Advice for newbie please

[jlperrone]

I've spent the last three years researching chickens and plan to finally get some this spring/summer when building work's finished at my house. The plan is to get three Wyandottes (or possibly hybrids if the budget's a bit tight) in an off-the ground house and attached run. I am hoping the chooks will be free-ranging around the garden at least five days a week, but I also want the run to be big enough for them to stay in when I am away at work etc. So here are my questions
1. will Wyandottes be flying over my waist-high picket fence and into my veg patch?
2. i feel totally confused by the array of houses available out there. I like this one from Chirpy Coops (Chirpy Coops) which I'd go for with the longer run, but wonder what extra I am getting compated to this much cheaper run, say (which I'd also get with the extension) Egg 4 Chicken Coop Run Hen House Poultry Home Ark Nest Box Coup & Run Set - Feel Good UK
3. what do you do in the height of summer when it's really hot and the chickens are free-ranging - do they try to come inside the house?
4. One breeder suggested getting what I presume would be 'growers' rather than POL so I could have the experience of 'bringing them up' and get them really tame so they're not bothered by my toddler and preschooler - good idea or not? Just to say eggs aren't my top priority as we don't actually eat many in my household!

All advice welcome ...

[polo]

Hi There,

I can't help you with Wyandottes having never kept them but someone will be along shortly who has I'm sure. I reckon most birds other than the heavy ones wouldget over something waist height however... Especially if there is a veg patch to spur them on.

The hen houses - The cheaper one looks to have felt on the roof which can harbour red mite which can be very difficult to get rid of as it can hide under the felt. The other one has onduline which is much better and provides ventilation too.

You could buy the cheaper one and change the roof relatively cheaply? The other thing to bear in mind is how easy is the access for cleaning. You really dont want to be bending over and reaching in. A big door is best.

My hens don't try and come in the house - yet. I will think of something if they do. One of those beaded curtains would definitely stop mine for a good while!

I got my hens POL as it was my first lot of hens. Less to think about at that age even though you pay more. They are fine around the children in my street although I have 'rules' when they go see the hens. No running, shouting or going in to see them without me.

Hope that helps
Polo

[jlperrone]

Thanks for that Polo. The Onduline does seem to be a superior choice. I guess I'll have to protect the veg beds initially, then I am growing prickly roses up the fence which should prove a deterrent too, I hope.

[country chic]

I got my girls at pol and it was about 2/3 weeks later we got our first egg, so exciting. My 5yrs old is always trying to pic the girls up and you just have to teach the younger kids on how best to catch and hold.

Another good thing about getting pol is that a breeder will know what sex they are .

I'd definately protect any plant you dont want the chooks near as a few chooks can demolish the veg patch pretty quickly ( as I have learned ) . My girls would come in the house if not chased away, they are very inquisitinve creatures and tend to follow you around, yes even into the kitchen.

We never ate very much eggs either until the girls came and when your own eggs are available you really want to use them particularly since they are so much nicer than anything you will get out the shops. It is nice however to pass on eggs to family and friend and I'd say most people will have a small charge. I have allowed my daughter to take over the 'egg business ' for her it is like playing shopies but for real. Good luck with the chooks.

[chris]

hehe mine walk over my gooseberry (and through) bushes like there's no thorns on them. I've 3 hybrids, who can fly over an 8' wall (they have done a few times), but can never seem to be bothered to fly over a 3' temporary fence keeping them in one garden. I've shooed them off a few times, so they've kind of taken the hint now.

I got three @ 17 weeks (pretty much POL) - my 17 month old bats (er, sorry pats) them on the head and they just stare at her in disbelief - if she gets on their nerves they simple fly/run off, they've never attacked her. They're always under your feet mind, and get used to you quite quickly. I handle mind every day (esp when I want an early night - tend to pick them up and chuck them in the run).

Have you thought about building your own coop/run ? Building one for mine now, and current cost is £33. I'm building them a walk in run too, so I can leave them safe if we go away, etc without worrying about someone letting them out around the garden.

[jlperrone]

Thanks for that chrismarks - but why don't they go over the three ft fence then? I am completely hopeless at DIY and so is my other half so building a run is way beyond our skillset, alas! I do need to think further about where they'll go in my garden though ... I can't have them freeranging all the time, so want them to have enough room when 'confined'...

[Flummery]

They will get over a fence they can perch on top of. We have an area in the garden that they are allowed to roam in, dig, make nests etc. and this was surrounded by a 4ft picket fence. They would get up on this no problem and out into the rest of the garden. It now has a lenth of the stiff plastic mesh on top of this so it's not very much higher but it doesn't look secure to perch on so they don't try any more.

This isn't their 'home' though. They live in a secure walk-in, roofed weldmesh run with flagged flooring and brick pathways around it to keep the dreaded foxes out!

[Hilary B]

Look for a secondhand shed, (preferably without roofing felt!), make a perch (the hardest bit is working out how to attach it, a length of 2"x2" timber, with top corners 'rounded' a bit is ideal) and put a box in on its side for eggs (wooden box about 1' each side is great, try to arrange it so very little daylight gets in) and make sure there is enough ventilation.
You don't actually need anything sophisticated, just shelter from the wet, a dark corner for egg laying and something to sleep on.
If getting brave enough to go from scratch, exterior grade plywood, or Sterling board makes a better 'basic box' than t&g or shiplap, less places for the redmite to hide.
Creosote substitute all over, inside and out, (let it dry thoroughly before the birds go in) is a good idea whatever you use (even one sold as brand new for the purpose).

[chris]

Thanks for that chrismarks - but why don't they go over the three ft fence then? I am completely hopeless at DIY and so is my other half so building a run is way beyond our skillset, alas! I do need to think further about where they'll go in my garden though ... I can't have them freeranging all the time, so want them to have enough room when 'confined'...

Laziness? The 3' makeshift barrier is to keep them in that garden as I we knocked a hole in the wall to build a gate so we can easily get to them.

Before this, when they were newly in there they kept coming over the wall - they seem to stay there now though.