue chooks having seen the quality of animal husbandry over here. Of course there are plenty of superb places which breed chooks, but I decided eggs was the way to go- but then couldn't find the eggs I wanted when my best chook went broody.
I think you should just follow your gut feeling. I just fancied some dark brown, normal sized eggs ( mine are bantam)...but we already give plenty of eggs away having 7 layers and just 2 of us!

4 eggs- May/June is my present thought for me!

[kirsty b]

Yes I'm thinking about it but think maybe I would get upset with culling them. I can borrow lamp so wouldn't have a problem there.

At what age would they be able to mix with the older ladies in the main run?

I currently have 2 3week old chicks in my living room, and they are going through the ugly stage! They are a mixture of down, adult feathers and baldy patches! All they do is eat, poop, cheep and try to escape!
I plan to move them to my greenhouse at 6-7 weeks, (am turning heat off for little whiles during the day now and they seem to cope all right so far, still under heat all night) and they will stay in there till they are about 12 weeks and big enough to be gently integrated with the big girls (I have a mini run which I can use for this purpose). Should be fun, as I am getting 6 ex-batts on 27 March too.

[RichmondHens]

I think 1 sq m each is the recommended minimum, which with some fairly inactive breeds is probably ok. If they have plenty of litter to scratch in then that helps keep them amused.

I have found that bantams need more space, not less, as they seem to be rather busier little birds and enjoy running and flying around their enclosure.

[Polly Fouracre]

How many hens are too many? As with any animal, for some people one is too many, to others twenty one aren't. If you have the space, can house and feed them and afford your vet. bills then have as many as you please!
I am often told I have too many dogs, poultry etc. but all are happy, healthy, well fed and well loved so, if you want to raise chicks go for it!!!

[Nicos]

Ah well....looks like you should go for it then!!!! ( when you're ready for them!!!)

[Hilary B]

If you hatch some boys, Bristol is within my travelling range for conversion of cockerels into dinners. I've already done one journey (to Bournemouth) for the purpose.

[yeti]

hi,think it is all down to each individual personally,my garden is proberly 45 ft wide and 100 ft and i have 7 bantams , 2 cocks and 5 hens, with the aim of getting 3 or 4 more hens(bantams) they are all out during the day and put themselves away,i stuck with bantams because they dont do half as much damage as the larger chooks! if i were you i would have ten,but thats just me and i love mine..