Omlet cube and run

[Lorax]

Hello everyone. I first joined here two and a bit years ago, with my chickens on order...and then found I was pregnant and the thought of dealing with chicken poo put everything on hold.

 

I feel ready now to think about keeping chickens again. I'd so appreciate some help.

 

Our garden is just under an acre. It's as secure as a garden can be (fenced and rabbit proofed on all sides, driveway gates that are almost always shut). Ideally I'd like a Cube with a 2 metre run, and two chickens to start off with, but to let the chickens have the run of the garden during the day (our veg is all in raised beds).

 

Will they ruin the garden? Am I naive in thinking that two chickens can't possibly ruin a garden of this size?

Will I inevitably get rats? I have a pathological fear of them. (I've read the FAQ about rats.)

Can I leave them in the Cube run at night, or do I have to lock them into the house?

 

Thank you for your patience.

[Guest]

The hens will ruin your veg and lawn no matter how many you have it will just take them a bit longer to do it

Remember hens can jump not just fly

Rats you will have them but if you keep food stored safely away and it out of the run at night then you should be fine

It would be best to leave the hens in the cube at night and shut the door. Unless you plan on a Walk In Run which would be a good idea then the hens need to be shut away. The problem with letting the roam all day is foxes so a WIR is best then you can let them out when your home

[Lorax]

Thanks for that. Does the Cube come with a WIR or is that something extra? (Sorry..)

 

Re foxes. I don't expect any garden to be totally safe from them, but we have 6ft high fences all the way round. How much of a risk would they be do you think?

[chicken bark]

I think you'll find with a garden that size 2 hens won't destroy your grass BUT they WILL dig holes i it everywhere and anywhere they choose.

 

You'll need to put netting around your flower and veg beds to protect them.

 

I don't think chickens attract rats it is just the left over food that does.

 

If you only have them in the cube run I would shut them in the cube at night. I enjoy making sure my hens are all tucked up for the night.

 

A walk in run (WIR) is something else which is a large, fox proof run that would mean you wouldn't necessarily need to shut the cube door at night.

 

As for foxes, if you have any gaps around your garden about as wide as the palm of your hand, then a fox can get in.

 

This is just my opinion but I hope it helps.

 

I'm really pleased I got my hens and have not regretted it.

[Chucky1]

Our garden is just under an acre. It's as secure as a garden can be (fenced and rabbit proofed on all sides, driveway gates that are almost always shut). Ideally I'd like a Cube with a 2 metre run, and two chickens to start off with, but to let the chickens have the run of the garden during the day (our veg is all in raised beds).

 

Will they ruin the garden? Am I naive in thinking that two chickens can't possibly ruin a garden of this size?

Will I inevitably get rats? I have a pathological fear of them. (I've read the FAQ about rats.)

Can I leave them in the Cube run at night, or do I have to lock them into the house?

 

Thank you for your patience.

 

Hi Lorax - just my 2 cents worth. The chucks will peck and scratch at your lawn though 2 couldn't possibly turnover a whole acre. We rotovated a a small square and encourage them to dig there by giving treats and corn there,. They love it as its easy to dig there but if they get the notion they still have a go at the flower beds and lawn as well

 

We let ours FR all the time - touch wood no problems. Nothing short of weldmesh is going to keep foxes out, and if they can't go through it they'll go over or under it. Having said that all my neighbours are sheep farmers and foxes are not tolerated around here. Lets just say I'm very grateful for their efforts.

 

I did hear it said once that no one is ever more than 10 feet away from a rat. I don't like them either but in 30 months here I haven't seen one. Simple precautions should keep them away.

 

I hope you do get chooks we wouldn't be without our gals

 

Good Luck

[Plum]

My garden is nowhere near as big as yours but I find they fling earth from the borders onto the grass a lot so I either keep them on or off with Omlet netting. They have their own half of the garden which is greener than ours and a lot tidier .

[Marky D]

Wish i had a 1 acre garden, i would have LOTS of chickens!!!! and maybe a pig!!!

[Plum]

Then you wouldn't have a lawn

[Guest]

WIR means walk in runs so big runs you can attach a house to or put the house inside and you can stand up in it I found it a lot easier and foxes will always scale fences that are strong.

[Marky D]

Vastly overated them green shoot things coming out of the mud