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Chicken keepers

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Questions from someone considering getting chickens

1 reply

TeddyBare · 02/10/2013 15:45

I've done a bit of research about keeping chickens but I still have a few questions.

  • How much space do 3 chickens need? We have a patch of garden which is 10 square meters of scrub land and 3.5 square meters of concrete path. Would this be enough space for 3 chickens? They would have to stay in that run almost all of the time. Would I need to lay slabs down on the mud as well?
  • How much do they smell? I don't want to bother my neighbours. What is the best method for keeping the run clean and not smelly?
  • What do you do with the droppings you've cleaned out of the coop? If I just add them to the compost heap will it make the compost heap smell?
  • What do you put in your chickens' run to keep them occupied? Do they need toys or should I plant grass for them to tear up?
  • Are ex-battery hens suitable for beginners?
  • Can anyone recommend me a good chicken first aid guide?
OP posts:
mrspink27 · 03/10/2013 10:12

Loads of good advice on The Poultry Pages group on Facebook... here and also on Omlet forums here

To answer your questions... I think that is enough space for 3 chickens, I wouldnt lay slabs as my girls love scratching around in the scrub. You can always "dry up" any mud by adding some sand.

Mine dont smell and I poo pick as much as I can. Clean out bedding once a week and a thorough clean/disinfect every fortnight in summer and once every 3-4 weeks in winter... We also have a large plastic flexi rake which DH is obsessive about uses to rake over the run when he closes them up for the night.

Our poo and bedding goes into our compost and well rotted compost doesnt smell. I dont use shavings as these are not good in large quantities in compost and I find they go a bit claggy.

In terms of mental enrichment... there is loads to do... Ours have a dirt bath in a big cat litter tray... which I hide things in and rotate old earth, grass cuttings which they adore rooting through. Fat balls hung from the run roof and also heads of cabbage, spring greens or similar provide hours of entertainment. Can also do this with apples etc. Sometimes I skewer a corn on the cob and stick it in the ground also... In the summer I freeze grapes and put frozen peas or chunks of cucumber in the water so they can pick away at them... like apple bobbing!

Mine get all the old stalks of broccoli, brussell sprout plants when they are past their best in the garden.

Ex Batts are fine, but need a bit of extra TLC - we have bantams which are very very friendly and a bit smaller.

I dont have a chicken first aid guide... touch wood have never needed one... but the Katie Thear book is quite well regarded as a good starter guide Amazon

Happy to answer anything else... just ask!!

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