Soon to be chicken keeper - advice please

[dogwithmohican]

I am on a waiting list to get point of lay hybrid chickens from a local farm. I have ordered a omlet go up with 2m run. I have several questions:

What is the best type of feeder to avoid rats? My neighbour had chickens which created a terrible rat problem which I would like to avoid.

I will be getting a galvanised metal dustbin for food. Is there anything else which will help avoid rats?

The coop is supposed to be suitable for 3-4 chickens. I have ordered 2 - is there any benefit to getting more? I know it can be difficult to introduce a new comer at a later date. The chickens will be free range when I am at home.

I got a treadle feeder after terrible rat problems. Not cheap but worth it. (Although I have now discovered that you shouldn’t put corn in with the pellets as they pick the pellets out and make a mess.)

I’d get 3 chickens personally. That way if one dies young then they’ll still have company. They are sociable creatures and don’t like to be alone.

When they get old and you lose some then you can introduce two more at a time, it’s good to have a range of ages as they lay less when they’re old.

I have four old-ish ladies now- two full size and two bantams. When I’m down to three I’ll get two more.

Thanks for replying - I have looked at treadle feeders. Did you have any problems getting the hens to use the feeders?

No, and mine are old and not very bright! I followed the advice to weigh it down for the first few days so that they learn to use it when it’s open.

I'm getting 3 hens in June and considering the treadle feeder. The only other option is to remove their feeder at night, which is not a bad thing tbh as in the morning you take it back and fill with fresh food so they associate you with feeding too!

Treadle feeder here- mi e are a bit thick and had to be shown a few times. What I would say is that the 2m omlet run doesn't offer much space or enrichment. Ours are on about 4m by 6m, with a variety of terrain (some gravel, some paving, some dust, grass) with some bushes and shrubs to scratch about in, and when the weather is good they have access to the rest of the garden. 2m is going to get very boring (and muddy!) quickly

@P0lka. The hens will be free range when I am at home - the garden is complete enclosed and I did wonder whether they could be left out during the day when I am at work or if I would need some electric poultry fencing to keep out foxes.

I would definitely get at least three chickens (or 4 depending on the size of your coop). You may well lose one young and your other lady would be lonely. It's also less hassle to get 3 to begin with rather than have a single lady and try and add one or 2 more.

We had mice so I bought a treadle feeder but I was forever scraping out wet claggy food I need to have another go at it. My ladies must be bird-brains because they took ages to get the hang of it too. Scared of the bang when the lid went down which is surprising as they aren't particularly flighty (live with a dog and marauding kids etc).

You'll love it! Once you get chickens, there's no going back. They're such lovely ~prehistoric~ characters

Mmm, why am I getting gin bottles instead of emojis?! Not unwelcome given the current situation I suppose....