can anyone help me, i want to keep chickens

[cheeryface]

for starters i have a yard, no grass. would that be o.k ?
there is a high brick wall around the yard, so, would i be able to let them roam free in there ?

what kind of house or coop would i need therefore? i was hoping nothing too huge really. planning on just a couple of chickens.

dh would probably be able to build me something but i wouldn't know what size or anything.

can anyone give me info ?
thanx

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If I were you I would get an all in one ark which has a house and run - something like the half pint penthouse here - put some aubiose/easibed etc down and it will be really easy to clean. They do need something to scratch round in, as they enjoy that!

I wanted chickens as well but my FIL being a farming type pointed out that if you have chickens you will also have rats as they will be attracted by the food. Personally this thought freaks me out as have huge rat phobia.

Also, when the chickens get to the end of their laying life or get ill what do you do with them? If you are happy to wring their necks and put them in a pot then fine, but I know I hadn't thought about this particular angle!

The thought of freshly laid eggs is lovely so good luck with it!

We haven't had any problems with rats at all - we keep the feed in a metal bin, which keeps the rats away!

i can imagine my neighbours might be worried about bird flu, now i come to think about some of the cons!

bird flu isn't a problem - if there was an outbreak, all you need to do is to have a solid roof and mesh that wild birds can't get through - this removes any access to wild bird poo that there might be.

As long as you give them plenty of greens to eat and something to scratch around in lack of grass wouldn't be a problem. Ours tend to spend most of the day mooching around in the rockery which they have kindly cleared for us! That and standing on the steps peering at me through the gate on the scrounge for food.
We have had no problem with rats, we also keep the food in a metal bin and don't leave any out at night. I'd say go for it and get some chickens but I would get 3 rather than two just in case something happens to one of them.