Hinksy Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 We are getting some Chickens/Chooks in the Spring and using the time we have now to gather as much info as possible so that we can offer them a good and stable/healthy home. Now the Plan is to get one for each of the kids and us so we can all name them and the likes... this would be 5 Chickens possibly leading to a maximum of 6. We have a Chicken Coop which is apparently rated to 9 standard Chickens, the House and Run area is about 10foot by 7ft. They will also have the run of the garden which is about 150ft by 35ft, the middle of it being taken up by the kids playground and the end as my veggie area. So we should have enough space for them to run about and play in and the garden is pretty much fox proof now, (well as fox proof as it can be!) Like said we are getting 5 possibly and at the very most 6 Chickens, question is though.... Is it best to get them all at the same time so they can all start off together? Just we found a place we wanted 2 from but not found anymore as of yet. Whats Best? Thanks Ja Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandychick Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Hello and welcome to the forum I think getting all the chickens together will save a lot of hassle. They can be quite unpleasent to any new arrivals even a few days after the first ones have moved in. I found this out when I got my first chickens. It's no problem to get them from different places though, but all on the same day would be the best option. The only other thing is to make sure the veg area is netted and chicken proof - they realy can demolish nice fresh greens / plants in no time! It might be worth considering fencing an area for the chickens. This is the set up I've got, and it is nice having the chicken poo contained to one area! Lots of people have their chickens using the whole garden though, and it really depends what works for you - I don't mean to over complicate things! One thing thats definate is that chickens are fantastic fun! I'm getting new chickens in spring and I can't wait Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggquisite Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Agree with Sandychick's comment.. If you're planning on getting a few chooks I would try & get them all at the same time. As you'll see reading on through the forum, introducing new chickens later can be quite challenging. We had 5 to start with & picked them up from two locations on the same day. Good luck with what you decide... owning chooks is a true delight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Welcome to the forum . I agree with the others, get them all at the same time and you'll make life much easier for yourself . Omlet netting is a great way to keep chicken poop (and destruction ) to a minimum . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 I agree. Getting them together is best. But check the size of the run- it's that which determines how many chickens you can get, and not the size of the coop. For instance, although theoretically you could get 6 bantams in an eglu, the standard run only really can accommodate 2/3 unless you give them lots of free ranging. Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Please be aware that unless your garden is meshed to 2ft below the surface and has mesh over the top of it it will not be fox proof, foxes climb and dig! The amount of poo that chickens create is astonishing and not pleasant for playing children so t may be best to make a smaller really safe area for the chickens rather than letting them have the run of the garden I agree with the others to get all of them at the same time, introductions are tricky in chickens and requires separate accomodation Good luck with your plans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 I agree re getting them all at once.....and with Redwing's advice re the volume of poo that will be generated by 5/6 hens. I would confine them to their own area of the garden, and read all you can on keeping them safe from the fox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Hello and welcome to the forum Totally agree with everybody elses posts, just wanted to wish you luck with it all xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hinksy Posted December 21, 2009 Author Share Posted December 21, 2009 Thanks for the replies and info, Did look at the Eglu Netting which I will probably end up getting soon just to help either extend the run or protect other areas. Have had lost of different pets in the past so the garden is very fox proof and secure, I have in previous years dug ditches around the borders and blocked it all in to stop the likes of digging.. ( It's also part of my job keeping People/Animals... locked up!" Will try to get the chickens all at the same time though thanks Ja Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenNutter Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Hi Hinksy and welcome to the forum. I was new to chook -ping in July but have 'seen the light'. I got eglu netting and it is costly, but really fab, and I researched cheaper options, including getting the raw materials and making my own, but there really aren't any. What I like about eglu fencing is it so low impact you can hardly see it, and I would echo the other posts in that the girls do poo a lot, so having an area of the garden for just humans really is sensible. Good luck with them and enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hinksy Posted December 22, 2009 Author Share Posted December 22, 2009 We do intend to have certain areas that the chickens wont exactly be allowed in but we also want to incorporate them as much in the garden as possible. I am putting a fence half way up the garden to keep the kids/chickens away from the babecue and seating area, got most of the veg beds fenced up to protect from wood pigeons and sparrows. We do want to the chickens to feel happy though as they are foremost pets and any Eggs are a bonus, that said we do want to get a couple which are good egg layers the likes of and Been going through most of the pinned topics on here though and there is some good info for a newbie, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
