Eglu Go With 2m Run For Sale

[Bettiboo]

hi there

 

I would like to keep 3-4 chickens but I have read so much information online, my brain is now well and truly scrambled!!

 

Please help me get started.

 

What is the best accommodation to have? I don't have a huge budget so are the wooden coops and runs acceptable? I would like the chickens to be free-range whilst I'm around. My garden is wrecked anyway so that isn't a problem but I do have a toddler. Will they poo everywhere and make the garden unusable?

 

Next what chickens to keep. I saw some pekin bantams that just looked so cute but I've heard they don't lay many eggs. My husband doesn't see the point of keeping chickens if we don't get any eggs so I need to keep him happy. I also want friendly chickens so the children can look after them. So which little fat, round chicken will be friendly and lay eggs?

 

That's it for now. There are a million other questions but I'll save them for another day.

 

Thanks

[Redwing]

Wooden houses are fine but buy the best you can, nothing with wood under 12mm thick, no felt on the roof if you can avoid it, removable perches, proper bolts and latches etc.. dont get an import - they are made of chocolate

 

Weldmesh rather than chicken wire for a run, foxes can bite through chicken wire

 

Pelins are lovely, very feisty fun little characters, they lay quite well but do lean towards broodiness Wyandotte, Sussex, Plymouth Rock and Rhode Island Red bantams lay better, Orpington bantams are cuddly but not very small and dont lay that well

 

Any pure breed will not lay very well through the winter though some are better than others

 

Hybrid hens will lay more eggs throughout the year but the laying slows down in tehir second year. pure breeds will be productive for longer

 

In my eyes personally (and lots wont agree) hybrids seem more prone to behavioural problems and egg laying problems than pure breeds but then only having one hybrid in nearly a hundred birds I am slightly biased! perhaps I have just had bad luck!

[Redwing]

And yes they will trash your garden, Omlet netting or Knowles nets are both good for keeping them to a smaller area as you wont want your toddler playing in chicken poo

[Egluntyne]

There are some ebay bargains to be had if you want an Eglu.

 

I agree with Tasha, hybrids do seem less robust long term than pure breeds, but they do lay throughout their first winter.

 

A mixed flock is your best bet I would say.

 

And yes, be prepared for a lot of poo.

[Space Chick]

As a rule, I would say that hybrids will be better for eggs, but they are most feisty, so maybe not ideal for a toddler. Pure breed girls live up to their breeding and tend to be more polite and remember their manners

 

Pure breeds do tend to be more prone to broodiness, but the "bar" chickens get broody less apparently eg. Cream Legbar (blue eggs), Gold legbar (White eggs), Barnebars (Dark eggs), although there are exceptions, my barnebar obviously didn't read her breed rule book, as gets broody at a drop of a hat and lays beige eggs

[Guest]

Hi

I got my house from www.henhouseworld.co.uk really cheep and really good wooden make. I cant afford an eglu because i pay for everything myself so this was my option but it has done so well.

[chickyhazel]

I am very biased as we only have hybrids, but they are well behaved, good layers and make you laugh with their antics!

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

We always get hybrids and they're easily tamable.

 

Why don'tyou go to a hen party to get a feel. We did before we started and have never regretted it.

[chickyhazel]

You could look ohn omlet for a secondhand eglu, go or cube. we got our cube secondhand and it was in perfect condition.

[Bettiboo]

Forgive me for being so ignorant but what's a 'hen party'?

[Space Chick]

They are chicken keeping courses, if you go to the courses section of the Omlet website. Basically experienced hen keepers run courses in how to keep hens

[ISCA]

Hello,

 

I got my first chickens at the weekend and there are always hundreds of questions to ask but everyone here is very helpful and friendly so ask away. No question is a stupid question if you do not know the answer.

 

As a novice myself I feel unable to advise with any authority but, I would say, a wooden coop is fine. There are some great wooden coops out there (I have one!) but some unsuitable ones also, so choose wisely. Go for the best you can afford, it will pay dividends in the end. "Buy cheap, buy twice" as they say! As Tasha says, avoid felt roofs and get one that is well crafted in the UK, avoid the really cheap imported ones (often seen on eBay etc) as they are unlikely to stay in one piece for long. But there are some good deals to be had out there.

 

If you want small, friendly hens for your children then a bantam sounds ideal. There are lots of good chicken books out there which wll give you good info on all the breeds. Amazon have a good selection and have cheap prices.

 

Good luck in whatever you choose.