what do i need to keep a couple of chucks?

[ThatVikRinA22]

the more i think about this the more i want to have a few chickens for eggs.

what do i need? what do they eat and how much time do they need for cleaning out etc?

DH keeps saying the garden "isnt ready" - its a mess is what he means but i cant see chucks being that bothered?

ive been online - are Eglus the best houses? they are expensive but i want something secure and easy to clean

and what are the best chickens to get for egg laying and good tempers!? im thinking about maybe getting ex battery hens but have no idea how to go about it.

i could keep about 3 or 4 chucks i think.

oh and do they need to be let out to run free or do you keep them in the run?

Mine have always had wooden houses and I've been very lucky not to get redmite (touch wood!) which is the most common drawback of a wooden house probably.

Currently ours are in a run with electric fencing (about 100mX70m) but before we moved here we had a house with a small garden and we let them free range the whole lot (only had 3 back then mind you!)
some will turf up your lawn and flower beds so you might prefer to confine them to a run! they also poo - a lot!! I used to hose it away twice a day and the kids wore wellies out there.

as for best layers and tempers, it varies. you won't need a cockeral to get laying hens and if anything cocks are more likely to be grumpy at you or the children. I have a couple of Bluebells that actually come up for a cuddle, soppy things, but my black rocks and sussex are better layers despite not being cuddly. we also have white leghorns that lay everyday but are flighty.

what about ex-bats?

thanks for this - lots of info to go on there. i have thought of ex bats but dont know where you get them from?

i quite like the idea of ex bats.

just be ware that ex-bats tend to die quite quickly due to their awful previous lives.

my mum got 10 and within a few weeks 5 had been put down due to sickness etc.

we have a wooden run, called the norfolk coop. very easy to clean and only takes a few minutes every couple of days. we got 3 light sussex chooks as the are not aggressive and i have a toddler who is their corn king so i didn't want pecky hens.

our hens are also allowed out from when i get up until dusk when they head off to bed, seems a bit cruel keeping them cooped up.

id let mine out when home too i think.

maybe ex bats would be better with more experienced owners then.

ive been looking at omlet and the chucks on there seem to be good breeds for eggs and friendliness

not sure if they deliver round here though.

DH says we should get garden sorted first, i suppose it would make sense to sort the garden with where they will go in mind.

have defo decided i want some though. ill keep on researching. thanks ladies!