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[Doody]

Hi,

 

Ok, so im very new to all this, so please dont shout at me, but looking for advice on my set up.

 

Only had my chickens 9 days now, but like i have said before things seem to be going well. However ive finally managed to post up some pics of my set up. Now please take into consideration this is just a temp set up, it will change over the next coming month or so. Its a LOT better than what they was used to anyway.

 

The pictures show you all what i have been trying to explain. I have the coop and a 1m wire fence going around it. They have shelter, and yet the sun can get in also. So they get the best of both worlds. They are alos at the top of the garden, where lots of grubs fall from the trees etc, which they seem to love to eat. Sadly the top of the garden is about 70m away, so incase of a fox attack etc, i think i would always come 2nd.

 

The wire fence has so far stop 2 cat attacks. However probably best for the cats, as they didnt look so impressed when the chickens flapped about and made some noise back.

 

So what could i do to improve this? What could i put inside the run? branches? Play things? Floor coverings?

 

There is a sand bath in there, but you cant see it, its a mix of soil and the ash from the pizza oven. They get locked in the pen at night or when i leave the house which gives them that bit more protection. I think i need to get some bark chippings as with this rain it looks like it could get muddy, as i didnt relise just how much s"Ooops, word censored!"ping with there claws chickens did.

 

They are also only in this wire run when im in the conservatory or in the house. When im in the garden, i let them have a walk about for an hour or two. But for there safety i like them to stay in the pen area as i feel it just protects them more.

 

The run area is about 8m x 8m. Please any advice would be appreciated, but dont shout at me, im very new to this and improving week by week. Ive attached the pics below, if ive done it right anyway lol.....

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/mark_doody/Chickens/chick.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/mark_doody/Chickens/CHICK1.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/mark_doody/Chickens/CHICK2.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/mark_doody/Chickens/CHICK5.jpg

Edited July 14, 2010 by Guest

[Doody]

Ermmm lol, that isnt my SET UP LOL,thats my pizza oven lol hold on, lol, dont know what ive done wrong!!

[Doody]

Oh its all gone very very wrong, what are my pics so big, why is only a bit showing, lol.......

[Jools]

It looks like absolute chicken heaven to me, made even better by a little free-ranging in your garden too. It honestly needs no improvement.

 

My only comment is that the wire fencing you're using won't prevent a fox attack, as they can easily clear around 6ft if they need to. However, you may not be at risk from foxes where you are, so it may not be relevant. My chickens areas aren't fox-proof either (just dog proof against my terriers!)

[Doody]

Sorry folks, i cant resize these images although i have tried, they keep coming up massive and losing nearly all the picture....

[Doody]

I just tried direct links, please let me know if they work!!!!

[Roobaloo]

Links work!!

 

It looks like a lovely set up!! Don't worry too much about "entertainment" as they merrily scracth for hours!! But a nice log would be appreciated as it'd attract more creepy crawlies and give them something to stand on...that said, it may also give thema good launching pad!!

 

Personally, I would move them closer to the house...mainly because of reaction times if there were a problem and secondly I'd want to see them better! One thing that concerns me is the trees and bushed near the fence. Foxes can climb to a certain degree...it's not unheard of for a Fox to scramble up through a hedge to evade hounds. Plus cats and birds of prey can drop down into the pen from branches.

 

The odds are slim but I'm a pessimist!!!

 

All in all, it's a beautiful set up and you should be proud!! I love your garden...I wish mine were even half that long!!!

[Doody]

Links work!!

 

It looks like a lovely set up!! Don't worry too much about "entertainment" as they merrily scracth for hours!! But a nice log would be appreciated as it'd attract more creepy crawlies and give them something to stand on...that said, it may also give thema good launching pad!!

 

Personally, I would move them closer to the house...mainly because of reaction times if there were a problem and secondly I'd want to see them better! One thing that concerns me is the trees and bushed near the fence. Foxes can climb to a certain degree...it's not unheard of for a Fox to scramble up through a hedge to evade hounds. Plus cats and birds of prey can drop down into the pen from branches.

 

The odds are slim but I'm a pessimist!!!

 

All in all, it's a beautiful set up and you should be proud!! I love your garden...I wish mine were even half that long!!!

 

Phew, so glad the links work, i was going mad.

 

Right, ill find some old logs etc. I think they will be fine, mine dont seem to want to jump, they are happy just walking along lol. But yeah, maybe bugs will go under/in it, so great idea.

 

As for the run, i agree with you excatly. But that run is for only when im in the garden. Do you think a fox would come into the garden if im in it also? They are back in their coop now, as i have to get daughter from school. But like you i did think of the trees of maybe a place for cats, foxes, hawks to attack. But i also thought it maybe a place to cover them from predators.

 

Who knows!! As im finding with chicken keeping, anything is possible.

[Roobaloo]

Who knows!! As im finding with chicken keeping, anything is possible.

 

Couldn't agree more!!

 

With the logs, if you can then bake or boil them first...or failing that, soak them in a diluted bleach solution, just to kill of any nasty fungus, bacteria or things like mites!!!

 

If you're in the garden, a predator is unlikely to enter but if you're in the conservatory, you may go unseen...plus, predators these days are opportunists! Foxes would be less likely to do it as they'd have to have a way out too...!

Perhaps getting some garden netting and tie it between the trees above the pen to act as a barrier?

Or just make any overhanging branches unfriendly...such as using garden fence spikes would be ideal as they're harmess if you grab them (they're small, closely packed plastic, blunt ended cones) but cats can't get their paws between and birds wouldn't be able to land!!

 

It's so hard to get the ideal solution...at the end of the day, it comes down to what works for you and your birds!! Clearly they're in good hands!!

[Mercedes55]

Looks very nice

[Doody]

My next job is to work on a WIR. Im a very poor DIY man im afraid, im more of a cook lol..

 

Im going to look into more in next couple of weeks, that way they can have plenty of room to wonder along with piece of mind for me..

[hunkydoory]

Looks great - and nice garden

I have recently installed a bug hotel - inspiration from a school project.

 

The 'hotel' can be as big or small as you wish but essentially its a lattice of logs stacked north/south followed by an east/west layer etc. The bugs soon move in and provide hours of happy hunting, plus a good perch One tip from experience - if the logs aren't substansial enough the chooks just demolish the structure.

[Plum]

Can you post a picture of your bug hotel for us.