poachedegg Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 We are thinking of getting a couple of chickens/hens (what is the correct term?!). We live in a new build with a small garden (about 35ft wide x 30ft deep), so wanted either an eglu or an ark. We want a permanent site for the house, however after reading through the forum can't seem to answer my queries! If we put Hemcore etc in the run, does this not get affected by the rain (ie extremely soggy? The same goes for if we put a mud bath in the run (sorry can't remember the technical name!) Lastly (sorry I've gone on just want reassurance from people who have done it), are we being realistic in thinking that we can keep chickens in a garden our size without them wrecking/pooing/taking over the whole garden? We want to enjoy them, but don't want the size of the garden to make them a hindrance. Thanks for reading!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cazz Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 hi, i think the size of your garden sounds fine, you should get a run that way you can decide where they can go. if youre worried about your grass you could either keep moving the run, or decide where you want it to stay and put wood chipping down, my chooks love scratching around in that. just start off with a couple and you can pretty much learn by doing, and check on here for any advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 Welcome to the forum! Most of the forumites have covered runs (a shower curtain does the job perfectly) so that the hemcore doesn't get too wet and soggy. In my experience, it's less work to have them on a permanent site if you can. There are people who have smaller gardens than your and manage to keep a couple of chooks with no problems, the eglu is perfect for that purpose. In theory, each chook needs a minimum of 1m x 1m run space, so they needn't take over your garden. If you want to let them free range you can use netting to confine them to a convenient area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted March 29, 2008 Author Share Posted March 29, 2008 Welcome to the forum! Most of the forumites have covered runs (a shower curtain does the job perfectly) so that the hemcore doesn't get too wet and soggy. In my experience, it's less work to have them on a permanent site if you can. Thanks for your speedy replies! The idea would be to have a permanent home and to free range when we are about. Regarding the shower curtain - does that not prevent the chickens from being seen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 I have my runs covered with clear plastic from Dunelm Mill. Fab stuff, about 2 quid a metre. Welcome to the forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
druids57 Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 Hi I would say GO FOR IT there is always someone on here with great ideas and support and always someone with a smaller garden - the hardest bit is pressing the omlet button to say "ORDER" Druid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted March 29, 2008 Author Share Posted March 29, 2008 Thanks for your reassurance and tiop re shower curtain. I have read literally hours and hours of chicken blurb today - I am going to log off and 'chillax' (as my 16 yr old would say!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 Hi I would say GO FOR IT there is always someone on here with great ideas and support and always someone with a smaller garden - the hardest bit is pressing the omlet button to say "ORDER"Druid Isn't that the truth! I spent about a year filling my omlet shopping basket once a week or so with an eglu and 3 chooks, then closing the browser! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chillicat Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 I've read hours on this forum, got five books and have researched every possible website. Chickens are like no other pet we've had............and we have almost everything except a dog. Just go for it and buy all the potions and lotions you come across. Everything you need to know is here, and if you can't find it, there are loads of really helpful people that will help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozkate Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 Hi and welcome to the forum, Like a lot of people I wanted to stop procrastinating, and like most I decided that tomorrow would be a good day to do it! You have no valid excuse! Were it a court of law you would be convicted. DO IT! Loz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 Hi. I would recomend you check out an Omlet course they are inexpensive and you get to see an eglu or cube in action, then you can apply it to your own garden situation. In summer I moved my eglu/run every few days, grass was OK and the chooks just needed the Omlet shade which comes with the eglu. You can see them just fine. This winter, I have tended not to move them, put Auboise (similar to Hemcore) over the grass in their run and covered the run completely with a shower curtain held down with some bungee hooks I got from Poundland. The shower curtain keeps the Auboise and the dust bath dry. Chickens are the easiest pet I have ever had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 Chickens are the easiest pet I have ever had. They're the only pet we've had which produces something useful (I'm talking about eggs and er...compost!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 Yep....totally agree. I've got 3 compost bins and a glut of 26 eggs to eat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 Don't eat your compost bins! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 Don't eat your compost bins! welcome to the forum Poachedegg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 Hello from me too Go for it, you won't regret it Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 We have a very small garden and have 3 chooks in an Eglu - it is so easy to look after. We have some Omlet netting to allow them to free-range without destroying the garden. The run is also covered with a plastic roof panel for the rain protection. Go for it! I spent two years before I finally did - they are really easy to look after. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted March 30, 2008 Author Share Posted March 30, 2008 (edited) Just logged on - wow what a lot of replies - thank you all you nice people and/or chicken nuts!! We are definitely going to go for it, just got to finish a mini garden project (will get done today). I have just read another thread regarding 2 or 3 chickens and everybody said 3. The thing is I don't want to take up any more of the garden with an extension - so is a standard Eglu run really suitable for 3, as though they would get to free range most days it would be for short spaces of time throughout the day? I am sorry for all the questions but knowledge is power!! Edited March 30, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayhatch Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 I agree there! If I get three chickens I would definatly get the extension run, and let them free range most days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emma L Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 Hiya, Our girls came yesterday and I am so delighted, I just can't stop looking at them! I'm in the garden now watching them - they've just dragged all of the straw out of the nesting box onto the grass outside the eglu to peck at Any of our more experienced members know why they would do that??!?! Anyway, getting the girls has probably been the best thing we've ever done, I would definitely recommend it. We haven't got a massive garden but we're going to let them free range in a couple of weeks when they've adjusted to the eglu being home (they were looking longingly at our garden shed at bed time last night, it looks like their old home on the farm!) Go on, press order! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 I have just read another thread regarding 2 or 3 chickens and everybody said 3. The thing is I don't want to take up any more of the garden with an extension - so is a standard Eglu run really suitable for 3, as though they would get to free range most days it would be for short spaces of time throughout the day? Until one of my chickens died recently I had three chickens in a regular Eglu run, but they freeranged all afternoon every day. I checked with Omlet and they said it was fine. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 Welcome to the forum PoachedEgg! I thought about getting chickens for years before finally getting an Eglu and 2 hens. They've been no trouble so far, but my lawn is taking a battering so I might have to rethink my set up a bit........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 Hi I would say GO FOR IT there is always someone on here with great ideas and support and always someone with a smaller garden - the hardest bit is pressing the omlet button to say "ORDER"Druid i found that the easiest bit It was the convincing of the hubby that was a problem! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted March 31, 2008 Author Share Posted March 31, 2008 Thanks for all the new welcomes. We are going to go for 3 and let them free range on and off through the day, as one of us is usually around. I just have 2 more questions (...I bet they won't be the last!) 1. As we are going to have a permanent site for the Eglu,is it better to have it on a soft base (soil) or hard (flags) or does it not make any difference? 2. What breeds should I be considering/avoiding as we have a small garden, and the size of the run.......and they must be friendly breeds? You are all stars your info and encouragement has been great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheshire Chooks Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 You cannot beat the gingernut rangers from Omlet. They are very friendly and naughty egg laying machines and ideal for a novice. If however you want some different ones, you are very close to Garden Poultry at Frodsham who have a very good selection of hybrids. In fact it would be a nice trip to go there anyway!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...