Peacocks

[JS1]

I'm pretty sure I'd start with a cube, not a wooden house (not that I have a cube yet...)

I'd get six chickens rather than three to start with.

I'd get a mix of different breeds (and different coloured eggs) instead of 'little brown hens' - although I do love my original girls and ex-batts and they'd definitely be part of the mix

I'd have bought extra feeders and drinkers at the start.

 

I'm sure there's loads of other things too - what would you do if you were starting from scratch?

[abwsco]

I'd have put the WIR in a different place and given them half the garden in the first place.

[coco]

I would have got a bigger house and run as we have had several extensions before building a WIR.

[goodinparts]

I'd have got a cube straight away, rather than starting with a go and working up...and would have spent more time researching breeds. I love my happy hybrids, and would always have a couple I think, but really didn't spend long thinking about what I really REALLY wanted - just jumped straight in.

Also, wouldn't have messed about with chicken wire to fence off the hens bit of the garden - it looks ugly & isn't 100% chook proof so we still get poo on the patio etc!

[Donna C]

Same here, would have gone straight to wir and eglu

[oneyolktoanother]

i would have given them half the garden in the first place aswell, also i would of got the four in the first place and moved house to have a bigger garden for another coop and run

[Redwing]

I would have gone straight for pure breeds and not hybrids

[dixie chick]

I would have got them earlier in the year. Mine were just about at point of lay last October - but being pure breeds decided to wait until spring. I had them 7 months before any eggs appeared!

[Plum]

I'd have done it years ago and got a WIR rather than cube run from the start Otherwise it's been a great few years.

[Jools]

I'd have done it sooner too

[Sam]

I would have just got a stand alone cube, not an eglu and run We made a wir like a month after getting the eglu, so the run is useless, could have housed more chickens!! Oh well.. one day

[Chortle Chook]

I wouldn't have listened to all those people who told me that my garden wasn't big enough for hens.

 

I wouldn't have wasted money on a cheap wooden house/run combo. (The one I got was nice and easy to clean but I'd outgrown it within a few months!)

 

I would have got my pink Grub and Glug on a wire stand straight off rather than wasting money ruining a perfectly good Grub/Glug set by trying to convert it.

 

And most of all I'd have realised that as I care about them all being individuals with different names it would be nuts to start with 3 that are totally identical.

[TheFeatheredFiend]

Would have done it sooner too.

For years we just kinda assumed that hens won't lay eggs without a Cockerel around and didn't want to annoy the neighbours.

When we moved to the country we considered it again only to find that the cockerel wasn't necessary after all!

[fluffy chick]

I agree with earlier comment about starting off with a cheap wooden coop/run. The girls never looked happy in the run so ended up fencing off an area for them anyway!

 

I'm not sure I'd want to start off with a cube though. When I'm rich enough ( ) I'll get another and have 2 flocks, that way less intros!!

 

I would also stick to pure breeds.

[fluffy chick]

Oh and .....

 

I would have bought more chickens in the first place!

[Alis girls]

Would have got a cube and more hens and sooner

[Chicken shack]

I did research and looked at both and and bought a an extra run plus another when they were on sale before Christmas. BUT I wish I had a WIR I would have it built a good half the length of my garden and oh yes win the lotery to pay for it.

[Olly]

Started sooner.

Gone for a WIR straight away - it would have saved money in the long run.

Started with more than two hens.

And not worried so much! It's all been much easier than I thought, and when I have (rarely) had a sick hen, I've coped with it.

[oneyolktoanother]

I'd have done it years ago and got a WIR rather than cube run from the start Otherwise it's been a great few years.

 

Yes I agree I would have done it years ago too

[Duncan08]

Well I've only been at it for 12 days, with an and 2 chooks , added another 2 8 days later and I already had a look at a today!!!!

 

Didn't realise intros would be quite so traumatic, and half wish had just got 4 in the first place, but I suppose its something everyone has to go through and will be more prepared next time

[Henergy]

Didn't realise intros would be quite so traumatic, and half wish had just got 4 in the first place, but I suppose its something everyone has to go through and will be more prepared next time

 

Me too - so wish I'd started with more than just 2 - now unsure how to add more without more expense. Its my DH fault - I wanted 3 and he said only get two to start with in case we didn't like chicken keeping !! As if !!!!

[Oat]

I would have bought an Eglu cube rather then try and save money and buy a rubbish wooden thing! Still new to chicken keeping but we love our and our

[poppy ben grace]

Well I've only been at it for 12 days, with an and 2 chooks , added another 2 8 days later and I already had a look at a today!!!!

 

How did it go with the cube? Are you getting one ? Wow that was fast work considering you have only had the chooks 12 days!! Has to be a record!

Oh yes, in regards to what i would have done differently, i would have brought a cube straight away instead of wooden house and made the wir a couple of feet wider(too late now but never mind).

[craftyhunnypie]

Move house first to have more room & more chooks. I'd have never have used bark chippings - ugh or straw in the nests. I'd have bought shares in red mite powder because I'm obsessed wit it & love the smell.

Emma.x

[Duncan08]

How did it go with the cube? Are you getting one ? Wow that was fast work considering you have only had the chooks 12 days!! Has to be a record!

 

Looked at the cube, looked at the price! It is on my wish list, but will stick with the go and the four girls for now.

My husbands friend has just hatched some Quail at the weekend and offered us a couple of them when they are ready!

 

No. Have to stay strong