Table scraps.

[veggiechicken]

Darwin, why doesn't your wife think its a good idea? We may be able to suggest ways to bring her round

[Darwin.]

She's an accountant so she thinks anything that costs money is a bad idea.

[veggiechicken]

If she's worried about the debit side you must show her the credits!
Do the maths
How much do you spend each week on eggs?
I assume they're free range too.

[fishpond]

If she's worried about the debit side you must show her the credits!
Do the maths
How much do you spend each week on eggs?
I assume they're free range too.

Some years ago when I started keeping cluckies, I worked out what the 1st egg had actually cost.
It was in the region of +£1500.
I now have 2 cluckies that still eat every day but haven't laid for at least a year.
But what price can you put on keeping your sanity and watching 2 cluckies and their antics?

[Darwin.]

Free range eggs are too expensive. We buy 20 a week but I don't know how much they cost. The cost of buying a coopgood, buying the chickens, food, feeders, building a run and fencing the garden will probably hit €500. It'll take a lot of eggs to pay that back.

If they eat some scraps as well as providing eggs it'll be a bonus.

[lottie dolly]

Has yourdaughter been near any hens,our GGson apparenty does not like them,sooner be with the sheep and horses without fear,it's just when they flutter up,if she however loves them,then how can the MRS say no,tell her in terms off child care ti's cheaper hehehehehe,ami being naughty,but only in your defence lad,

[Darwin.]

Erin (my daughter) has never been around chickens so, she might be nervous at first. I'm going to try getting a fairly quiet breed. I showed her a video of a little girl feeding chickens out of her hand and she loved it.

[veggiechicken]

Eating a handful of scraps a week isn't going to make much difference to the cost of your setup!

From what you've said I think you're trying to fence too big an area. Basically, your hens need a safe, run that is secure from foxes and any other predators. Somewhere for them to eat, drink, sleep and lay eggs. Where they will be safe when you are not in the garden.
Freeranging is great, but not when you have foxes around. A chicken wire fence, a spiky hedge - they won't stop a hungry fox.
My chooks freerange around the garden (when there's no ban) BUT only when I am there to watch over them. The garden is fully fenced with chicken wire but the fox can still come into the garden and kill the chooks - and has done when I've thought they were safe to roam.
I'd hate your little daughter to lose her feathered friends to a fox. Its horrible.

[Darwin.]

I was thinking I might need sheep wire and then chicken wire in front of it.

They'll have a corner thats 26' x 20' for when I'm not about.

[sparrow100]

On the table scraps question, because a friend and I argued regularly about her chickens when she had them, it's illegal in the UK. (just because this is a UK site - might be different in France)

Link to the info is here: http://ahvla.defra.gov.uk/documents/...y-guidance.pdf

[Darwin.]

I'm in Ireland so we'd have different laws. I have a while to figure it out anyway, I can't do anything until after this ban is lifted.

[fishpond]

Try to get weld mesh (I use 1/2" x 1").
Don't forget to mesh the roof. Also rainproof the roof---nothing worse than wet chickens & walking through wet chicken poo at first light!
You will see rats, they occasionally come in for shelter when its raining at night ( if you see them during the day--there are too many)
Make sure all food is kept overnight in galvanized, lidded, dustbins.
Water needs to be fresh and available at all times when chickens are up.
If you purchase a wooden coup, chances are you will see red mite (read up on them)
If chickens are seriously unwell they go downhill rapidly, 24 hours or less.
Any ?'s, fire away on this forum now or whenever.

[Darwin.]

Will they drink the rainwater I collec? I'd rather give them that than water from the well.

[Snadger]

Will they drink the rainwater I collec? I'd rather give them that than water from the well.

Yes..................mine have never tasted anthing else and are probably better for it.. Collect the water from their coop roof.

[Lulu The Lurcher]

Just Pellets

So, if you feed them free range pellets do you still need to make them mash or give them grit?