Help with Chickens

[andrewo]

Hi,
We have an orchard that we want to put chickens in but I need advice (the orchard is 20 feet by 80 feet). I want to buy chicken wire to secure the orchard but have no idea were to buy the best stuff. I need it it quantity obviously and though I have bought chicken wire from DIY shops they only go up to 10 metres. I need advice and guidance off you lovely people on online shops that you think are good.

I also need advice on chicken varieties that are good with children, I am think of Orpington but some people have suggested Vorwohn (?), I just want to start with three chickens and build up but as long serving member of this forum (if a little lax in the last few years thanks to work etc) I just want some chickens that won't rip up the entire garden and will be good layers or dual purpose birds.

Finally, I need advice on chicken sheds and were to buy them. So many shops but were do you start and were do you all buy? I'd rather go with a recommendation than a fancy ad. I find this to be the best.

I am new to chickens, I've helped to keep them on an allotment but all I did was collect the eggs! I am green, all help will be gratefully received.

[its hilly]

Can't help with chicken wire, unless your local farm supply sells longer rolls.
Coops are often sold at rare breed poultry auctions, although not always any cheaper than your farm supply. Or if you are handy or know a joiner have a look at Bramble poultry's plans in the stickys at the top of the page and build your own. It'll be a better coop for the money. If you buy one, get something at least 16mm thick, a lot around are less and tbh dont last well.
As for breeds that are good with kids..well.. dont get any thing that is described as flighty. All breeds will have calmer hens and nuttier hens. And we all have favourites. But good old Sussex chooks are usually nice, lay well, and are good big birds if table is important (though with kids I guess it will be eggs) I only have the Silver Sussex which dont lay as well, but even my cockeral is nice. And my M-I-L has Light Sussex, also friendly. My orpington hens aren't that friendly and the boy is too big and scary for little kids, not nasty but not a softy either. My Silkies are darlings, they come for cuddles and are sooo cute, but dont lay like the big girls.
Hope that all helps a bit. Good luck and have fun.
PS..it's vorworks, but I know nowt about them, but overwyregrower has some, and a pm might get you more info on them.

[vicky]

We got wire from Atlanticstratford on Ebay (ATLANTIC STRATFORD items - Get great deals on WIRE NETTING WELD MESH, RODENT ANIMAL TRAPS items on eBay Stores!), they provided a good, cheap wire. And from our local country store too

We have a pekin which is lovely and tame but lays only very small eggs - child size! Maybe a mix of breeds (to tell them apart and add interest) that lay different colour eggs (to know who lays which egg)

[OverWyreGrower]

Hello! I am here with the Vorwerks! They are lovely, pretty birds; but not fantastic layers (small white eggs, slightly larger than a bantam, one every couple of days) and they are flighty birds - they can fly pretty high and aren't for being handled. Even my tamer girls scream like I'm trying to kill them when I pick them up!

In terms of chicken wire - you can always join 2 rolls together? We use plastic aviary netting instead (from Solway Feeders) as I find that chicken wire is easily bent out of shape etc.

Orpy's aren't that good for eggs, or as table birds really - they are just big feather dusters in my experience.

For first time chickens, until you are a bit more experienced, I'd go with some hybrids - White Star, Amber Star, Speckledy etc. Try Happy Chicks for birds and supplies.

In terms of housing, it's up to you. We have got 2 6x4 value sheds from B&Q for about £110 each and have converted them inside with perches etc. Means I can stand up in them, and they are easier to clean out!

[andrewo]

Thanks everyone, this of great help and HAPPY CHICKS is just down the road from me and I never knew it. They look like they do good poultry housing.

[chris]

I bought my weldmesh wire from hills of devon. Better quality (in terms of wire gage, anyway) to the price, and length of roll compared to ebay at the time I was looking

[OverWyreGrower]

Thanks everyone, this of great help and HAPPY CHICKS is just down the road from me and I never knew it. They look like they do good poultry housing.

I'm about 1/2 a mile from Happy Chicks!

If you are nearby one weekend, let me know, and you can come and see the birds/my set up etc

[andrewo]

Thanks OverWyreGrower, will take you up on that but think I've missed the boat this year and have more of the orchard to do before Winter. I will take this up on this offer next Spring if that is okay? We're thinking of going for one of Happy Chicks houses with chickens in the package. Good price and I am really impressed with the quality of the hen houses compared to other website offers. Thanks for the help, found MESH DIRECT for my chicken wire. We are quite blessed around here as there are no signs of foxes, the guy down the road let's them roam completely free and he has never lost any to foxes, a car or two but not foxes.

[roitelet]

When you buy your house have a look at the roof. The ones made of chipboard with a bitumen coating don't last all that long. The rain water seeps up and the chipboard falls apart. The one we bought was like that and although the house is fine I have had to replace the roof.