HampshireGardener Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 We bought our secondhand 15 x 6 x 6 foot WIR last week, have laid the raised paved base, erected the run, roofed it and only need to add the new gutters, the 3 water butts, fit the secondhand cube onto the end, and oh yes get chickens! We're starting with 6, probably hybrids and hope our 4 JR terriers give them a decent welcome - they will NOT be free ranging together! I've read up so much on the forum about keeping chickens for the last 4 weeks, both day and night so if we're not ready now, we never will be. My DH was not keen at first because he was afraid the chickens might stop us going away, but our neighbour is happy to come in to collect the eggs and check them, their food and water so he's quietly looking forward to it now. It's very good to know there are so many fellow chicken keepers with good tips and advice available. Wish us luck! Barbara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Lovely! The more the merrier! Hope you have lots of fun enjoying your new chickens and all their antics Lots of lovely people on here to answer any questions you have, no matter how trivial. Enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Hello Hampshiregardener. Think the run is too small for 6 hybrids and suggest just 4. I always recommend 4 square metres minimum each for a permanent run with no free ranging. Below 2 square metres each there will be behavioural problems in my experience. Very important the dogs are kept well away from the hens in the initial two weeks, to avoid any unnecessary stress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HampshireGardener Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 Thank you Redsunset for the welcome. I'm nervous but excited and looking forward to finishing the run completely and getting the chickens, hopefully next weekend. Hi Beantree. My mistake, I thought 6 would be ok for that size run (I would have asked the breeder's advice before buying them anyway), but if it's too many then we'll just get 4. A bit disappointed as I thought if they all came at the same time, from the same place, then they'd get on but never mind. I didn't mean that they'll never free range, just that they won't be out be out with the dogs. We have quite a large garden so will be able to fence off an area for the chickens and keep the dogs indoors whilst they free range in the evening when we're out in the garden, but when we're away, and the neighbour comes in to feed and water them, they'll be kept in the run as I don't think they'd want the responsibility of letting them out. We're not usually away for more than 5 nights. The dogs are friendly, and don't really bother chasing anything but I wouldn't trust them with the chickens and I will be taking them down the garden separately on leads to introduce them so that they'll be calm around the run. I gave it a lot of thought before deciding to go ahead with the chickens and the dogs, but I believe they'll be ok as long as we let them know they're to be left alone. I won't be taking any chances as I'm a complete wuss about the possibility of an animal being frightened or hurt. Another reason why I hesitated about getting them as I know their lifespan isn't long at the best of times! I have Auboise for the chickens bedding, a dust bath and am working on perches and branches and other entertainments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindig Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Hi HampshireGardener, I'm only just starting out myself so just wanted to wish you good luck with your project! I'm sure Beantree is right about the run space, and everyone would agree that the more space the better, but many people, myself included, unfortunately don't have the luxury of that much space to provide. I have a smallish suburban garden and 2 children, the garden is host to a shed, swings, laundry carousel, patio area and now my Cube with 3m run and 3 hens! Hopefully we'll all manage to get along with what we've got! So talk to as many people as possible and decide what you feel is right for you, your space and your hens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orangediva Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Sounds like you are working on a wonderful set up, HampshireGardener - good luck at the weekend and let us know how it goes (with pictures of course!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 I've got a tiny garden and three bantams in the standard Go Up run. They can free range (well... Stroll the garden... ) if I'm home, but they are fine in the run too. Only if I leave them in their most of the day or a few days in a row, they'll become very fidgety and vocal. Just make sure there is plenty of distraction in the form of fresh veggies, like cabbage or broccoli. But if you don't start with a full house, it is easier to add any hens in the future, because you still have plenty of room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Exciting stuff! You have the set up ready, now the chooks! As for the dogs, I'd be a tad careful esp as they are JR. I have a Bichon frise and a Lhasa apso, and for a year they ran around with the chooks......but one day the Lhasa decided all of a sudden that killing chooks was quite good fun! Have now split the garden to one third mine and dogs, two thirds chooks. All dogs are different and mine are spoilt little girls and not trained to do as they are told apart from a few basics. In a run they will be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HampshireGardener Posted February 25, 2015 Author Share Posted February 25, 2015 So today all the other bits that we were waiting for arrived, 3 water butts, lockable bin, 2 more 20 kg bales of bedding (one only did one half of the run), and dried mealworms. I have put in logs and ladders, pot of grit, dirt bath of compost and sharp sand, sprinkled diatom everywhere, filled the nest box with shredded paper topped with Auboise. Tomorrow my DH is going to cut me a large branch off one of the hazel trees at the bottom of the garden. I bought a plastic dog kennel which turned out to be quite large off the internet for £20 delivered. It has ventilation holes and I've raised it on sturdy wooden blocks and put in some Auboise and diatom so it can be used as a shelter (or sick bay if necessary), and I can shut that half of the run off. The chickens can sit up high on the roof of the kennel if they want. Tomorrow we are going to check out some chickens! I'll let you know if we come back with some or if we make ourselves wait until 2nd week of March when the breeder will have more choice (but I don't think I can wait any longer). In the morning I will fill the grub and glugs ready for if we bring some home they will have all they need for the settling in period. We will walk the dogs in the morning and then take them again after we've been to see the chickens so that they're tired and won't be too excited to see them. I never intend for them to meet in the open - my dogs are well behaved but they are dogs with all their natural instincts and we wouldn't be able to bear it if they attacked the chickens. They will be able to look at the chickens in their run but only one at a time and will be on the lead so they don't spook them. I will then be up at crack of dawn for the dogs early morning dash down the garden so that I can lead them down calmly. I will post some photos as soon as I have them. I'm very excited and thanks so much to all of you who have made me feel so welcome. Till tomorrow! Barbara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HampshireGardener Posted February 25, 2015 Author Share Posted February 25, 2015 My husband just snorted in derision when he read that bit about crack of dawn! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 It all sounds great, don't tell my chickens about your set up, they will be jealous! My wir needs a repaint after 3 years of weathering. They won't be jealous of your jrs though, one spaniel is enough! Especially as she has been in their free ranging area recently with them, they weren't impressed.... Though the chickens are a lot better when she's in the wir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HampshireGardener Posted February 25, 2015 Author Share Posted February 25, 2015 Well only one of my four has been in the run so far, Bilbo Baggins, who doesn't like to miss out on anything.. He sat looking out at Minnie, my little black JR x miniature poodle, ready to pounce on her. I think he thought she couldn't see him through the wire mesh! The others haven't shown any interest (yet). We did have two cockatiels indoors for over a year, but Lily, the eldest at 11 never ceased jumping up at the cage like a jack-in-the-box, barking at them whenever they squawked and fluttered around....and boy can cockatiels squawk! I think theyll be better with chickens in the run once they get used to them being there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PixieDust Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Hi and welcome. Your set up sounds great. Best of luck with your dogs - my one Spaniel is still being a squeaking, screaming ball of panic around them and can't currently go out in the garden without being on the lead, and they are in the WIR! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HampshireGardener Posted February 26, 2015 Author Share Posted February 26, 2015 Hmmm, the best laid plans ........ So much for taking the dogs for a good walk before and after going to see the chickens! It poured down all day so I postponed the visit to the breeder and will now be going tomorrow. On the positive side however, we decided to clad the rear face and one end of the run with clear plastic corrugated sheets which will protect the run from the worst of the weather, so we went to buy the sheets and my long suffering husband managed to fit just one during a break from the rain, and intends to complete the rest in the morning before going to get the chickens. If the run should get too warm in the summer (yeah right), I will use greenhouse shading paint on the panels, as that can be washed off later. We also fitted some branches for them to perch. My sister says now she knows where she'll be sleeping next time she comes to stay! Barbara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 You run sounds an absolute dream Shame the weather stopped you getting any chickens today, but it is meant to be nice tomorrow, so fingers crossed you find what you are looking for. Can't wait to see some photos of your chickens and run. Make sure you have a cup of tea ready and somewhere comfy to sit and watch them, you will be there for ages Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
