Does anyone keep chickens?

[KatieMac]

Is it easy?

Can anyone do it?

What will I need?

What do I need to know?

Hi - very interesting thread. I knew mumsnet would have something on this.
How many of you chicken owners have cats? We have a 3 yr old who is a good mouser but unfortunately brings in birds too. Will she try to attack the chickens - or would they get the better of her?!

anyone around with a view on cats and chickens?

I don't know, but from what I've read, hens will give as good as they get!

hen keeping on radio 4 now!

Hello chicken experts.

My forsham ark (Broughton 902A) plus scratch mat, wheels etc arrives this Friday. Prudently I've done nothing about ordering chickens until I've got their accommodation.

I've also got my subscription going on Practical Poultry and have read the June issue - however whilst it is a good read it assumes a certain basic level of knowledge. I remain, however, hopelessly ignorant on some key subjects:

*What breed of chicken would you suggest I go for?

*How do I stop them from flying away when I let them out of the ark to go free range now and then? (I feel so stupid asking these questions)

*Are there any things I should look out for when buying my chickens?

*Do they need any immunisations?

*Where do I buy their chicken feed and what is their recommended diet?

*Do I need straw or anything to put in the ark?

I'll bet I'm scaring you know with my ignorance! You'll be pleading with me now not to get chickens...

Bump

I'd get standard brown hens - about £5 a pop and friendly too

fancy breeds all very nice but often not very friendly

Okay - thanks hardcore

To try and answer your questions:

1. Go for standard brown "hybrid" types, bred for laying eggs, not looking pretty.
2. When you get them you need to lock them in the hen-house for 24 hours. You can then safely let them out and they will go back in at bedtime. The hybrid types do not seem able to fly, whereas bantams etc are very good and have to have a wing clipped. 3)Look for good plumage and bright eyes. If in full lay their combs will be bright red.
3. I've no idea about immunisations. I think most are immunised against salmonella. Dh, from farming stock, views non-compulsory immunisations with the same disdain as pet insurance. 5)You can buy your chicken feed from a corn merchant, either a corn mix or layers pellets. Remember, they also love scraps and will eat absolutely anything (although they prefer their cabbage etc cooked).
4. You will need to have straw in their nesting boxes. Make these nice and comfortable and hopefully they will not lay away.

Cupcake, we have a number of farm cats, and they have never attacked one of our hens. The collie and the fox are a different matter...

Molecule,

thanks for your very thorough answers

Just a follow up question, when I buy my chickens what do I transport them home in via the car? Do I just use a cardboard box? (I know, a bit of a dunce question)

Message withdrawn

For transport we've used a strong box, a plastic cat box thing (up to 2/3 hens) or a proper crate which is really the best option. Whoever you buy from may have one you can borrow.

Hens are fine outside (in their house) all winter as they huddle together on their perches. We've never lost any to the cold, and are in a northern, hilly area.

alibubbles it depends on the breeds. Mediterranean breeds with large combs can actually get frost bite in their combs and wattles, but native breeds or hybrids don't mind the cold. They can decide whether to stay in or out. Breeds with feathered feet (e.g. pekins or silkies) also have problems when their run gets too muddy, but again if you go for a standard layer breed it's not an issue.

regarding flying, obviously hens can't fly properly like ducks or geese, but most breeds can fly quite high up, so unless you have 8 ft fencing you need to clip their wings - it's best to find a diagram of this online, but basically you trim down the wing feathers on one wing only and this sends them off-balance when they try to fly. It lasts for a long time, you only need to do it a few times a year.

We keep three brown hybrid hens in a subruban area, we have a reasonable sized hen house and run. We do let them in the garden sometimes but they make a hell of a mess of the flowerbeds etc (and means kids have to avoid the poo!)

My advice would be to try to find a local place that sells chickens and the stuff you need for them (e.g. feeders, straw, food- layers pellets/mash and grit, corn for treats etc., anti-mite cleaner for house and equipment). We have a great poultry centre nearby, maybe we are lucky, but they can advise on all sorts of issues too, and provide food mixed with wormer twice a year.

There are many things that you learn as you go along but I found their advice and a good book useful as there are also a few urban myths about keeping chickens that can cause health problems. For example that it is ok to feed them on scraps, while they are ok for treats it is really important to give them a proper diet of layers pellets or mash and make sure you don't give any treats until after lunch time so they have filled up with correct food first. Some foods are very warming and should not be given on a hot day, like corn. Some things are even poisonous, like raw potato or even chocolate (i think).

It is important to get your chickens from a reputable place where you can see they are healthy and to check they are immunised, so i wouldn't reccommend getting them from any old place.

Hens that peck each other are possibly bored, may help to keep them active with hanging up cabbages or digging over their run so they can scratch for worms etc. It could also be to do with lice or mites. It needs attention though as some can turn cannibal and kill each other (in extreme cases).

..forgot to say we have two cats that are both fine with chickens (after some amusing sizing up and staring matches). Many local cats have checked them out and even had a go but the chickens squauk and flap about and usually scare them off, after all they are almost as big as a cat when they puff their feathers out, and they have a sharp beak too! So they all tend to give up.

Message withdrawn

Alibubbles, our cats are meant to be Burmese X, but have never gone for the hens, perhaps because hens will stand their ground. As GreySquirrel says you would be better having a run, as hens poo everywhere, and will also feast on tasty plants. One set of hens learnt very quickly that food emerged from the back door, so spent most of their day sitting (and pooing) on the doorstep.
Once you've got your hens, you will never want to buy another egg, as there is nothing like a freshly laid egg with a bright orange yolk.

another duh question:

is it essential to have a cockrel and a few chickens?

to what ratio?

: )

casbie

regarding cats - we have had a cat hanging around that attacked and injured one of our pekins, however, I'd like to see the cat brave enought to take on a large breed.
Our Barnevelder cockerel would have made mincemeat of any cat.
Unfortunately he also tried to make mincemeat of me and the children, thus he was turned into a tasty pot roast last week.
Which is another consideration when getting hens - some breeds are a lot friendlier than others. Our pekin cockerel is a shy sort of chap and wouldn't hurt anyone, whereas I've had lots of bad experiences with large breed cockerels.
You don't need a cockerel unless you want your own chicks and if you have neighbours close by it's probably better to not get one.

I've been thinking of keeping chickens for a while but my Dh thinks they're evil. (Pecking each others bums and the like)

Does anyone know anything about Call Ducks? There is a feature in Country Living this month about them and they seem like a nice alternative. We have a very small garden and ducks are supposed to be a lot messier! But they are cute!

thanks for all the advice re cats!
The Omlet catalogue came in the post today and I am rather tempted I must say. We're (hopefully) having building work done this summer which at least gives me time to save up for it to get in the autumn (£350!!) - but will that be a really bad time of year for egg laying? Or would I have to wait a while before egg production began anyhow?
In the catalogue it reckons you only need fences of 5ft - this is the height of our lowest. Am interested to see the 8ft recommendation - do I need to extend the height of this?

theshrimp - I saw that article too but our pond is titchy! My ds really wants a duckling (don't know why he's not asking for a full grown one) but isn't nearly so keen on the hen idea unfortunately. Strange, I would have thought he'd be really enthusiastic. Am going to have to talk him round - because I'm definitely hoping to get them!
(you can get eglus from omlet for ducks too!)