Cheryl Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 i started off with four chickens in december now we have eight and i want more more more!...its very very addictive but so so wonderful, every morning i get up and cant wait to see them... we converted an old summer house into a hen house this weekend and its great...you will get the hen bug trust me they are so easy to keep..no trouble at all i just wish i'd got them years ago... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stewart Posted January 28, 2008 Author Share Posted January 28, 2008 Hi Cheryl, You obviously have really taken to keeping chickens, doubling your stock in two months is going some. Good job you've got a cube and the summer house to accomodate them. Your hens look fantastic, I especially like Dora and Lilly. Mine don't arrive until 2 weeks today, so I'm preparing the garden for the arrival. If I let them free range will they wander far, or do the stay close? I have a hedge which they could potentially get through. If needed I could put up a small fence to ensure they can't escape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 The general advice is to keep them confined to their run for the first 5 days to let their roosting instinct take hold. Once they are used to your garden they shouldn't wander far unless there's something very interesting through your hedge. I would just keep an eye on them in the first few weeks and you should be able to tell if they're "escapers" or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Well done, Stewart! This is a great forum - I've found the advice here invaluable. Just you wait - before you know it, your wife will soon be as keen on chickens as you are. One of ours died recently after eighteen happy months of ownership (oops, not trying to put you off, but let's face it, they don't live as long as cats and dogs), and my husband was more upset than I was! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheryl Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 hey stewart.. yeah we've been busy with our hens and are totally addicted...my only advice is that you keep them in their run for about 5 days and then if they free range they will know where to come back to as soon as dusk starts...they are amazing they all trot back to their house to roost for the night, we do a head count then we close them in and then as soon as its light we let them out of the cube and into their run or if we are about they freerange... i would try and block that opening in the bush if i were you, don't tempt fate although the hens dont tend to stray, too much.. good luck, you will love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
