4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[AbigailGrace]

Hello.. I was just wanting to know if anyone kept chickens on a allotment..

 

We are down to get an alltoment before spring and are thinking about having chickens..

We might not house them in a eglu as there is a risk of someone coming on a taking the whole lot..

We understand the hard work we will have to put in.. And that anything could happen to the chickens..

Just really wanted to know somebodys feedback and possibly pictures..

 

Thankyou all...

[Happy chickens!]

Hi

 

I have had an allotment for 3 years, and am now the happy keeper of 6 ex-bats, but not on the allotment! OH really wanted me to keep them there, but I'm glad they're in the garden. Don't no how far your plot is away from home, but chicken watching is seriously addictive!!! In addition you really need to be able to go twice a day, every day, to let them out and to check they're in to roost, collect eggs, top their water up etc. I expect you can leave them for a few days topped up with plenty of supplies, but I would miss mine....

 

They'll be others around that keep them on their allotments though with no probs I'm sure!

[chickenanne]

theres a website called poultry allotment (or similar) - if you do an internet search am sure it would come up.

Assuming there are no issues with the allotment committe etc (given that some have very long waiting lists & some allotment groups think only fruit and veg should be grown) and you can get up there a twice a day then don't see a problem.... I think chickens are very endearing and watchable, so like having them in the garden, but sadly not possible for everyone.

[Sandychick]

Allotments vary on rules about chickens, so it would be a good idea to check that they are allowed first. If they are, I would think it would work well as long as the allotments are in an ok area and secure.

 

I think they would be very popular - fellow allotment holders would be forming a que for the chicken poo! I've always found allotments to be friendly places so there are likely to be a bunch of willing volunteers who would look after them if you are away.

[eggypeggy]

We've got an allotment and I have thought about moving my chooks down there, which would give me more space to have more. But I decided against it. Allotments can be prone to vandals, which is a pain if they break your shed or pull up a few leeks.. but I wouldn't like to think what they would get up to if they found chooks!

 

We had vandals cut through our fencing around the allotment plot and rip off the window cover from our shed.. so it's a no at my allotment.

 

Best thing to do would be to ask around the current allotmenteers at the plot you are interested in and see if they have ever had a problem with vandals. Most allotments will allow chooks.. but check anyway. And like the others mentioned, you need to be walking distance really, because you'll be down there alot.. which is good for the veg too!

 

Good luck

[Valkyrie]

At our allotment (which we don't have any more) someone had chickens for ages. Unfortunately he wasn't as caring as we all are and he had loads in one pen, although they had plenty of room to run around. They did look very ragged all the time. We never saw the owner in all the time we were there - he even had loads of turkeys once in a very small pen - then they disappeared leaving only the chickens. The chicken food all over the place attracted rats and the whole place was infested with vermin - we lost a lot of produce because of them. It took an awful long time to get the council to deal with it and he was asked to remove the hens. I would be very wary of keeping hens on the allotment - not because of vermin or foxes, but because of the vandals. Although if you are able, it might be an idea to take the hens with you for a change of scenery and a grub around every now and then - I have read somewhere that some people have done that - as long as the birds don't get stressed travelling, and they have access to shelter.

[Snowy]

I get access to my allotment in January - I checked and we will not be allowed to keep chickens there (I wasn't going to keep my girls there, but was considering a small run for a few 'dinners'). However, I have plans to take my 'assistant gardeners' with me - omlet netting and a rabbit hutch/large cat basket for shelter/transport. I'll let you know how we get on!!

[Redwing]

Thats a really good idea, I got some Omlet netting for setting up around my raised beds (when my OH helps me build them )

 

I don't think I would keep chickens on an allotment, apart from the vandals you would get everyone coming up to them and feeding them goodness knows what!

[Happy chickens!]

Sounds good - I was wondering about leaving mine in the brassica 'cage' (before I plant them!), but don't know how stressful the journey would be; I try and cycle up with a trailer

[Valkyrie]

How about you sitting in the trailer with the girls harnessed with a grape in front of them - you'd be there in no time. Then with all the exercise they will have a bit of a rest then devour anything edible on the site! No more slugs or nasty grubs in your veg! Sorry, that was really naughty of me.

[Happy chickens!]

Cheek! (And when you've trained yours to do that, please let me know how!)

[Egluntyne]

Got this off 'tinterweb:

 

The Allotment Act 1950 includes the allowance of certain forms of livestock (hens and rabbits) to be kept although this can be, in some cases, restricted by local by-laws.

 

A council may have local rules to specify that no livestock or hens are allowed. However, these local regulations must adhere to the Allotment Act(s) and those regulations that do not comply are not in force until confirmed by a local by-law.

 

Cockerels are not allowed by the Allotment Act.

[Valkyrie]

Happychickens wrote:

(And when you've trained yours to do that, please let me know how!)

 

 

If I manage to catch them first! Cheyenne is a dead cert for the Grand National! (I'd be too zonked out to do any harnessing!)

[helenmb]

I have a friend who keeps 6 hens on his allotment. As far as I am aware he hasn't had any problems and the allotment is close to his home so they can check on their girls and collect eggs easily. However, he keeps them more as livestock than pets I think.

 

I agree about how addictive watching them is so be prepared if you do get some to spending a lot of time watching and not so much time digging!

[AbigailGrace]

Oh thankyou everyone..

Very helpful..

 

Well we live very near and would be going up on my bike most of the time..

 

I think that they would possibly just live up there for a small amount of time until we save up and buy an eglu then they will come live with us...

 

Next door have just got some chickens..!!!!

 

Well i am worried for there health..

As they have a dog that they have never walked any are quite high up there own bottoms about there garden.. which is very plain but they think it is amazing..

So i doubt they will ever go out of there pen.. Which is tiny and there housing is a small guineapig thing with no nesting box or anything..

I think there is about 4 of them all crammed in this little house..

There run will just be short of 2 meters i would say and the house is on the ground..

So i know we are going to have probs with rodents..

We did earlier in the year as she was always throwing bread out and we had rats coming in our gardens but she doesn't think it's her..

 

Sorry for ranting and raving..

I get really annoyed with her..

She didn't even inform the council or us..

 

They are just one of those familes that always want to better than you..

So i really want to get an eglu and show off in her face..!

 

Sorry thats awful but i really want to do it..

 

She has just done this in haste for christmas..

 

I highly doubt she knows anything about the poor little ladies..

 

Well thankyou for listening to all that..

Wishing you all a very berry christmas..

Love.

 

[chickenanne]

Oh dear, it does sound like next door are unpleasant. Perhaps you could try being offensively charming to them - ask about the chickens, how they'll deal with the garden, the dog, etc., tell them what a strange coincedence it is given that you've just ordered some for the allotment ( I know, but...) etc. If you get them on side then it might make life easier in terms of getting them to be more reasonable.

[AbigailGrace]

Ah.. Yes fab ideas..!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Sounds like they'll get bored with their chickens soon ...... you could be on hand to rescue them .

[AbigailGrace]

Well this is the thing..

 

I would love to have them but I don't want them coming up to me asking how there chickens are..

 

I do sound like a right moo.. Don't I..

 

I'm just worried for the chicks sake..

 

I'll give an update on how they are..

 

Well they are in the smallest house i have ever seen.. (wouldn't even put a guinea in it..)

 

They have the wrong feeders..

 

Still haven't been let out or handled..

 

And they have started pecking at each other as the lack of space..

 

Well i'm not all that knowlaedgable yet.. But i can say that they are just in the wrong sort of everything..

 

Merry Christmas..