help for 1st time novice

[cazzybabs]

Have been dreaming about chickens for some time and eventally husband has said I can have a few.
I was thinking 3 .

What sort of house? Is red mite as big a problem as plastic hen house makers make out? If I regulary treat will it be an issue?

They will be on a bit of ground where nothing grows as is too shady, but won't move the house - is bark OK for them or would soil be better?

I will only be able to let them out in the evenings in summer and at weekends - is this OK?

What is the best way to deter foxes?

Are cats an issue?

Any other issues?

Hi,
We bought this coop www.henhouseworld.co.uk/ch103.htm and it's fine for our 8 birds. I was told to buy a house bigger than you think you will need/want because should you decide to increase your brrod then cou will be able to. I have no idea about red mite. We've had ours for just 1 year now and the Scottish weather has taken it's toll and we really need to treat it soon.
3 Should be you rminimum beacuse they are sociable animals and unfortunately you need to consider if you lose 1 then you don't want to be left with only 1 (ie, if you were only to begin with 2, IYSWIM). Of course you could get more but introducing more birds can be awkward as they try to establish their pecking order. But it can also be OK.
There's no worry re nothing growing where they will be because they will scrape everything away anyway! So, if you lay bark they will just scatter it.
Can you let them out in the mornings? Not quite sure what you mean. They will survive if kept in but the amount they lay depends on daylight so if they are kept in quite dark conditions I'm not sure you'll get many eggs. Some people install a light/lamp to encourage better egg production.
I don't know of any way to deter foxes, our problem here is pine martens, and I know of no way to deter them, we just let our chickens out in the mornings once we're up, and shut their house up as soon as it gets dark. They go in themselves as soon as it gets dark.
We have a cat and she has never bothered with them, but she's about 15 so probably can't be bothered!
We have 4 black rock and 4 rhode island (I think) and we had to clip their wings as they could clear the 4 foot fence no bother. The first 10 feathers on each wing is slightly longer than the rest which follow, so we cut (just with scissors) those 10 to be the same length as the rest and this prevents them from flying- of course only cut one wing or it doesn't work! If you are at all unsure then do Google it or find a book in the library because it can be dangerous and sore if you cut too far.
If you can find a farmer, but a bale of straw from him for about £10 instead of the little bags from the pet shop. The best food we have found which they enjoy and gives us 1 eggs per day is Layer's Mash.

Hope this helps and that you get your birds soon, and enjoy them!!