JS1 Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 I'd have put the WIR in a different place and given them half the garden in the first place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 I would have got a bigger house and run as we have had several extensions before building a WIR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodinparts Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna C Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Same here, would have gone straight to wir and eglu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneyolktoanother Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 I would have gone straight for pure breeds and not hybrids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dixie chick Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 I'd have done it sooner too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFeatheredFiend Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Oh and ..... I would have bought more chickens in the first place! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Would have got a cube and more hens and sooner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken shack Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneyolktoanother Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henergy Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 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 !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oat Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 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). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
