Unsecure chicken perches

[tinamc]

Hiya,

 

After wanting to keep chickens for a while, I'm am thinking of finally taking the plunge and getting 3 gingernut rangers, only before I do I was hoping that some of you already chicken owners could answer a couple of my questions before I do actually take the plunge? )

 

I currently already have 2 kids, 2 cats and a dog and was wondering if there are any diseases that could be passed from the chickens to my existing animals or children or vice versa?

 

The chicken coop that I have been looking into buying can also house up to 5 chickens, so is it better to get the maximum capacity of chicken or or will 3 be happy enough together?

 

Thanks for help in advance!!

 

Tina

)

[Plum]

Hi welcome, you and your family are so going to enjoy it.

 

Your three will be fine in a five hen house.

 

I don't think there are specific diseases however, like us they carry bacteria in droppings so would be a good idea to teach your children to wash their hands after touching them. Also not to share food but tell my blinkin chooks that as they pinch my lunch

[lindafw]

Three will be fine.....for now. BE WARNED you will become addicted and NEED to buy more. I started with an eglu and two hens last year. I now have a cube and eight ladies and two cockerels and I admit to considering a couple more!!!

[fluffy chick]

I agree, get the biggest hen house you can afford / have room for cos you'll want more! Also be aware that most hen houses are disappointingly small and often say they'll house more than they will iykwim?

 

Defo go for it, you'll love chickens!

[tinamc]

Thanks for the great help.

 

Just been talking to my other half and he's thinking that we should go for 5 over 3 chickens, as if we just got the 3 then we would just want to get more at a later date, so may as well get them all together!

 

I was also wondering are there any annual vets bills I should be budgeting for e.g. vaccines?

 

Thanks again

 

Tina

[LolaLayla]

One thought. Will your dog be ok with chickens? A friend of mind left her dog with me for a morning and he was more than desperate to get into their area to meet them.....and I don't think it was in a friendly way Perhaps your dog has been around chickens and will be ok. It may be worth checking though.

[Henchanted]

Hi Tina

 

deciding on how many chickens you can house is as much about the amount of ground you can give them access to full time more than the space in the coop. My first 4 girls all snuggle up the eglu classic with enough room to spare for 2-3 more BUT because we live with urban foxes 2 gardens away mine can't free range full time, only when I am physically in the garden so they have a run which gives then 1sq metre each which is the barest minimum.

 

Making sure they have the minimum amount of space helps keep squabbles down and is better for their health. I found it quite surprising and disappointing that something so important is not focussed on at all in the adverts by most producers of chicken housing. It is key to a happy hen keeping experience.

 

I started with 4 because we eat and like a lot of eggs and I read somewhere that an even number is better, so if you think you might want to increase your chicken empire sooner it may be better to consider 4 now, benefitting from them coming from the same place and preferably all the same age so they stand a better chance of getting on.

 

As for diseases. Well bugs are exchanged between all our pets but they do not usually cause diseases apart from the well known ones like salmonella, avian flu etc which we have never suffered from. The hens are more likely to pick up parasites like worms etc from free ranging in contact with cat/dog faeces but they would be at risk from this anywhere and need worming regularly anyway.

 

Keeping chickens is a lovely experience and you are really doing the right thing in doing as much learning and research as possible so you can make a really great choice.

 

Enjoy

[tinamc]

One thought. Will your dog be ok with chickens? A friend of mind left her dog with me for a morning and he was more than desperate to get into their area to meet them.....and I don't think it was in a friendly way Perhaps your dog has been around chickens and will be ok. It may be worth checking though.

 

This is one of the things we have considered and are planning on keeping the chickens in a fenced off part of our garden so that the dog can't get any access to them whatsoever.

[majorbloodnock]

Goodegg has pretty much summed up my views too.

 

You're also quite right not to trust dogs and chickens together. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. However, even if you didn't have dogs, the chickens would still need to be protected against them anyway, since it only takes one dog off a lead (or, of course, a hungry fox) to take a fancy to your garden before you've got an unpleasant situation to have to clear up. Personally, I think you're better off having dogs, since it makes the issue visible.

 

As far as vets are concerned, there are two schools of thought. Anyone who keeps chickens primarily as pets will probably use a vet once in a while, whereas a more rural attitude suggests a new chicken is less expensive than a visit to the vet, so an ailing one that isn't getting better will be quickly dispatched (particularly to make sure the bird doesn't suffer). The practice is that most owners will perform most medical care themselves, and if the vet is used at all, it's after all the obvious remedies have been exhausted, therefore any medical costs are relatively low.

[GeorgieB]

How about having some ex-battery hens!? I have kept some ex-batts for a few years now and they are so lovely. You also get the pleasure of seeing them transform from scraggy to beautiful.

[Chortle Chook]

I'd suggest getting a mix of breeds so you can easily tell the difference between your girls, especially if you want to name them. If you are keen on lots of eggs then go for different hybrids e.g. one Gingernut, one Bluebell, one Pepperpot etc. etc.

 

As for pets, cats are usually ok with chooks and most dogs can be trained to be ok with them but their encouters should always be supervised as it only takes one snap from a dog and

 

I don't have children so I can't comment on the child / chicken thing except to say that most children seem to love chooks and get great pleasure from collecting the eggs as I remember from my own childhood. I'd say that normal pet hygene should be observed for their encounters with chickens as with cats and dogs i.e. wash hands after touching and always before eating. If you keep your chickens well and that means clean and not overcrowded, then I wouldn't think there are any real health hazards.

 

Have fun, you are starting on a simply super hobby

[fluffy chick]

We have 6 little bantys in a which sounds a lot but they have 25m of electric fencing all day.

 

When we are out they fr in our garden (with the dog) and they are fine together. Once one of my broody chickens attacked the dog so she keeps her distance now. This said she is only a wee chihuahua and is more scared of them but then she only met my bantams so it's comparable.

[witzend]

I'm going for 3 or 4 diff chooks who'll lay diff coloured eggs so I can ID who's laid what!! I've found someone 5 mins away from me who has won a stack of rosettes/certificates at shows and who either has or can get what I need AND is only charging £10 each (sexed) - which I think is pretty good!!! x

[Henergy]

Children & chickens are a good mix - my boys are 10, 6 and 3 and love to help out (if they are not playing football )

I was a bit concerned initially, but stick to usual routines of handwashing after touching & marigolds for poo cleaning ! I also keep their free ranging generally restricted to a large fenced area to prevent lots of poo dotted on the lawn. (although I do let hem have a free rein sometimes & then just follow them round & pick it up before it gets trampled through the house !)

 

I took my boys on a chicken keeping course especially designed for kids & that helped them engage with them.

 

Good luck.

 

I also agree re house size - I ordered mine online & despite measuring etc my vision of how big it would be was a bit of a disappointment ! I started with 2 & wished we'd got more - and so more will be with up before the end of the summer

[zakjon-98]

I've had quite a few pets and chickens are the pet for me, although I do still love my others !

They are so funny and I was surprised at what good pets they make.

You won't regret it. Definitely agree about buying the biggest house! I filled my eglu with chickens only 2 weeks after getting my first lot!

[tinamc]

Thanks for all the replies, you've all been really helpful

 

I'm really excited about getting my hens now, as are the kids who have been trying to think of names all afternoon!

 

I've also had another look around for a coop and found a slightly bigger one that's still within my budget, so we can get the 5 chickens we are now planning on getting, rather than the 3, will have as much space as possible.

 

Can't wait now!!!

[Chortle Chook]

Good on you for finding the biggest you can. When do your girls arrive and will they all be Gingers?

[mum-2-olly]

Thanks for all the replies, you've all been really helpful

 

I'm really excited about getting my hens now, as are the kids who have been trying to think of names all afternoon!

 

I've also had another look around for a coop and found a slightly bigger one that's still within my budget, so we can get the 5 chickens we are now planning on getting, rather than the 3, will have as much space as possible.

 

Can't wait now!!!

 

 

ahh you will be soo pleased with them hun! i got my girls yesterday and i have only been in the house to sleep since so i can watch them!

[tinamc]

Good on you for finding the biggest you can. When do your girls arrive and will they all be Gingers?

 

We are wanting to get all gingers. Not sure when they will be arriving yet, but I cant wait!!!

[tinamc]

Thanks for all the replies, you've all been really helpful

 

I'm really excited about getting my hens now, as are the kids who have been trying to think of names all afternoon!

 

I've also had another look around for a coop and found a slightly bigger one that's still within my budget, so we can get the 5 chickens we are now planning on getting, rather than the 3, will have as much space as possible.

 

Can't wait now!!!

 

 

ahh you will be soo pleased with them hun! i got my girls yesterday and i have only been in the house to sleep since so i can watch them!

 

it's sooo exciting! I cant wait to have my girls!!!