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

[bexbex]

Basically I've wanted chickens for years now.

We have a small back garden and neighbours on both sides. One side lovely neighbours otherside chavs...

 

I have 2 rabbits who free range in the day (and dig holes everywhere lol)

 

I have seen this hutch

 

http://static.preloved.co.uk/uploads/userphotos/09/0424/1408059-990m.jpg

 

I could fit about 3 hens in there and free range them in the day but on the other hand I'm also thinking about quails..

I could get about 5 or 6 quails in there and wouldn't have to free range them as it is quite roomy.

 

I've never kept quails or chickens before but I understand both are quiet (obviously not as quiet as my rabbits are)

 

I'd like them as pets with eggs as a bonus but I just can't decide which ones to get!

 

Which would you think would be the suitable birds for this hutch?

[Chucky Mama]

Is the 'hutch' built with chickens in mind? Does it have roosting bars of some sort?

[bexbex]

no it doesn't have roosting bars but the guy who builds them says for an extra cost he can make it with roosting bars in it

[Janty]

Quail can dig so I would think that you would have to put mesh on the bottom for them. Also, they may not use the ramp and sleeping area. I would advise starting with chickens and then move on to quail when you feel more confident.

[bexbex]

thanks

 

Do you know which breed of chicken would suit the hutch? I'd love an eglu eventually but don't have the cash for one at the moment. This one is £119.99 (not including what a nest box/roosting bars woudl cost

 

I think I would place slabs under the hutch so nothing can dig under to them and I'd cover the top up at night which is what I do with my rabbits.

 

With chickens I'd more then likely clip the wings and let them free range with the rabbits when I'm in the house.

[Redwing]

Bantams would be good eg Pekins as the run is quite small, many types of bantams dont produce as many eggs as a hybrid but I could see a bigger hen having trouble with the ramp and size of the run

[Falkor]

Tasha beat me to it! just typed more or less the same thing only to be beaten to the submit button!

[Redwing]

Tasha beat me to it! just typed more or less the same thing only to be beaten to the submit button!

 

Have you thought about shopping around? something like this looks a bit more suitable

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330339230498&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&salenotsupported

 

Also consider second hand housing maybe?

[bexbex]

Thanks for the help everyone.

I think I have pretty much decided on chickens rather then quails.

I have seen this

http://www.farrowsmith.co.uk/chicken-coops-runs/chicken-starter-pack/

It looks like good value, you get some hens too. What do other think about it?

I'll keep you posted as to what we decide!

[emmamakeup]

I certainly think this choice is better than the first option you gave as it's especially designed for chooks.

 

All this talk of purchasing is giving me the desire to buy more chickens!!! Especially now that they are starting to lay.

 

You'll have so much fun - the best investment I ever made in my garden and they are great to watch. I can literally sit a whole morning in my garden watching my chickens potter about. As I've been typing this Hermione's layed her daily egg and I've been out to get it.

[Redwing]

Thats a better choice, the run is a little small but you could always extend it

 

You will love having chickens

[Janty]

This place do starter set-ups, depending on where you live.

 

http://www.hen-house.co.uk/html/starter_packs.html

 

I know the top quote is expensive but I'm not sure how much less the second option is. I have seen him building the houses and they are really solid.

[Janty]

Another thought...you could contact the lovely Tony at ...

 

http://www.aviaries4u.co.uk/

 

 

as he was talking about his new line in hen houses.

[debbier]

I've never kept quails or chickens before but I understand both are quiet (obviously not as quiet as my rabbits are)

 

Hi,

I'm only a very new chicken owner, and mine (at the moment) don't make much noise, but some definitely do. I don't want to put you off, but it's probably worth reading some of the threads on here regarding how to stop chooks being too noisy!

[bexbex]

Thank you all for your replies and help!

 

I will look into how to keep them a bit quieter but I'm sure as long as they're quiet in the night then it won't bother people..Where I live (Doncaster) people are usually to busy shouting and drinking to notice anyway (can you tell I hate this place lol) The people 2 doors down from us have built a pub in their back garden so I'm sure they won't dare complain about 3 chickens clucking..

 

I have decied to go with the company who deliever and set everything up.

 

The coop comes with 3 red warrens/amberlinks girlies who I'm told look like the popular Rhode Island Red and lay a large egg. They are friendly and a good consistant layer.

 

I'm sure people arond here will think I'm nuts having chickens in a terrenced house but I don't care. As long as they're kept clean and are well looked after I really can't see anyone complaining.

 

When I emailed the company they have said they can deliever this Saturday so doesn't give me long to give garden a tidy up which it really needs! I have 3 rabbits, 3 cats, 1 dalmatian and the main culpret behind the messy garden.. a 4 year old son who thinks he's a builder! hehe Once the rabbits ate the garden I kind of gave up on the back garden, I haven't cut the grass in 2 years as it doesn't get chance to grow before the rabbits eat it lol, they're great gardeners haha, they eat the grass and fertalize as they go!

 

Will let you know how it goes!

 

Becki

x

[BocBoc]

Sounds like the mad house is about to get madder!!

 

Good luck - you'll love being a chicken owner

[Plum]

Did you get them then?