Solitary chicken - need advice

[KateG]

We live in a victorian terrace, the garden isn't huge and the neighbours are obviously close.

 

I'm concerned that a) we dont' have enough room, b) they hens will be annoying for the neighbours (noise? Smell?) and c)they are difficult to keep happy.

 

I'm doing as much research as I can but I want the truth from people who 'do it'.

 

Any advice for a newbie?

[Redwing]

Hi and welcome

 

Lots of people on the forum have a set up in a terraced house garden, hopefully someone should be along to tell you their experiences

 

I have some of my chooks near my back door, I never had a problem with smell but havent had the chickens during a summer yet! I do have a noisy hen but she is further from the house, its the luck of the draw regarding noise I am afraid but even the noisiest hen will not be anywhere near as noise as that pesky dog a few doors down (every neighbourhood has one )

[fluffyknickers]

I live in a terrace house with very small garden (the chickens now have most of the garden and I have fenced off their area and left the patio for us).We haven't been through a summer yet but at the moment only gets whiffy if it's left for too long and havent had a clear up (but not major smells). I do have flies around at the moment but then I know people that do too without chickens so prob just the weather (and I am buying citronella to spray around).

 

My chickens aren't too noisy and when they are its only in the morning when everyone should be up by then and I keep them in their house (cube) til 8am.

 

Could you visit someone with chickens to give you an idea?

 

Michelle

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome to the forum, Kate . I live in a medium sized house on a housing estate with neighbours within spitting distance either side (not that I do, of course ). You can see how close one neighbour is from the photo in my signature. My girls are very quiet 99% of the time, only squarking for a couple of minutes sometimes. There is no smell at all if you keep on top of the hygiene (very easily done) and depending on your run, there are various things you can put in there for hentertainment .

 

So go for it . You won't regret it .

[KateG]

Eek! you've made me buzz with excitement - I really didn't think it was a doable and I was expecting someone to talk me out of it!

 

I think seeing someone with a set up in a similar situation would be awesome and definately a way of showing my husband tht it is a grand idea.

 

yay for eglus!

[KateG]

Just one thing - I'm looking at the Eglus with the runs, rather than the cubes (for cost reasons really). Will that be fine for 3 hens that would get let out for a few hours a day?

 

Will I need to be in the garden when they are out if their wings are clipped?

[fluffyknickers]

An eglu with three chickens would be great (better than two) - you can always add run extensions if you want.

 

In terms of escaping they would be able to fly very high or far with their wings clipped but depends how high your fences are.

 

Personally I never let mine out to free range (out the run) if I am not around as I just dont want to risk Mr Fox.

 

Mine are usually let out around 3.30 when I have done the school run and making tea!

 

Michelle

[Ain't Nobody Here]

They'll be absolutely fine but you may want to consider getting the converter at the same time as you place your order for the eglu.

 

I don't worry about my 3 trying to escape (they can't fly well at all!) but you may want to keep an eye on them when they're out because of foxes .

 

These photos show the difference - the converter really does give them a lot of extra space.

 

Standard run:

 

Run plus converter:

[seraphine]

We're in a similar set-up to you, 3 bed '30s semi, average size garden. After a bit of research and much advice from everyone on here we've bitten the bullet and ordered an Eglu, 3 chickens and a run extension.

 

We won't be able to let them freerange for hours on end (we have two little girls so lots of running here there and everywhere) but I do anticipate at least an hour or two every day, which I've been told is fine.

 

In my very inexperienced opinion I think you should go for it! See if you can find my topic ' surburban chicken owners' or something like that anyway, I had lots of good and useful replies regarding my concerns.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

we've bitten the bullet and ordered an Eglu, 3 chickens and a run extension.

Just checking that you have ordered the "converter" as your extension ? You need that first before adding an "extension" as it straightens out the increased angle. I'm sure you were told that when ordering but I just thought I'd check .

[seraphine]

we've bitten the bullet and ordered an Eglu, 3 chickens and a run extension.

Just checking that you have ordered the "converter" as your extension ? You need that first before adding an "extension" as it straightens out the increased angle. I'm sure you were told that when ordering but I just thought I'd check .

 

Thanks ANH, yes, that's what I've ordered - I was a bit confused when discussing it over the phone as naturally you'd think you need the run extension in order to extend the run , but Omlet explained what I'd need in order to make it a 3mtr run, suitable for 3 chickens. So if in future I wanted to extend it further (unlikely, I'd rather a WIR if we decided to get more chooks) that's when I'd need the run extension?

[Guest]

HI

 

to begin with i felt a bit sorry for mine loooking at me to go out into the garden(I think there is a manipulative intelligent side to them)..but I have only had them a couple of weeks and they are absolutely fine.

 

So they have a bit of a change... I just make sure they get something ie bread&water/corn s"Ooops, word censored!"s or some edible weeds from the fields etc in the afternoon as a bit of a treat and they have a log to perch on etc...also they are v tame birds quickly.

 

Mine are right by my back door and my neighbours back of her bedroom and she said to me she didnt realise i had them...as folks here have said dogs barking or loud music would be noisier

 

I keep thinking they will get noisier and perhaps they will but they are so easy to look after.

Once i let them out as long as their food and water is fine and they are safe i go out all day etc and at the moment they are putting themselves to bed at dusk(8pm) and i just shut the door!

 

Most nice weather days I do go and sit and pick them up if i get time just to help tameness etc

 

I am amazed how easy they are and have kept ducks before(who really were a tie)

 

Great animals

indie

[*mummy_hen*]

I live in a victorian terrace and my girls are fine. Our garden isn't massive but we built them a large WIR and they still ahve pletny of room to roam around when we let them out in the garden.

 

As for the neighbours, we have never had any worries. Our girls don't smell but we ensure they don't but cleaning out the bark from their run every 2 months or so and keeping the house clean so this doesn't attract flies, etc. Our girls also aren't noisy so i can't see any reason why the neighbours could ahve a problem with them! If all else fails, you can bribe them with eggs!!

 

If you want chickens, don't think you don't have enough room. We though this, but now i can see they have mpre than enough room....infact we could easily fit in more