I've got some convincing to do.. :(

[Garden_girlie21]

Hello!

I'm more of a fruit and veg grower, but my sister and I would really (REALLY) like to keep chickens. The problem is, my parents aren't too keen on the idea. Why do you all keep chickens? how do they benefit you?

We've been doing some research, and we're thinking that if we do manage to convince the parents we would get this coop: Egg 4 Chicken Coop Run Hen House Poultry Home Ark Nest Box Coup & Run Set - Feel Good UK

Do you think this is a good coop?

We'd also like to get an extra run separate to the coops so the chickens could explore the garden a bit more.

One of the main problems is that we have a dog. She's eight years old, a Saluki-Lurcher cross, and normally quite docile and lazy. But hse's a bit mischievous. The parents think she would terrorise the chickens, but my sister and I think that we could teach her to leave the chickens alone. I don't think she associates the birds with what she sometimes gets as a treat after a Sunday roast. (the parents eat it, I'm a veggie!)

Any help, advice, tips or pointers would be greatly appreciated, I'd LOVE to keep chickens!

Jen x

[MaureenHall]

Well I keep chickens as pets with the added bonus of getting eggs. I don't have a dog, but if I did I'd make absolutely sure that it couldn't get into the chooks. No matter how well trained a dog is, I wouldn't trust one out of my sight. I've got a cat though and she's wary of the chickens though she did try to stalk them when I first got them - they sorted her out The only down side to keeping chooks is what to do when you want to go away. Luckily I've got 2 daughters and a very good friend who'll come and let them out in the mornings, make sure the feeders and water containers are full, collect the eggs, and lock them in at night

Oh yes, there's another added bonus too - they produce lots of poo which is a great compost accelerator

[RichmondHens]

Hi Jen

The coop shown is very tiny, even the one supposedly for 9 chickens. These things are always marketed at being able to house far more birds than they actually can. The issue is not with the house size but the run size. You can get quite a few birds in a relatively small roosting space, but they only go in it at night. In the day they want to be out and about exploring. If you could let them out to free range round the garden for a few hours each day then you could probably put 3 hens in that coop, but to keep them in there all day would make for very unhappy chickens.

Dogs and chickens can mix, if they are very used to each other, but never leave them alone together. Even the friendliest dog will have a go given half a chance, and even if he only chases them playfully, this is still extremely stressful for the chickens. You would have to train your dog very well to not go near them.

[Hans Mum]

i've got a dog & 2 cats, and they're more scared of the chickens than they are of them
whatever you end up with as a coop make sure its bigger than you want cause you'll end up with more and am sure your parents will be won over by them my OH certainly is and goes to check on the chickens before he says hello to me

[Garden_girlie21]

thank you so much for the quick replies already!

Richmond Hens - would it be better if I added an extension run? I only plan to have 3 hens as the parents have wills of STEEL. It would be the 4 bird model that I linked in my previous post, but with this on the end: Egg Ark 4 Chicken Coop Run Extension - Feel Good UK

If you look at the little pictures underneath the big picture, you can see what it would look like when all put together.

MaureenHall - I'd never let our dog be alone with them - I've just caught her trying to dig up a clematis in a plant pot because it had chicken poo pellets in the bottom and she can smell them. I don't understand why she wants to eat poo!

But I would definitely make the coop dog proof.

Hans Mum - thanks, it good to know that your chickens aren't terrorised by your other pets. What kind of dog/cats do you have? Are they very big?

Its kinda temping to think of putting a wire mesh fence around the coop so the dog definitely couldn't get close to the coop... what do you all think?

Thanks,

Jen x

[its hilly]

I hatch my chicks at home, and they live in a (4'x3') dog cage till they are big enough to go outside. The cat sits on it above the heat lamp They scatter when she jumps up, then ignore her. Likewise my adult chickens totally ignore my german shepherd staring into their run now they are used to her.

BUT, she is NEVER left near the chooks, even in their run, without someone around as although they seem to realise that she cant get at them, I am well aware that if they got out or she did get in things could be different. And your dog is a cross of two hunting breeds, who are both bred to chase. Although like mine she probably is a good natured pet, sadly when a feathery bundled scoots past them instinct WILL kick in regardless, and the sheer terror of a killer behind them can cause a chook to drop dead from shock. And if she'll dig for chicken poo pellets you will need your run to be strong wire she cant scrabble through, and paving slabs round it to stop her trying to dig in to get her favourite snack . As long as you bear that in mind when selecting a run for the the chooks and siting it then they should be fine together.

By the way mine eats chicken poo too, and horse poo...yeauck

[Garden_girlie21]

me too - my dog eats all kinds of poo. Mum says the horse poo isn't too bad for her because horses apparently don't have amazing digestive systems so their poo contains useful nutrient type things for dogs. but the dog sleep in my room and she STINKS. thanks for the advice about the dog and the chickens - mine's a little bit smaller than a german shepherd, but probably equally as terrifying to a chicken.

Hmmm, how about the chicken coop with extended run as above, but then with a wire mesh fence around the coop with paving slabson the innder side of the fence so she can't dig under?

thanks so much for all of the replies!

Jen x

[MaureenHall]

Why not forget about buying a run and put a wire fence round anyway? That way the girls will have a bit more space and the dog shouldn't worry them too much. If you can (will be allowed!) to let them have a roam around the garden for a while each day too, so much the better

[RichmondHens]

thank you so much for the quick replies already!

Richmond Hens - would it be better if I added an extension run? I only plan to have 3 hens as the parents have wills of STEEL. It would be the 4 bird model that I linked in my previous post, but with this on the end: Egg Ark 4 Chicken Coop Run Extension - Feel Good UK



Jen x

Always better if you add an extension run, but it will still be on the small side so do let them out as often as you can.

[tlck9]

1. Stress busting and entertaining

I can go and check on my chucks and my stresses just fade away

2. Fresh eggs

You know what you are feeding them and you know they are happy chickens, the eggs are fresh

3. The dog,

I have a gun dog, untrained and although he whinges at them alot, he has been told off by Henna, she pecked his nose hard...so although they are behind a fence they dont care, occasionally he runs at the fence, and they scoot off, but they now ignore him

Cost, apart from the initial outlay which I counted as a loss, they pay for themselves in eggs and any additional ones I sell.

Down side:

Too much time is spent just fussing over them and watching them

[Glutton4...]

Hens are wonderful, wonderful creatures, with the most wonderful nature, and an innocent curiosity about them. I know, 18 months ago I started with 8, I now have 40 They are sooooo rewarding.

My only worry would be your Dog (yes, I am a Dog-lover), as a Lurcher is bred specifically for coursing/chasing/catching. You will need a good fence to keep the Dog out - the Electric mesh kits are ace!

[Bramble-Poultry]

my parents had a lurcher and it nailed every one of the chickens it encountered, and despite dad's best efforts of fitting fences behind fences like an airlock it still managed to get to the ducks if i recall.

Lurchers are bred to chase and that is what you are fighting against. its hardwired into them. hopefully you have the exception to the rule, but prepare yourself as if you havent then whatever defenses you put up should work.

[johninblackpool]

HI Jen

We have recently started to think about getting chickens and researched what coop to get
What i have noticed is if you look at the large companies that sell them they are very expensive the one you put a link to is only about £79 on ebay so have a good look round first

PS hope you can persuade your folks (Push the fact that they will have Free Range Eggs) we get ours at the end of the month and can't wait

John

[RedThorn]

The joy of collecting fresh eggs it brilliant! Like a treasure hunt every day! Cats are not a problem, my girls think it's a great game chasing them(after they got over their initial fear) Dog's, I cannot comment on as I do not have one. They are wonderful characters who are highly entertaining. All the best on convincing your folks.

As to the run and house, if your dad is the slightest bit DIY orientated, perhaps he'll like the idea of helping you build a house and run. Could be a fun way to spend time with him. If you're anything like my daughter, she has me well and truly wrapped around her little finger and would love it.

[Garden_girlie21]

Thank you so much for the replies - I have had a look around en e-bay, and its all very exciting!!

My mum is swaying and has changed her outright NO to a "lets wait until I've finished being a churchwarden and then we'll see."

Woo!

I am so excited. Dad and I aren't too great at the whole DIY thing, but its a suggestion I could put to him! =]

I think once my dog has gotten over the initial excitement, she will just accept them. She's far too lazy to do anything serious.

thank you so much for all of your comments - it may be a little while before we get chickens, but we're a lot closer to our goal than we were before!

Jen x