Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Popularfurball]

I am buying my OH some chickens for his birthday (he hasn't asked for them,oops!!)

 

Have been doing loads of reading up online - and can confirm my symptoms seem to match morehens - though the First ones are not even here yet!!

 

Have heaps of questions - apologies if they have already been answered find the search hard to navigate.

 

Have started off with a small coop and inbuilt run - I was only going to have two but seems on here three would be better? If they are still alive by end of week two I can get planing my wir - I want it to look like the green one in the photo thread!!! If we are struggling then they will go to where I keep my ponies and be totally free range. I'm a little worried about three fitting in - there isn't an inbuilt nest box in the hutch thing so I was going to put a box in but not sure that leaves enough space for perching for three?

 

As a concequences of that, is the nesting box required - the upstairs part is dark but will be putting perches in. At night they won't have access to mini run as worried about foxes.

 

When feeding there seems to be a lot of these plastic lamp type things - are they necessary? I dot understand their benefit over using a bowl or partially covered bowl if food is outside? Also should they have access to food overnight when roosting? Will put water in there just wasn't sure about food and grit?

 

 

Also, the locks are like hutch locks - simple bolt - is there anyway of making these more fox proof?

 

Onto food! With the dogs and horses you can feed organic, meat free, artificial free etc or with all this thrown I'm. Is this the same with chickens - are there better brands than others for chicken food - Dodson and horrel seem to be the brand stocked locally.

 

And lastly do you need to put leg rings on pet chickens?

 

Hoping to pick chickens up mid feb - at the moment going to get a speckeldy and an old Sussex star probably (plus one more!)

 

I'm sure there will be lots more questions to come! Have bought Katie thear book and reading my way through here!!!

Edited February 23, 2013 by Guest

[LottyJ1]

Hello and welcome - how exciting getting chooks.

 

There will be lots more people along to answer some of your questions but here goes in my experience.

 

We all seem to start off with a small coop and then the disease sets in and we need more space. I started off with a small wooden coop which I still have but in a WIR as the run part wasn't large enough. I have had my WIR since March last year and I wouldn't be without it. Defo worth the investment. Nest boxes are required for them to nest and lay eggs I think but may be wrong???

 

I have three at the moment and they all squash in and like to sit really close when purching so not a lot of space is required - its more important to have more run space.

 

Three is better than two because if you loose one you aren't left with a hen on her own. When we do rescues for the BHWT we always recommend people take three unless they already have some at home.

 

I use a glug and grub to feed and water and they are great and really easy to clean.

 

Leg rings not required unless you can't tell the difference - I use them sometimes on ex-batts until there feathers grow back and you can tell them apart.

 

Foxes are always around and can turn up day or night. Bolts are normally ok to keep foxes out as they will dig under if they can. When building your WIR make sure the weld mesh is strong enough and you either concrete or slab or weld mesh the base and you should be ok. If concerned just replace with a stronger bolt.

 

Have fun and be aware the disease can get bad and you will always end up with more than you first intended!

[Popularfurball]

I have designed and planned WIR already... Oops!!!

 

I was going to wooden frame it, an put railway sleepers around the edge - then fill with soil/wood chip to sleeper heigt so base is submerged essentially. It's goin to have a chicken jungle jim in too!!!!!!

 

They will free range in garden from the coop I have when we are at home but only under supervision - we have a dog so yet to see if he will tolerate them (I think he will after he chased and caught one when his lead un clipped at the farm... Only to find him holding it gently licking it!!! Chicken wasn't phased at all either... Me on the other hand?!?!

[Chortle Chook]

Hello Popularfurball Love your name by the way and even more than that love the fact that you are giving your OH chickens as a present . . . excellent way of getting round any possible OH objections

 

Morehens is a dreadful disease! It strikes at odd intervals when you least expect it and is often quite impossible to cure This being the case Suggestion 1. I really would not waste money getting a small coop. I did it and so have many on here and it really was pennies down the drain as within only about 3 months I was looking around for a bigger pen.

 

3 is a good number to start with as you will have an instant wee flock but leg rings will not be needed unless you can't tell the difference by colour or mannerisms. Telling the difference is a good idea for doing health checks etc. even if you aren't, like me, keen on each being an individual pet. Regarding the latter, when I started out I did make what to me felt like a mistake by buying 3 of the same colour and then wanting to name them and tell them apart immediately at a distance from the window. So Suggestion 2 is to get 3 of different colours

 

For feeding :- Suggestion 3 - the classic grub / glug (and if you don't have an Omlet set up, then the frame as well) are really well worth it as they are easy to keep clean, easy to re-fill and the Grub will keep the rain off the food.

For the food itself good layers pellets is best (less messy than layers mash). Suggestion 4 - Omet provide very nice organic food or you can stretch the pennies and get Garvo which does make the poops less runny and which the chickens love but which is sometimes hard to get other than online with high p&p costs.

 

Nest box - one to two or three chickens is good and necessary. But Suggestion 5 - think long term and have at least 2 nest boxes. They should be lower down than the perch or the chickens will use them for snoozing. Also they should not be underneath the perch or the chickens will poop down into them

 

By the way - Suggestion 6 - Aubiose (or similar horse bedding) makes an excellent floor covering - keeps poo picking in the mornings quick and easy.

[Popularfurball]

It's very well planned as when he says "darling the chickens smell"... I can say "darling they are your chickens!" Tehehehe.

 

Locally I have found Dodson and horrel mash and pellets and the jolleyes own brand version of these... Are these cack? I am aware the most popular dog and horse foods are rubbish too therefore I have hesitation.

 

I am planning on getting a speckeldy, a Sussex something and a brown hen (haha!)

 

The small coop cost me a princely £25 on eBay so decided I could get that back mostly when I upgrade shortly - just need to make sure doggy isn't planing on al fresco dinners and we will be away!

[Redwing]

My number one tip to you as a newbie is carefully consider what you want at least medium term. Your proposed birds are hybrids and not at all easy to add to should you find yourself addicted. When you get your first few hens they will take a while to establish the pecking order, its ten times worse if you then subsequently add to them

 

So if you want three chooks now and know you will be building a run big enough to take six I would get all six now

 

I hope that makes sense!

 

Dodson and Horrell is a good brand of feed and would be just fine

 

A nest box isnt essential, apart from my Eglus none of my coops have them, the hens just lay in a dark corner. Its common sense though to ensure that there is a clear space available with no perch above if possible

 

Feed or water isnt needed in the coop at night. It doesnt have to be in special feeders, a lot of mine drink out of low plastic bowls especially when its icy! Food can be in an open pot too but needs to be sheltered to keep it dry. I do like to feed from proper feeders at chicken back height though as I find they root through low feeders and turf a lot of feed out and sour feed is probably the number one cause of a smelly run

[Popularfurball]

I am hoping that I will stick to 3-4 hens - I don't think our garden is big enough for more - I would want them more free ranging - I also want to check the dog is able to co-exist and that I am able to keep them alive!!

 

I'm more worried about getting these than either of the ponies or the dog! That said all my other animal have in built behavioural issues or medical issues - so reason to worry! Mum calls it broken Noah's ark - hence why in opting for breeders rather than ex bat or chicks as I want to try and have minimal issues!

 

I have bought in essence a wooden shoe box today so I can put straw in it for a nesting box, and that way I won't have problems on removable tray when cleaning coop out as can just lift box out

[Redwing]

I'm going to be terribly diplomatic here and gently suggest that you may be better off with pure breeds

 

Lots of people start with hybrids but although great egg layers and very friendly they are essentially highly developed egg laying machines. They are more prone to behavioural issues and also internal problems from the sheer frequency of egg laying and they dont live as long as pure breeds

 

A good old fashioned heavy pure breed is more laid back, a reasonable layer that will take a break for a rest over winter, a longer lived and generally healthier bird. Heavy breeds include Sussex, New Hampshire Reds, Rhode Island Reds, Wyandottes, Marans and Australorps. Some of the lighter breeds are nice too such as Silkies and Welsummers. Some of the light breeds can be a bit flighty though and maybe not ideal as a first chook

 

Most hybrid sellers will not be the breeders of the birds they sell so if buying hybrids you probably wont be dealing direct with a breeder

 

I hope thats not put you off completely, Hybrids have their place certainly and lots of people do have them as pets but if you are looking for an easy uncomplicated time of things a pure breed may be better for you

[Egghead68]

Welcome and I hope you enjoy your (oops - "your husband's"!) new hens. One minor extra suggestion I have is to use aubiose or similar in the nesting box. Straw can harbour mites and is generally not recommended. I would also suggest that you locate and register with a chicken-specialist vet in your area before you need one. Have fun choosing and getting to know the chickens!

[LottyJ1]

I'm going to be terribly diplomatic here and gently suggest that you may be better off with pure breeds

 

I have had both - ex-batts and pure breeds and I agree with Redwing, although I will never stop re-homing ex-batts (enriched cage) hens, my pure breeds are also so lovely and friendly and so far have been less trouble in terms of becoming sick. So far they have laid very well also with just a small break Nov-Jan this year and are now both laying lots

 

The marans eggs are lovely also

[Sarette]

Welcome and I hope you enjoy your (oops - "your husband's"!) new hens. One minor extra suggestion I have is to use aubiose or similar in the nesting box. Straw can harbour mites and is generally not recommended. I would also suggest that you locate and register with a chicken-specialist vet in your area before you need one. Have fun choosing and getting to know the chickens!

 

Am thread crashing but pleased I read this! We collected our first 3 hens yesterday, and they are settling in great! But I put straw in the nesting area oops! Will have to hunt down some aubiose.. where do I get it from and what does it look like?!

[Purplemaniacs]

I'm going to be terribly diplomatic here and gently suggest that you may be better off with pure breeds

 

I have had both - ex-batts and pure breeds and I agree with Redwing, although I will never stop re-homing ex-batts (enriched cage) hens, my pure breeds are also so lovely and friendly and so far have been less trouble in terms of becoming sick. So far they have laid very well also with just a small break Nov-Jan this year and are now both laying lots

 

The marans eggs are lovely also

I agree I started off with hybrids because that was what Omlet sold but I will keep a few ex batts bot other than that I am going for pure breeds for the reasons already said.

 

I find my hybrids stop laying in the winter too.

 

Chrissie

[Chortle Chook]

Am thread crashing but pleased I read this! We collected our first 3 hens yesterday, and they are settling in great! But I put straw in the nesting area oops! Will have to hunt down some aubiose.. where do I get it from and what does it look like?!

Aubiose is available from Omlet's online shop - here and also from most horse supply stores. It looks like fine wood chips but is not made of wood but, I think, of hemp. There are other similar producst like 'Rapport' or 'Hemp Bed' to name but two. The main plus is that they are super absorbant and stay dry so making your coop less attractive to crawlies. One bale lasts an amazingly long time I find.

[Popularfurball]

Thanks for all the replies!

 

I now have food and suitable accessories - just need to make a "penthouse door" as there isn't a way to keep them upstairs in run and was worried they might stroll in the night and mr fox would say hello - or that if me fox ripped wire off then he can get a mucky paw in the penthouse bit!!!

 

I am going to be putting them on woodchip (simply as easy to source) - I have a wooden box for nesting - am I best filling this also with wood chip rather than straw then? Doesn't seem as cosy!!!!

 

Also, 5mm rod has been suggested as perch - will this really hold 3 chickens?!

 

So nearly there.... Just struggling to find chickens! Closest breeder is 1hr away, I had planned to sneak them in the boot on way home from day out but worried they will squawk especially as dog in the car!

[Redwing]

Chooks need lots of ventilation when travelling, a box with plenty of holes on a seat or in the back of a hatchback (with the parcel shelf removed) and air vents blowing cool, if its just about too cool for you its spot on for chooks

 

Please dont put them in a boot, there isnt enough ventilation, people have bought their first chooks and not even had them make the journey home

 

Sorry to be the voice of doom

 

Sadly I dont think you can sneak them home! think you'll have to do a separate journey or be honest

[Popularfurball]

There is no parcel shelf in my boot, normally has the dog in - he will be on back seats instead.

 

Currently have them delivered is the best option as then in laws need only look after ten weds/thurs

[Popularfurball]

So we collected our lovely girls yesterday - I got them from a place called Hinchcliffe's in the end in Yorkshire on the way back from a surprise holiday for mr pfb for his birthday.

 

We had a lovely meal there - saw the chef go an and collect his eggs whilst we were eating which amused us - they have their own farm and rear it all for restaurant/shop!

 

Then we had a wander round the farm and me pfb kept statin chickens are boring (doh!)... In the end I decided I couldn't sneak them into the car and told him I was going to get him some. The guy was really helpful and explained the different ones - £8 for brown hens, £12 for the other breeds and £20 for the blue laying skyline. I asked mr pfb what he would like and he dithered and said I should choose - I said no as they are his birthday present so he promptly asked for the blue layer!!! Typical haha. So we have a blue laying skyline and a black rock.

 

They have travelled home and are happily in their coop - glad I didn't get three though as would have been far to cosy! Me pfb is already warming to them... Especially after he watched me having to chase mrs skyline to put her to bed!!!

 

Only problem is the dog - twice he has tried to (politely) say hello, and twice mrs skyline has got her attitude out, swaggered over to him shaken her head and he has run off petrified! He now won't go down the bottom of the garden!

 

So pictures of course but they are a bit rubbish sorry!!

 

 

[jackian]

Oh they are just lovely You will soon be wondering how you can improve their surroundings so you can get more.

As i am writing this I am waiting to go off and collect two new girls to add to our little flock...Only two I am told as that is all we have room for and I have a time limit otherwise we will be there all day choosing and he has to get back for the sport ..I think he needs to get his priorities right

[Popularfurball]

Oh they are just lovely You will soon be wondering how you can improve their surroundings so you can get more.

As i am writing this I am waiting to go off and collect two new girls to add to our little flock...Only two I am told as that is all we have room for and I have a time limit otherwise we will be there all day choosing and he has to get back for the sport ..I think he needs to get his priorities right

 

I said I would wait two-three weeks... But have already been looking at runs online hahaha.

 

I feel I ought to make one but I don't know the basics in DIY so probably better to have a ready made one. It'll be 6ftx5ft high x4ft wide I think, and have heaps of branches etc in it - and a pond and sand bath!! Hehe

[Chortle Chook]

What pretty girls. Just wait till your OH gets blue eggs, then he'll be really chuffed with his present You mention a pond. Will you be getting ducks too?

[Popularfurball]

I have a box of duck eggs from where we got them from - so depends what mr pfb makes of them!!

 

His grandad have us a plastic boot cover which will be ideal for burying in pen and if I can divide, then have half sand and half water - if not then all sand.

 

Just updated the other thread with all my questions... Mrs black rock has just laid an egg!!!!! Giddy as anything!!

[Chortle Chook]

Ooo too I'm sure Mr pfb will love them. In my experience men like ducks a whole lot more than they like chooks and I know some other forum members have found that, though I can't quite work out why. Perhaps it is because they seem that bit more vulnerable and in need of male protection