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Chicken keepers

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Original poster

Complete novice needing advice

111 replies

Words · 30/07/2023 10:20

I am moving house in October and inheriting two hens. The owners say they would be happier with a couple of other pals, and am happy to accommodate that if need be,

They have a very large fenced enclosure and a separate dark shaded area under trees with coop, presumably for night time? Do I move them from one to the other at night? ( how? Will they potter over themselves?)

What food, bedding, other supplies do I need?

How often does everything need cleaning, and what would their routine be?

When do they stop laying in the winter?

Understand about rats and foxes , and have seen something about mites?

What other advice can you offer?

I realise I need to ask current owners about their peccadilloes ( Grinsorry) but I also would like as much info as possible from other experienced keepers.

Any and all advice gratefully received.

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Thread gallery
7
Poppins2016 · 03/08/2023 11:18

(The weirdest thing is that they actually have ear lobes!)

Original poster
Words · 03/08/2023 12:32

Wow ! Ear lobes!!!
There's so much I have NO Clue about !
Thank you for being so helpful everyone.

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Poppins2016 · 03/08/2023 15:20

To be fair to you, I had no idea they had earlobes until I looked up a diagram to show you... and I've been keeping chicken for 3 years! I did know where their ears were though 🤣

I've been keeping chickens for 3 years now and still learning 😁

Original poster
Words · 05/08/2023 10:15

Can I ask please:

Does putting chicken poo on the compost heap ( as suggested in the Haynes manual) attract rats or other vermin?

Do you remove the whole feeder at night or just empty it of pellets/grain?

It's agricultural show season so I have identified a couple local to me that have poultry sections. I thought I would go along and admire the show birds and maybe have a chat. Or would that be weird ?

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Lollygaggle · 05/08/2023 11:46

I don't move or empty feeders at night. They are underneath the coop and vermin proof feeders. The one that isn't vermin proof we have never had a problem as our chickens are behind an electric fence.

I use a seperate compost bin for chicken poo , as it's valuable stuff, although they produce a lot so what I don't want I give away to the allotments in return for some produce. Rats may use the bin as shelter as it's warm but it's not more of a risk than your normal compost bin ( which I put on concrete slab to stop rats burrowing underneath) .

chicken keepers love talking to others . I always have ex battery hens so no posh girls . You might want to discuss red mite , it's around at this time of year and an ounce of prevention is worth a lot as they are swines to get rid of.

FictionalCharacter · 05/08/2023 12:34

Words · 05/08/2023 10:15

Can I ask please:

Does putting chicken poo on the compost heap ( as suggested in the Haynes manual) attract rats or other vermin?

Do you remove the whole feeder at night or just empty it of pellets/grain?

It's agricultural show season so I have identified a couple local to me that have poultry sections. I thought I would go along and admire the show birds and maybe have a chat. Or would that be weird ?

I put all the bedding and droppings in the compost bins. It doesn’t attract rats, rats want food and shelter so they are more likely to be attracted by fruit and veg. They won’t infest compost bins that are kept moist so don’t let it dry out. I put all the veg peelings in there too, and non-perennial non-seeding weeds. It all rots down really well and my compost is fantastic!

Our feeder is in the covered run, but I do remove it at night because if I don’t, the slugs get in in at night and leave poo and slime trails.

Might be interesting to look at the show birds, but people who breed them for show are a different type of chicken keeper! I don’t feel anything in common with them because mine are pets and I’m only interested in giving them the happiest life possible, which is certainly not the priority of show breeders.

Original poster
Words · 05/08/2023 13:13

So useful, thank you both. I did wonder if there were different 'tribes'of poultry keeper Grin

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Original poster
Words · 05/08/2023 13:17

That should be 'flocks', obviously.

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ScottBakula · 13/08/2023 12:24

@Words how are the ladies doing ?

Original poster
Words · 13/08/2023 18:15

Hi @ScottBakula - the ladies aren't mine yet and won't be till October time. I sneaked around there today as I know the current owners are away and peeped over the fence. I only saw one, but talked to her and she clucked and ran towards me ! Grin I didn't see her pal - hope nothing has happened to her.

I also went to a small local ag show today with the hope of talking to some of the poultry tent people. The tent was closed fast as judging was ongoing, but when I eventually went in they made no effort to engage with me at all ( I had mentioned before I was after some advice as a novice) so felt a bit crestfallen.

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Original poster
Words · 13/08/2023 18:17

They have a huge enclosure with lots of trees and bushes, and some fallen branches and tree trunks. I read in the manual that this is a good thing.

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ScottBakula · 14/08/2023 14:03

Ohh I forgot you weren't getting them for a while .
I wonder if she did recognise you ? Do you think that with the owners permission you could go and see them every now and then ? Hopefully they will then settle in better when you do get them.

It's a shame the owners at the show were not more friendly, it may of just been that they were stressed / distracted ( or just rude )
Hopefully you will find another show to go to and meet someone more willing to chat

Original poster
Words · 14/08/2023 15:38

Hi - yes that's a good idea about going round. I am hoping to do that at least once when contracts have been exchanged- I would like to learn their routine from their current people, and meet them properly.

There's another agricultural show I can go to in early September. I will try again there!

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Original poster
Words · 17/08/2023 07:03

Had a long chat yesterday with someone who keeps about 20 hens. It was so helpful and she recommended places locally for feed and other supplies.

She mentioned it was hard currently to source hens. Not sure if that's a common issue, and also the business about covering the run as an avian flu protection measure. She said every Oct to April, but I thought this only happened if DEFRA announced it?

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Poppins2016 · 17/08/2023 14:52

Sourcing hens does seem to be a bit of an issue at the moment, avian flu seems to have caused issues with the supply chain.

Re avian flu, since I've been keeping chickens (2020 onwards), we've had a "flockdown" every year and there's nothing to suggest that this year will be any different... I registered with DEFRA for notifications and I've received notifications of various outbreaks across the UK (various counties) all summer, so the issue certainly hasn't gone away yet... I'd definitely plan to keep them covered this winter. We use clear tarpaulins pulled over the roof of our run and cable tied on sexurely - it doesn't have to be anything expensive.

Poppins2016 · 17/08/2023 14:54

Sexurely? Securely!!!

Lollygaggle · 17/08/2023 16:29

No problems sourcing ex battery hens , register with one of the rehoming charities and they will let you know when next batch needs rehoming.

Original poster
Words · 17/08/2023 18:00

I don't think the run will be easy to net over- there's shoulder high wire mesh on three sides, plus a high wall , and it's got lots of overhanging trees and bushes etc. I guess I will have to ask the current owner what she does.

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StrongTea · 17/08/2023 18:30

There’s a few really friendly facebook groups you’ll get lots of advice from those.

OrlandointheWilderness · 18/08/2023 10:36

It is on Defra say so, but I would frankly be astonished if it wasn't happening this year as the AV is bloody awful at the moment. Look at fruit bush netting, that's what we used as it is very light.

ScottBakula · 17/10/2023 13:08

Hi @Words , how are the girls settling in ?

Original poster
Words · 17/10/2023 13:35

I'm still not installed @ScottBakula .
The whole thing is beyond stressful.
Hoping to get a talk with their urgent owners soon, but who knows

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Original poster
Words · 17/10/2023 13:35

Current

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ScottBakula · 17/10/2023 17:04

Aww that's such a shame , I was hoping they would all be settled in by now.
Is it due to bird flu ?

Original poster
Words · 08/11/2023 13:43

Hello. I am now installed with my two adopted ladies. The move has been especially traumatic due to a series of crises in the week before the move: the worst being the sudden and unexpected death two days prior, of my beloved collie, so have been really struggling. My heart is in pieces.

Anyway have to soldier on and am getting to grips with the ladies' routine I think. They are fascinating creatures. I had no idea. I love that they put themselves to bed at night and it's great to hear their soft little voices. They adore corn in the afternoon! There is a compost area in their run so I put the soiled bedding there. They seem to enjoy scratching around in it so hope that's ok?

The non dominant one is a bit stressed I think as has pulled out some of her tail feathersConfused

They recognise me and run up to meet me and tell me the gossip. They also love windfall apples I give them from the tree.

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