Chicken bald back

[Scaredyhen]

http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/3280994314

 

Hope the pic works!

 

So they've arrived. All settled in very well and seem amazingly calm. One laid an egg on the hour long journey home! We have two Partridge Brahmas (I think one gold and one blue) "BB" and "Mother Gothel", a Wheaton Maran - "Elsa" and a Vowerk - "Toothless". I love them already

 

They came with the coop and run, so they know it well which probably helps. It is 7ft by 4ft, the coop is raised so they have exactly this as floor space. So my next question! Firstly how long before I can let them out for their first bimble around the garden? We have a large garden and I would be supervising them, so secondly are they likely to stick together as a group? I wouldn't feel safe if they split up because I wouldn't be able to see them all at once if they were dotted about the garden. I would need to get a fence of sorts sooner rather than later if this is likely to happen to keep them contained. Also, how to persuade them back in the coop if they are going to be going in and out?

 

We're pretty busy, dog walks and children and school runs etc so it is likely that free ranging will be in half hour episodes a couple of times a day on most days. Longer at the weekends, and two days a week completely confined to the run. Is this ok with the space they have, and how can I entertain them in the run during the hours they are in there? Three of them have a couple of bald patches, and the previous owner said it may be due to boredom so I'd like to give them something to do if possible.

 

Oh, also, should I be hanging the feed/water thingys? They kicked snowflakes into the water straight away, but I noticed afterwards a raised area which is perhaps where it is supposed to go.

 

Thank you all for your help!

[mullethunter]

Lovely posh girls - I especially love the vorwerk

 

If they've always lived in that set up if be happy to let them out after a day or two, however, I'd get an area fenced off first. They may all stick together, they may not, you won't know until you try, but even if they are together you may struggle to get them back in their run when you need them there if they have a large garden to range in. Mine will go back into their coop if I throw a handful of mixed corn in, and most chickens will do anything for mealworms. But half an hour free ranging isn't very long and the girls may learn that they'll get shut in if they follow the food. I guess you'll find this out through experience too. I've never had any trouble getting my four back into the run, but it's very rare that I ever let them out for less than a few hours.

 

I'm afraid I don't think 7' by 4' is big enough for four full sized chooks. Others will be able to tell you how much space they should have but I think you're likely to run into behaviour problems if they're shut in there for as much time as you're suggesting.

 

And yes - hang up the food and water and you'll have less problems with bedding getting in them (although it still will a bit).

 

Sorry to sound so negative - your new chooks look like lovely girls and with a few tweaks to your set-up they'll do brilliantly

[Scaredyhen]

No, thats fine Mullet, I kind of suspected that myself re the space. The Brahmas in particular are HUGE compared to what I thought 'normal' hens were. Beautiful though. Thinking about it I suppose it just might mean we hang around in the garden a bit more - I guess I might have to forgo the house work. Shame.

 

Early days though, I've no doubt we will do some tweaking and expanding and get ourselves into some kind of routine re the free ranging

[Valkyrie]

Lovely! Thank you for showing us. Now the fun begins. And chores mount up!

[PixieDust]

Oh my, a blue Partridge Brahma, Wheaten Maran and Vowerk! Stunning birds.

 

Re the run. I have 3 hybrids in a walk-in run 10.5ft x 7ft. I would say that is pushing it on the limit to be fair. They have lots to do and because of dog training and other stuff, they have not free ranged as yet. I wish it were bigger but it's what it is.

 

However, I did find this useful http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/how-much-coop-and-run-space-do-i-need.html

 

So, if this is close to true, my girls have double the space they comfortably need in the run and just the right amount of space in the coop. We don't have any feather pecking or fighting and they seem to bumble along quite happily.

[Beantree]

That's a good link PixieDust. The coop dimensions for birds match ours for large fowl, even the 10% floor to ventilation ratio which was arrived at by experience, but bantams are ¼ size of large fowl and only need half the space. Our runs give 10 square feet (1 square metre) minimum to the large fowl, but they all come out after a few hours confinement (to make them eat pellets) and then free range. Those that have been confined to a run got 4 square metres and I always recommend that fixed runs should give an absolute minimum of 2 square metres, or 20 square feet, per large fowl.

 

The bald patches may be feather eating because of boredom in the extremely small run, or perhaps lice Scardyhen? Interesting mix of rare breeds though. We took in a very old strain (before the breeders split the natural colours) of Marsh Daisy once and she was a lovely girl. Never had Brahmas and will need to look the other one up.

[Scaredyhen]

They are lovely birds. A mix we never certainly intended as they were just offered to us when the lady was selling the run and coop.

 

So space is clearly an issue. The previous owner did wonder if it was boredom, so I'm going to have to work to avoid that. It looks like I'll have to go down the electric fence route then, so that I can still get on with doing stuff around the house etc and they can have more freedom. Daren't tell my husband yet he needs to build on the run!!

 

Any recs on fencing?

 

And what can I do in the meantime on the two days they are in? We can let them out in the evenings on those days, again where an electric fence will help as the kids need putting to bed. I was surprised how dark it was when the hens decided to retire for the night. Another egg though!

 

Thanks for all your thoughts, I want to do the best by them.

[PixieDust]

I can't recommend any electric fencing but I have read that foxes can and do get passed them. In general, free ranging should be supervised. Others will be able to advise on electric fences better than me.

[mimi5]

Your hens look lovely Well done

 

So I work 3, 10 hr days every week and my gang of pekins have to be shut in their run. There is lots you can do by way of "enrichment!"

 

Make some high up perches, you can just use sturdy branches Hanging food for them to peck at gives lots of distraction and also healthy fruit and veg to their diet Not too much, but say on the days they're shut in. Mine love apples, you may have to experiment to see what your girls like. A dust bath, if you haven't already got one.

 

See how you go, at least in your favour they are an already established group, so hopefully have the pecking order sorted

 

Lots of helpful advice on here whenever you need it Enjoy

[Valkyrie]

I like the last comment on the link - "coops have a funny way of filling themselves up rather quickly!"

[Chickabee]

Congratulations

 

Can I suggest one thing. You might have found this out already. Those feeders and drinkers will soon get full of bedding, poo, dirt etc. best if you could suspend them from the top of the run. Alternatively put them on some bricks.

 

Enjoy them (I know you will). Sonya

[Scaredyhen]

Your hens look lovely Well done

 

So I work 3, 10 hr days every week and my gang of pekins have to be shut in their run. There is lots you can do by way of "enrichment!"

 

Make some high up perches, you can just use sturdy branches Hanging food for them to peck at gives lots of distraction and also healthy fruit and veg to their diet Not too much, but say on the days they're shut in. Mine love apples, you may have to experiment to see what your girls like. A dust bath, if you haven't already got one.

 

See how you go, at least in your favour they are an already established group, so hopefully have the pecking order sorted

 

Lots of helpful advice on here whenever you need it Enjoy

 

Thankyou. I'm already stressed and worried about it all, but I think we need to find ourselves a routine and get to know each other and hopefully we can work on the run long term. I'm off to order some omlet fencing for now so that I can get them out, and we can have a trial at some free-ranging when I have a few more eyes to help me!

 

Thanks Chickabee, I've suspended the water already this morning. Wondered what the chain was for!!