Ammonia smell in coop-first time owner

[chestnutmare]

All I need to say is the Christmas offer persuaded and I had Christmas money to spend (almost) guilt free.

 

(with extension)

 

Scheduled for delivery for Wednesday.

 

[chuckmum6]

Congratulations, pictures please when it is set up, how exciting!!!

[Olly]

Crumbs, that didn't take long! Congratulations, you will not regret it. You may not be able to sleep between now and delivery, though!

[Sageandonion]

Aww well done - that's a cracking offer, have fun filling it .

[Plum]

Offer came at the right time. Lots of pics please

[chestnutmare]

Thanks. Eee, how exciting! I went to the pet shop today and they had there:-

A couple of black rocks, quite a few white sussex (I think), one speckeldy and some warrens.

 

The speckeldy and white sussex look quite large... I don't want to ram them into a (with extension). And I don't know if I caught the speckeldy at a bad time but it kept another on the face a few times - ouch.

 

I don't know what to go for, any suggestions? Preferably I'd like three different looking hens with different shades of eggs so we can easily tell who laid what. Does that sound a bit silly?

[Snowy]

I think a mixture is perfect! Once you have your Go you need to go and look at the hens again and pick the healthiest and friendliest/least aggressive birds. Colour and/or breed doesn't really matter with hybrids, like anything there will be a variety of personalities. Alwayds good if they choose you though!

You couldn't go far wrong with a sussex, a warren and a black rock. All good hens (avoid the speckledy if it looks like being too much of a bossy boots).

[chuckmum6]

What about three bantam, a two metre run is quite small for three big girls. Wyandotte bantams are lovely looking compact birds and easy to care for. Otherwise I would only get two big birds. Have fun choosing!

[chestnutmare]

What about three bantam, a two metre run is quite small for three big girls. Wyandotte bantams are lovely looking compact birds and easy to care for. Otherwise I would only get two big birds. Have fun choosing!

 

I got an extension for the Go - so the run is 3m, I think.

[chestnutmare]

I think a mixture is perfect! Once you have your Go you need to go and look at the hens again and pick the healthiest and friendliest/least aggressive birds. Colour and/or breed doesn't really matter with hybrids, like anything there will be a variety of personalities. Alwayds good if they choose you though!

You couldn't go far wrong with a sussex, a warren and a black rock. All good hens (avoid the speckledy if it looks like being too much of a bossy boots).

 

I am concerned about the space. Will 3m run be okay for 3hens of sussex, warren and black rock size? There is a place about a 2hr drive away (one way) with smaller hybrids but that's some distance to travel.

[Patricia W]

How much free ranging will they be able to do? If it's not much, then I'd not get a flighty breed like a Sussex. But if they will get a decent amount of free ranging then you've got much more choice. Personally, I'd go for bantam versions- they'll have loads of space.

[chestnutmare]

How much free ranging will they be able to do? If it's not much, then I'd not get a flighty breed like a Sussex. But if they will get a decent amount of free ranging then you've got much more choice. Personally, I'd go for bantam versions- they'll have loads of space.

Not much free-ranging I'm afraid as in the past we've been very upset over chickens taken by the fox. Obviously the bantam lays smaller eggs...? I have to be honest, I really did think there'd be enough room for 3 average size hens in a Go with an extension but perhaps I need to re-think. I'll have to do some researching tonight.

[Space Chick]

I think 3 should be fine in a Go with an extension, although any supervised free ranging you can give them will go down well

 

Mine only get to free range when I am home, and it's always been that way (I started with 4 in a cube with the standard run).

 

The drive to Newland is worth it as you could get a white star (white egg), columbine (fingers crossed green) and a blacktail (brown), although the local supplier is reputable and the hens are healthy there. Warrens are a bit smaller than Sussex, but whatever you decide should be fine

 

As already said on PM, if you want to pop up to mine to see the sizes of different girls before you take the plunge you are more than welcome, I am off on holiday all week this week

[chestnutmare]

Thanks, Space Chick, that is very kind of you. Do you have a white star, columbine and blacktail? That would be handy.

The thing with free-ranging at the moment is I'd need to put some barrier up because we're on a small holding. Chickens here in the past would have the run of the place - hence the fox. Mind you, the fox has come into our garden when my mother and cousin were on the patio and took a chicken - summer, day time and with people a few yards away!

 

How tempted am I to go to Newland now? Very.

[Space Chick]

I have 2 columbines and an equiv of a blacktail, sadly I lost my white star a few months back but I can show you sizes from my other girls

 

Very of the smallholding, that's my dream that it

[chestnutmare]

It's my parents' smallholding. Other half and I live here at the moment (we used to rent in town). It's nice having the space and privacy here.

My mother is telling me everyone loves a brown egg, forget the fancy colours.

[Space Chick]

Not wanting to disagree with your Mum, but people go crazy for my coloured eggs, everyone loves them in fact my friends little one will only eat a boiled egg if it's a green one

[chestnutmare]

Ah, how cute! I feel a trip to Newland Poultry coming on! I was talking about different coloured eggs with kids in my family the other night, one of them said 'Eeerr! The dye would go inside the egg.' ?!?

[goodinparts]

A Bluebelle, a Black Star & a Speckled Star here very happily in a with extension...They have supervised FR most days but genuinely don't seem overcrowded & miserable on the days when they can't get out.

Enjoy your hen shopping

[chestnutmare]

A Bluebelle, a Black Star & a Speckled Star here very happily in a with extension...They have supervised FR most days but genuinely don't seem overcrowded & miserable on the days when they can't get out.

Enjoy your hen shopping

Thanks for that. I'm really looking forward to getting my and can't wait to go hen shopping.

[Chucky Mama]

How exciting Just like Christmas all over again