Chickens - Need advice

[LincsLongwool]

Hey all,

Wanting to keep 3 or 4 chickens in our old dog run, going to change it into a chicken coop with some wood etc, and was wondering what the best breed is, what's cheap and also the best bedding aswell as feed. Welcome to any type of bedding, considering I run an allotment I could use the manure for the soil.

Thanks

 

[twizzel]

Whatever breed you like the look of really. Commercial hybrids will lay well. Pure bred more traditional breeds will not lay quite as well and have more potential to go broody. My chickens are bedded on easibed, it's wood based, so when I clean the house out I just chuck it on their enclosure as that's got woodchip down too.

 

[curlietailz]

I have 8 in a dog kennel. Put nest boxes in and more ventilation and a roost. They run around the orchard happy as pigs in muck. Feed them whole wheat from the shed, a bit of layers pellets and a bit of mixed corn... loads of fresh water and bed on straw... from the shed. 8 are laying 6 eggs a day consistently. I got a few different colours.... got Light Sussex, Ginger Ranger, Blue Haze, Columbine, Rhode Rock, Golden Rock and I love em

 

[startinghandle]

I do not want to put a spanner in the works but where there are chickens and hens it will not be long before you have rats

 

[curlietailz]

Ooh yes I forgot the rats. Luckily I live far far away from the main farm and I have a deadly terrier who loves to play with rats.

 

[Lincs Lass]

Go visit this guy ,,other side of Keadby Bridge
https://www.facebook.com/Paddock-Fa...9_9KZHam4n8Av14g0ezlA8qdWc-iBdgPucxYgpmY2LrZe

 

[msheep66]

We have just bought 4 POL Warrens this weekend cost us £11 each don't know if that's a good or bad price?

 

[LincsLongwool]

We're looking at some ex battery hens, but for now we want to get the allotment up to scratch.

 

[multi power]

We have just bought 4 POL Warrens this weekend cost us £11 each don't know if that's a good or bad price?

That's about right

 

[Chasingmytail]

decent birds from good stock expect to pay £12 - £25 each depending on the breeds and the amounts you purchase. You can buy cheap but hens hatched from IB and Myco free is so important so either birds brought in from big commercial hatcheries are fully vaccinated. Last lot Ive had from Devon organic poults extremely good quality not vacinated but very hardy. Also got mixed coloured eggs. Im not a fan of ex battery its risky taking a birds from a high intensity situation then plonking them into a outside situation and expect them to be healthy. The issue is the these birds have already met their quota as a hybrid so dont expect a bird thats going to be hardy and a good layer - Im sure there are many that have done this and had smashing hens - admire the life so many get after a miserable start.

Pointers birds must have a perch. Be weary of red mite so if you do paint the shed well on all corners and bear in mind you may need to hot jet wash it. I have a slatted floor and laying boxes with shavings. Its better to have a moveable system so you can prevent stale ground and holes they love to dig. Letting birds outside on grass lets them roam and less of a worm burden. I use poulty net over my electric fence prevents gos-hawk attacks.

 

[Jennylloyd114]

We have a mixture that I hatched this year, they spend all day walking around eating the worms and grass, then go in there bed at night. we have a basic chicken house with a run so we can move it around to give the grass a rest.
I use a mixture of sawdust and straw in there bed area and this has always worked for me.
I use seaweed powder and cider vinegar for health benefits and remember this time of year to use a mite powder
They share a patch of land with the ducks, they all get along great
Photo is the young Cockrell

 

[teslacoils]

up to scratch.

Hillarious chicken-related pun?