Orpingtons as a good first bird with a young family?

[ChrisMath88]

Pilling lane it's on I think, if you google happy chicks


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[alifrew]

I wondered if that was where you meant. I bought my girls there, hoping to go in a few months and get some more. They do have lovely coops.


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[Stan79]

BB - what have you used to make the "modesty blind" in front of the nesting boxes?

Do I also see you're using shredded paper as bedding? That's what I was thinking of using as I can get it from work. How does it compare to wood shavings, straw, etc?

[Stan79]

You'll want to give it a good brushing of Creocote inside and out to deter red mite, then leave it for a few days to dry before putting your new chickens in it. They'll also need a far larger run than that one, we bought a similar set up and I ended up building a 20'x8' covered run around it to give them plenty of space. My 3 Warrens,1 Orpington, 1 light Sussex and 1 Polish happily cram into the coop together but during the summer they just roost in the run.

I gave it a coat of Creocote this afternoon. Horrible stuff!

I will be building a large run which the coop and smaller run will go inside. Idea being that they can be out in the small run all day and in the large run when we're home.

[bearded bloke]

Hi Stan,the "modesty blind" is a piece of bricklayers damp proof course,cut into 1/2" wide strips.

Yep,shredded paper works a treat for me,used as bedding & on the coop floor,when soiled with chook poo rots down well (& quite quickly) in the dalek

[alifrew]

I have used the "bum" part of a large pair or v dark blue jeans to cover the front of my nest boxes. I cut strips at the bottom so the girls could get in and out easily and it can be taken down and washed when needed. I did it as an emergency measure and I'm still using it a year later!


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[Stan79]

Right, we have:
a coop (creocoted and treated - still need to reinforce nesting boxes),
some bedding,
20kg layers pellets,
20kg mixed corn,
grit,
something for them to peck at with corn and grit in,
a galvanised feeder,
an ice cream tub for water (and a few bids on proper galvanised drinkers on ebay),
2kg of Diaguard Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth,
5L Poultry Shield coop cleaner,
etc.

What else do i need to have in place before bringing some hens home tomorrow or Sunday?

Thanks again everyone for your help!

[bearded bloke]

Looks like you've got more than I had to start with Stan

Get hold of a couple of metal bins to keep the pellets & grain in,rodents will be looking for free grub once they work out there is a supply also a good idea to put the feeder away overnight (same reason)


Given the current weather maybe ......

[veggiechicken]

I made little curtains for my first chook's nest boxes - I don't do that any more - they just have to overcome their shyness

[frias]

Thank you all for your input!

My Mrs likes the look of:
Black Star
Colombian Blacktail
Blue Ranger AKA Bluebelle

I have one each of those breeds. Columbian Blacktail is the friendliest. Followed by our Magpie (or black sussex) They all lay well. Our Bluebell is very bossy!

[Stan79]

Ok people - going to go and pick some up this evening around 1730ish! Very excited!

Yet another question - what's the difference between a draught and good ventilation in a chicken coop? I've read that there should be a through flow of air to remove ammonia but that chickens don't like draughts?

The coop i have doesn't have any specific holes for ventilation, just a bunch of gaps in the joins due to the shoddy way it was made! Should i seal the gaps and add a ventilation 'window' or two with adjustable vents?

[bearded bloke]

Look on the side at the top above the laying box Stan,there should be 3 long slots.If not there for some reason I can take a picture of mine to give an idea,the vents need to be high up to let excess heat caused by body temperature build up escape & also to help reduce condensation

I gotta go check them shortly so will take pic',post if you want it uploaded

[Feral007]

I have half wire front on my chicken house. I hung an old quilt cover over it last winter to slow down the cold.
The birds seem quite happy in it, and I read that they need good ventilation if you want to avoid health problems.
Have a sick bird this week so not sure if I should be worried that they are getting too cold, or glad that they have ventilation so only one is sick!

I'm using a combination of shredded paper and wood shavings. And adding some herbs to help with the smell. Planning to use the deep litter and only clean out once or twice a year. Supposed to be insulation against heat and cold.

[Stan79]

Look on the side at the top above the laying box Stan,there should be 3 long slots.If not there for some reason I can take a picture of mine to give an idea,the vents need to be high up to let excess heat caused by body temperature build up escape & also to help reduce condensation

I gotta go check them shortly so will take pic',post if you want it uploaded

Yes please to a pic. I think I know what you mean and there's nothing there.

[bearded bloke]

Whoops there are 2 not 3

Ere yer go Stan ....