flapjack Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 (edited) Hello everyone! I would love to have some chickens and have been researching it for a while. There are some questions that I can't find answers to. I have tried the FAQs and searching the site but to no avail. Any advice on the following from experienced chicken owners would be greatly appreciated 1. Are there any plants that are poisonous to chickens that we would have to remove from the garden? Or do they only eat things that won't harm them? What about our small wildflower meadow? I read on here that long grass can be a problem. 2. We have a small wildlife pond with gentle sloping sides. Will this be a problem? Will they use it/ pollute it with their excrement? Is it a danger for them? 3. We only have about 6 x 3m of open lawn where the eglu will fit. This means only 4 rotation spots for the eglu. Will this be enough room? 4. Finally, our garden is about 6 x 12 meters (when I have fenced off the veggie patches). With 2 chickens, will it end up completely bare soil in patches? And how much do 2 chickens actually poo? I don't want it to become unsanitary due to our garden being too small. Thank you in advance Michelle Edited March 15, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magamamma Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 Well, your pond should be fine. doubt they'll go near it and for them to aim to pooh in ti i would love to see. If you are worried then put some mesh on top when you let them out. Chickens do pooh a lot but not always the same for all of them. my choooks always pooh but i blast it with hose and i've honestly never seen my lawn so lush!!! I was worried about plants that would harm the chooks when i got mne but i have learnt that the chicken s pretty much avoid anything thats not good and you'd be amazed at what they eat that you think would not be so good. As for the eglu site... have you thought about putting a small fence round it and throw down some bark chippings? most people do and i have done it and it keeps them in one area and no destruction to grass. hope all that helps. think most gardens can accomodate an eglu!!!! Maggie.p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 1. On the whole chickens don't eat poisonous plants as they tend to have bitter-tasting leaves - but someone recently reported their chickens eating foxglove leaves, which is definitely not safe. There's a comprehensive list somewhere here - just search for "poisonous plants". The long grass could well be a problem, though - you may have to decide between your wildflower meadow and chickens 2. A fence would be a good idea around your pond, as chickens' feathers are not waterproof and they could potential drown. 3. I would definitely recommend a permanent base if your garden is small, otherwise you will end up with no lawn! 4. Your garden is twice the size of mine, even after fencing off the veg patch, so I'm sure it'll be big enough. The poo does biodegrade pretty quickly - the main problem is on hard surfaces like patios, where it needs to be hosed or swept away. I now keep a separate pair of garden shoes (Crocs, as it happens) in the conservatory and remove them before going into the rest of the house so that I don't track chicken poo in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodle Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 I was worried about my small garden but my girls are very happy. They have a permenant site and free range when I am outside at the weekends. I origionally bought two chooks from Omlet but was encouraged by everyone on this site to get three. The theory being that if anything should happen to one, you do not end up with a lonely chicken. A breeder also confirmed that three was the best senario. I am so glad I got three. They have been brilliant together. I have just lost one chook but still have a pair so they will not be lonely while I look for a new friend x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 Echo the advice above - your garden is big enough, but consider a permanent site for the Eglu. In theory, rotating the Eglu regularly is simple, but in practice it's not that easy especially in the winter. A lot depends on how much you let them free-range, and the biggest issue there is the risk of foxes. If you restrict free-ranging, and use netting to protect things like veg, it is perfectly possible to keep chickens and still have a garden. You will gather, by reading posts on here, that it is hard to find anyone who has got chickens and regretted it! they are very easy to look after. Why not look under the Courses button on Omlet's website, to see if there's a Hen Party near you? Then you can get answers to questions, and see the Eglu in the flesh, as it were. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flapjack Posted March 15, 2008 Author Share Posted March 15, 2008 Thank you very much for all your replies. I have definitely decided that a permanent site away from the lawn using bedding is the way to go. I notice on the Eglu advice page on keeping chickens without a lawn, they show a permanent site being built....on a lawn! Anyone know how to do this on a concrete base? I'd rather the bedding didn't fly all over the place but can't think how to box it in. Can't just knock in a log roll! I am still a little concerned about losing the lawn as i have been searching this forum and read the before and after pictures thread. It seems that unless you have a massive lawn, you will be left with a mud patch in a few weeks Surely there are some people who have sucessfully maintained a small lawn? Do they have to free range on the lawn? Is it mean to make them stay on the paved areas? Michelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 My garden is pretty small (roughly 8m x 8m) and I have the eglu on a permanent (soil) run. They freerange for a short time most days and more at the weekend. TBH they prefer scratching about in the flowerbeds to being on the lawn (not much of a lawn, it was rubbish before they arrived ). I've not noticed any particular damage, but I suppose they must be eating the grass which will hopefully keep up with them when it starts growing again. To stop the bedding going everywhere, lots of people put boards or plastic along the sides of the run. This stops most of the bedding being flung out. This is my setup using old whirlygig covers (not a thing of beauty, I'm afraid but OH won't be happy if I spend any more on my girls ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
argent13uk Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 The only damage I have found on my small lawn is my muddy footprints going backwards and forwards to the run to visit the chickens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flapjack Posted March 15, 2008 Author Share Posted March 15, 2008 Ain't "Ooops, word censored!"ody here and argent13uk - thank you both for your lawn reports! How long have your chickens been freeranging on these lawns? Michelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 How long have your chickens been freeranging on these lawns? About 6 months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flapjack Posted March 15, 2008 Author Share Posted March 15, 2008 Why not look under the Courses button on Omlet's website, to see if there's a Hen Party near you? Then you can get answers to questions, and see the Eglu in the flesh, as it were. Good luck! There is one in my area soon but before I meet some pet chickens I want to decide if we can practically house them...otherwise I will get over excited and be very disappointed if we can't have them. I certainly don't need winning over! It's also useful to get a range of views from the people on this forum, especially people relatively new to chickens and how they are finding it (as apposed to one expert's opinion) Michelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flapjack Posted March 15, 2008 Author Share Posted March 15, 2008 How long have your chickens been freeranging on these lawns? About 6 months. Impressive! Have you seen this thread? http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20304&highlight=lawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 I would have to agree that, if you keep the eglu on a permanent base, a lot of the damage to the lawn is from going out there all year round whatever the weather and tramping across the grass at least twice a day. BC (before chickens), I seldom went out into the back garden between about October and February! Last year's constant rain exacerbated the problem, since we had wintery conditions for months on end I just hope I can revive it this year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Make a line of paving to chickens to avoid that, we made a right mess around the run hubby built but fortunatly we wanted slabs around it which covered most of the mess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 It seems that unless you have a massive lawn, you will be left with a mud patch in a few weeks This only happened to me in Winter, NOT in the Summer. But I should stress my soil is very heavy clay. My lot free range the lawn ALL day. If they were only out for a few hours then it would be a different story. My clay soil makes any pics of my garden look worse than anyone elses. Because it waterlogs and the chickens love that and zoom in on those wet patches to look for worms. You could decide to let them free range the rest of your garden (may be the paths/borders) and keep them off the lawn completely (see the Omlet fencing). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 I have slabs right down one side and round the back of the eglu so never really have to walk on the lawn. I'm sure that helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrishY Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 I notice on the Eglu advice page on keeping chickens without a lawn, they show a permanent site being built....on a lawn! Anyone know how to do this on a concrete base? I'd rather the bedding didn't fly all over the place but can't think how to box it in. Can't just knock in a log roll! I have just made a base on concrete and for inspiration I trawled through the gallery looking for photos of permanent bases - hope no-one minds . I got 2 lengths of wood from B&Q for £4 each used brackets to join them together and filled it with 3 bags of soft woodchip also from B&Q. I am no experienced chicken keeper though as only had them since feb 14th Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flapjack Posted March 16, 2008 Author Share Posted March 16, 2008 Thanks again everyone! Where we intend to put them there is a path next to them so that should be ok then... Thanks for your advice TrishY. I found your thread http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=368798&highlight=#368798 Looks great! How do you find raking it out and cleaning the area? And does the chip stay inside the boundaries? I get how you held the wood together but how did you fix it to the ground? Can you screw it into the concrete? M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrishY Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 it's only been there since yesterday so haven't raked it out yet but I will probably just take the run off and rake over/replace woodchip. The wood of the base is secured to the shed but not the wall or concrete, it's secure though not going anywhere the wood is quite heavy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
argent13uk Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 How long have your chickens been freeranging on these lawns? about 1 month Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...