Solitary chicken - need advice

[LittleTris]

Hi all, we are hoping to purchase some chickens within the next month or so and would like to hear your advice on:

 

a) How many chickens would fit in this coop to sleep at night given that we are extending the run permanently to about 3m x 6m squared and that we will let our chickens out to free roam the garden supervised for perhaps 30 mins-1 hour each day hopefully, more at the weekend and in summer. http://www.chickencoopsandhouses.co.uk/cc2100.html

 

b) We are thinking of buying some pure breeds and are considering: cuckoo maran, buff orpington, light sussex, Aracauna, Wyandotte maybe a Silkie or a Polish. Are these birds best bought as adults (POL) or as chicks? If as adults, will they fight too much when we introduce them? Note that we don't have any hens now, so all the birds would be totally unfamiliar with each other. We worry the silkie/Polish might get hurt as they would be a bit smaller.

 

c) Should we clip our chickens wing to stop them flying into neighbour's gardens when free-ranging in our garden? We are going to block up some holes in the fence but should we be clipping wings too?

 

d) And finally, there is some Ivy growing within a foot of our chicken run, is this a problem? We have read reports it is poisonous to chickens. Our garden also has many plants that are poisonous to chickens, will they have the sense not to eat them? (Rhods, laburnam, azaelas etc).

 

Many thanks for any advice.

[JellyBean2605]

Hi, welcome to the forum and i hope you'll love keeping chickens as much as we do!

A) someone with a bigger run than me can answer this better, my run is about 1.5 by 2m and I have 2 girls but could prob get more in

B) best to get POL rather than chicks, if they are POL you'll have a better idea of the gender and chicks take more looking after in the early days (heat lamp etc). To be honest intros shouldn't be too hard whatever the age and theres plenty of advice on here of how to do it and if it goes wrong

C) i've never clipped the wings of mine but my fence is 6 ft high and my heavy hybrids can only jump up about a metre, depends on your bird and fence height

D) i have ivy in my garden and yes it is poisonous but the girls have never touched it, they are quite sensible by and large

 

Hope this helps and enjoy!

[Olly]

Hello, and welcome to the forum.

 

I can't view the coop link at the moment but generally allow 1m x 1m per hen; my run is 3m x 2m and I have six hens maximum, for example.

 

Definitely get POL, not chicks especially if this is your first time keeping hens. Chicks will need a lot more care, and POL hens should sort out a pecking order quite quickly. I don't know if Silkies/Polish will be disadvantaged by size, I've never kept them, but there's always a pecking order with one hen at the bottom.

 

I would definitely clip their wings (only one wing per hen, that is!) if there's any chance of them flying over your fences - some hens can fly over a 4' obstacle easily, others can't but if they can launch themselves off something else (garden table, composter, wheelie bin) they will do. I would be cautious about free ranging without supervision though, because of the fox risk.

 

Hens are generally quite good at avoiding stuff that is not good for them to eat, so I wouldn't worry about the ivy - I have never known mine to eat it, in fact it would be useful if they did because it's a curse in my garden!

[Chickabee]

New chickens, how exciting. Only thing I can add is that. A) my Silkie gets on really well with the big girls B) the girls do tend to go for the crest feathers on the polands. Might not happen if they're all introduced at once, but do have a plan b if you get a poland. They are lovely, very funny chickens.

 

Good luck. Keep us posted

[Ain't Nobody Here]

In a rush but just thought I'd put the photo up for you .

 

[Chickabee]

It's not a very big run area. I'd say maximum of 3 in there, unless they were free ranging all day. With extra run space maybe 5

[LittleTris]

Thanks for warm welcome and for the advice everyone, really helpful!

 

So it sounds like we should definitely get POLs not chicks then and my partner has just realised we can enlarge the run to be 10m2, so it sounds like that is plenty of space for about six chickens to run around in, but the coop I first linked certainly won't be big enough if we want more than few hens We also realise that the coop only has a horizontal door, so not easy to fit a light sensor opener, and that it's probably really silly us buying a coop with a run when we are going to make our own run anyway...

 

So... Any advice for a reasonably priced and adequately designed coop without an attached run that would fit six chickens and have a vertical door for fitting a light sensor opener? I'm looking at many online but if you have any thoughts please advise. Thanks!

And yes, this is very exciting!

[Chickabee]

If you go onto the omlet shop, go to sales then used and specials. They have a large dog kennel for £250. I'm sure with a few clever adjustments that could be a fantastic coop

[redsunset]

Getting your first chooks is so exciting! I spent a very hot weekend sitting on the grass watching mine! Another thing to consider is will the coop and run be permanently situated or would you go for one on wheels if you have a very large garden? Move to fresh grass every couple of days? Also think of the run floor, as if it's grass the chooks will strip it in no time and turns to mud when wet? Lots of lovely people on here have runs and can give best advice for flooring/winter weather....all sorts. Enjoy, whatever you choose I wouldn't worry about plants to much as I have a fair few on the list that chickens should not eat. They seem to know themselves pretty quickly and don't touch them..........but happily decimate those they do like! It was goodbye hosta time last year!

[PixieDust]

With regards wooden coops, I can't recommend Littleacre coops enough. Very strong build which the one pictured isn't and British not Chinese built and an easy shape to clean.

 

http://www.littleacre-direct.co.uk/acatalog/Swinford_.html

 

But remember you need to order a nest box and handles. It can sit inside a static WIR and I have raised mine up so the girls can get underneath.

[Chickabee]

I like that Pixiedust. Might get one for my ducks (when I get them)

[LittleTris]

Thanks for the advice! With regards to where the coop is going to go Redsunset, it'll be in an entirely enclosed run that we are constructing and the 10m2 area is half paving slabs (we'll put the coop here for safety from foxes) and the other half is soil. We plan to cover all the ground with wood chippings (the safe for chickens ones).

 

I've been looking at a few more coops, and oh dear, the more I look the more I hate the one we originally were thinking of and the more our budget rises! I just can't see how that Cocoon one could hold six large birds (and people are advising it won't). So... We're now considering paying more and would love to hear advice on these coops:

 

a) The Ellerton by Steve Fisher Woodworking http://www.chicken-houses.co.uk/view-product/The-Ellerton-Chicken-Coop

b) Flyte So Fancy Maggie's Six Hen House http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenhouses/Maggies_Six_Hen_House.html

c) The Sonning Large Chicken House http://www.chicken-house.co.uk/acatalog/Sonning-Major-hen-House.html#.VSArMuGkWT0

d) The Versailles http://www.cagesworld.co.uk/p/Versailles_Large_Chicken_Coop.htm?product_id=49228&&gclid=CPKzv8eU3cQCFYLItAodrkIAZQ

 

There's also this one on ebay, but it is very big and second hand... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121607734360?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

I did look at the one you suggested PixieDust, it seems very good value, but I'm not sure about the corrigated iron roof as I tend to prefer wood. Also, would it really fit six largish birds like Orpington's?

[jimnpaula]

Allow me to make the url's clickable for you (you may need a few more posts yet before you can do it yourself)

a) The Ellerton by Steve Fisher Woodworking http://www.chicken-houses.co.uk/view-product/The-Ellerton-Chicken-Coop

b) Flyte So Fancy Maggie's Six Hen House http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenhouses/Maggies_Six_Hen_House.html

c) The Sonning Large Chicken House http://www.chicken-house.co.uk/acatalog/Sonning-Major-hen-House.html#.VSArMuGkWT0

d) The Versailles http://www.cagesworld.co.uk/p/Versailles_Large_Chicken_Coop.htm?product_id=49228&&gclid=CPKzv8eU3cQCFYLItAodrkIAZQ

There's also this one on ebay, but it is very big and second hand... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121607734360?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[LittleTris]

Thank you! Ahh yes now I am allowed to make links

[LittleTris]

Oh and one more my partner likes from ebay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191542207746?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[PixieDust]

All except a and b are pretty cheap builds. Be extremely careful of second hand wooden coops. They can be swarming with red mite which may not be visible until the birds are in there, especially if it isn't creosoted.

 

I was advised when I was looking, to go for British wood and British built to be more hardy in our weather, as the Littleacre ones are.

 

Now a and b look pretty but I was advised not to get the pitched roof. They are harder to clean out because of the pitch. In Summer pitched roofs get hotter and stale and ammonia air gets trapped, even with vents as they are not really big enough. The slanted roof with front vents draws the hot and nasty air above the birds and out of the vents. This is done by strategically placed small vents on the nest box hinge. Pitched roofs also are great hiding places for red mite. This design is an old tried and tested design. The Littleacre one is their longest and best seller. Trust me top access via a roof that just lifts up is much better. Other companies do make slanted roof coops.

 

Flyte So Fancy are well built and pretty but very expensive. Whilst it is true the biggest investments are the coops and runs, you should not have to pay more than it is worth.

 

The Ellerton is ok but no top access. Lots of crouching. Also too big. Plus in the event of a fox getting in the run there are 3 ways it could get in.

 

Your run would comfortably hold around 5-6 hybrids. My run is just under 7m squared and my 3 girls are ok but a bit more room would be nice. You want a coop that can take anywhere from 6-10 large fowl. The Sonning isn't big enough for 8 large fowl. Bantams possibly. It only has one nest box. You need 2-3.

 

The Versailles again too small and is a cheap build.

 

I know I go one about Littleacre but the service I got was second to none. My nest box turned up damaged by the couriers and the head bloke arranged, when he was down in Kent at a country show, that he would come over to Surrey one evening to personally deliver the nest box. Poor bloke arrived at 10pm after the show, was good humoured and chatty. They are a very old company who rarely advertise. Plus compared to some, they are very good value.

 

I know they are not the prettiest but they are very functional and in the freezing wet weather pretty isn't going to make mucking out any quicker!

 

I am not trying to rain on your parade but I researched coops for over a year before I bought and I found so many people across the net complained about cheap builds and cramped access. It's a large investment for something that may only last one or two full seasons if you get the wrong one.

 

Alternatively, convert a 3ft x 6ft shed!

 

I sincerely hope my advice helps.

[Chickabee]

I would advise against a wooden roof. Having had a really bad case of red mite in mine last year. I've now vowed only to ever buy plastic, but lots of others have wooden ones with no problems. Best investment I made was the cube, but for some reason you can't buy it without the run. Maybe if you phoned omlet they could help you

[PixieDust]

Yes sorry missed that point Chickabee. If you have a wooden coop make sure you have an onduline roof so the mite have nowhere to hide. Felted roofs are a mite magnet.

[jimnpaula]

Best investment I made was the cube, but for some reason you can't buy it without the run. Maybe if you phoned omlet they could help you

 

You can buy the cube without run - the choice of run length comes after you choose the colour.

[LittleTris]

Thanks all for your really helpful replies, you're right that most coops I linked look cheap and poor quality except a couple. It would be good to buy British, and also get a coop that minimises crouching down to clean Really useful tips. We will keep looking!