Stella14 Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 How many hens do you each have guys? I am planning to move to a house with a large garden (when I sell my house, its priced 'to sell'). I currantly have a large yard (house is a large Edwardian Terraced) and my hens have 2/3rds of it. I really want to add a couple of Barnavelders. I had one that I lost last year and she was fab. I have found that hens do seem to like to pair-up with one of their own breed if possible, so I'd like to get two. I have a Buff Orpington. She is also fabulous, so I'd like another as a companion for her. I already have 3 hybrids and two Bantam Wyandottes. That would make 9 though (albeit 2 are Bantams). It seems like a lot for a domestic garden. I will plant roses and other plants that chickens don't eat. What do you all think? I have been thinking about this for a year and now my local supplier has just posted on FB that, amongst other birds, she has POL Barnavelders and Orps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindafw Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 13!! 2 buff orpingtons cockerel and hen 2 polands cockerel and hen 2 aracana hens 1 suspect aracana boy looks like a boy...behaves like a girl..doesn't crow..non of them laying yet ( 2 dorking girls 1 buff orpington hen 1 amber star 1 blue ranger (bluebell) 1 light sussex ranger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella14 Posted February 25, 2012 Author Share Posted February 25, 2012 Lindafw, is this in a domestic garden? Have they trashed it? Do the neighbours think you are starting a farm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eve Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 2 hybrids 1 columbine 1 ranger 2 marran bantams would love more but need some garden for children to play in. had to section a plot off as the do trash grass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindafw Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I live in a village in Hampshire right by the A303. I have a LARGE garden (mainly grass with side borders and so far not trashed)..no neighbours have complained to me...indeed next door both sides think the girls are sweet and the boys funny! However there has (so I am told) been one complaint re the boys to the Parish council...who I believe told them it was a rural village and chickens were to be expected. If they had spoken to me I would have got rid of my boys...but now I am not allowed to...the chair of the parish council likes the fact that there is a village cockerel!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella14 Posted February 26, 2012 Author Share Posted February 26, 2012 Well I took the plunge! We brought home two lovely young Barnavelveders and a splash orpington today had to really as Barnies and Orpingtons are not always available and my local supplier (who is good and trust worthy) happened to have both at the same time. She rarely has Orps and one introduction with the inevitable dramas is enough! Linda, given your experience of yours not trashing your garden, what do you make of others saying hens completely wreck the lawn etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 4 girls ,A house in a terrace block with a WIR taking up a 3rd of it , small flower and herb garden with no flowers or herbs , a patio with poo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindafw Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I have wide borders with mainly shrubs..there are holes under them where the girls dust bath, they love the veg patch..leaving the veg which are in planters and s"Ooops, word censored!"ing the paths! My girls free range from morn till night..I think they prefer the sunny side of the garden under the shrubs..so have planted the shadier side with the things I like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Well you'll know soon how your grass survives. Congratulations on your new girls, its so exciting getting them. If your grass starts looking a bit thin then net half it off and reseed then do the other side after 8 weeks or so when it has regrown. I've only got 6 but garden isn't that big but it's still green with freeranging weekend and evenings when they can Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella14 Posted February 26, 2012 Author Share Posted February 26, 2012 Thanks Plum, Do you net with that thick green stuff that they use on grassed parking areas for shows etc or is there a less heavy duty version for gardens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I use knowles nets which is quite cheap link and metal stakes from garden centre. They have their own area but when they are up in the top half I use it to keep them off the flower beds. Last year several people put plastic stuff down on the grass which is what I think you mean with success. Omletina Kyckling was one and Laurmurf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 I managed to have a fairly reasonable garden with 5 hens but the addition of our chicks (light sussex & brown leghorn ) finished it off. They've trashed our garden completely. Grass gone, perennials - nothing showing, vegetable patch - nicely scarified. I've really had enough. I had a beautiful garden and have taken steps to reclaim it We bought a beautiful and have placed it in THEIR garden all nicely fenced off. They have lots of interesting shrubs and plants to play in. I will not give in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmastar Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 I have 12 in a medium sized garden it dose take some looking after but it can be done lots of poles and netting up at the moment while things are starting to grow but they prefer the bark at the back for digging in and this is a huge patch ( i think they find more bugs on that than the grass )They did eat the entire fruit crop last year so will be sorting that out this year . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella14 Posted March 3, 2012 Author Share Posted March 3, 2012 Thanks guys. I have decided that I will simply find a way to make it work. I will focus on plants they don't like to eat (my favourites are roses - result). I'll put netting on the ground to cover roots and have nice soil section for them at the bottom. We'll play it by ear with the lawn. Since deciding this last weekend, we got the two Barnavelders (April and May) and added a Splash Orpington (Delilah) fir good measure. They are so gorgeous and settled in with previous group incredibly quickly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
