Advice on chickens on allotment

[Baldy]

In on the committee at my allotment. Council owned site but run by us. As far as I know noone on the committee has experience with chooks. We've kept quiet about chickens cos were worried about yet more stuff for us to get lumbered with... but a friend who's got a plot wants to start keeping chickens and I've told him that legally he's got the right. In many ways I'm quite keen on this... been thinking of getting a couple of rescue at home but this could work out well for me too.
Any specifics to worry about. 90% of our plot holders would be fine but there's a few who would worry me if they were 'looking after' chickens.
I'm thinking we offer some sort of initial testing... we wouldn't be able to enforce it but might be worth trying?
This is my longest post on the 'Vine - I must be worried

[Scarlet]

I have chickens nut I don't have an allotmentso im not sure about the "yet more stuff to get lumbered with" comment.
I know Snadger keeps chickens on his plot, he may spot your post soon..
Chickens do need to be locked in at night, they can all get taken overnight if not so a safe secure run is a must and letting them free reign during the day is a no no for me...they can cause havoc on a plot if left so ideally should be kept locked up in a run during the day too on an allotment.
They need fresh water and feed daily...again Snadger has some "crazy" set up that runs off rain water and he's made a treadle feeder.
Eggs need to be collected daily...or you will end up with egg eaters...pretty pointless keeping chickens that eat their own eggs imo.
what are your worries?

[Baldy]

I'm on the committee.
Imagine that...

Perhaps I'll end a moderator here

Its unlikely

[Baldy]

Scarlet - its about the 7 people on the committee being lumbered with 'are these chickens properly cared for' ?
No
. Are we sure... um.. we're not experienced with chickens yet somehow that will become our responsibility to check on those who can or cannot look after their chickens.
I find it hard enough to go round and say 'your weeds are out of control' - to judge whether the chickens are looked after ok.. well... I can make an informed guess... but I'll have to be callng the RSPCA out if I don't like what I'm seeing.
Its likely to be another thing to worry about .

[Scarlet]

Hmmm, ok - perhaps I'm not the best person to answer this one as I haven't got an allotment.
But don't make a guess on appearances - they often look muddy and bedraggled...they don't always look pretty and they loose feathers in the Autumn and some can look bald!
Though I would expect them to have feed and clean water and a reasonable amount of space in their pen.

[veggiechicken]

If its worrying you - say no now.
There's money, time and effort involved in setting up a fox-proof chicken run. It wouldn't be fair to say yes, then change your mind a few weeks later.
Keeping chooks is no different to keeping any other animal - they need daily attention, feed and water, room to exercise and clean and safe accommodation.
If the person who wants them is not on site every day, I'd say no on that basis.

[Jay-ell]

I'm not certain what you're asking - are you asking if your committee should let people keep hens?

Is there anything in the contract/agreements that specifically forbids keeping of hens? If not then the Allotments Act gives them the right to keep chickens (but not cockerels) as long as it's not for commercial gain

[Cadalot]

I'm on the committee.
Imagine that...

Perhaps I'll end a moderator here

Its unlikely

Now that would be poacher turned gamekeeper LOL

[Baldy]

As I understand it we can't legally stop people from having chickens (and bees) on our site. I've got no problem with the person who is asking for them as he's got experience, will make his own coop and run etc. but there are others on the site I'd be less sure about. Suppose we'll muddle along as best we can...

[spamvindaloo]

As I understand it we can't legally stop people from having chickens (and bees) on our site. I've got no problem with the person who is asking for them as he's got experience, will make his own coop and run etc. but there are others on the site I'd be less sure about. Suppose we'll muddle along as best we can...

Would the person with experience be prepared to act as an advisor to the committee on the keeping of chickens? Perhaps even assist with the inspections?

[Jay-ell]

Why are you less sure about them? Have they expressed a desire to have chickens?

[Snadger]

Keeping chooks

Prerequisites for chickens on allotments:-

• No more than 1/4 of the plot occupied by chickens

• Must attend to chickens at least once per day or preferrably twice
• Food and water at all times
• Breaking ice on drinkers through the winter
• A covered run to keep out foxes
• No more than 12 chickens
• Run to be big enough for ammount of chickens held
• Eggs not to be sold
• Must have sunshine for part of the day
• A covered area within run for wet weather
• Coop to be proportionate to flock size and have nesting boxes and roosting bars
• No cockerels, geese or ducks

There is probably other stuff to consider but above is a rough guide. Chickens dont like drafts or damp but can withstand freezing conditions.

Basic animal husbandry is all thats required. I had no training and manage very well thank you.

[Snadger]

On our site, bees can only be kept if the person has undergone a recognised training program.

[Jay-ell]

On our site some of the other plot holders thought I was crazy when I said I WASN'T going to have chickens.

Snadge, I think one of the things worrying Baldy is whether the responsibility for checking the animal welfare of all the birds on the site falls upon the allotment committee as the committee has no experience with chickens.

By the way Baldy, I think its hens and rabbits that the allotment act gives people rights to (quick growing meat source) - bees require the permission of the landlord (or their agents).

[Snadger]

On our site some of the other plot holders thought I was crazy when I said I WASN'T going to have chickens.

Snadge, I think one of the things worrying Baldy is whether the responsibility for checking the animal welfare of all the birds on the site falls upon the allotment committee as the committee has no experience with chickens.

By the way Baldy, I think its hens and rabbits that the allotment act gives people rights to (quick growing meat source) - bees require the permission of the landlord (or their agents).

Put someone on trhe committee who has experience of keeping chickens or if this is not possible, contact the RSPCA after confronting the stock holder with any worries first.