Chicken bald back

[Chiccoletta]

Hello,

 

I got my 3 beautiful hens at the end of May, one is laying already (the Bluebell). We are using an Eglu Go on a platform made by my lovely hubbie (see picture). This is in an enclosed walk-in run. I have a few questions:

 

1. The chicken run is covered with Chicken wire, this seems fairly flimsy, do I need to put a double layer of wire on or reinforce it somehow? They are in the run when we're at work but free range when we're home. We shut them in the Eglu overnight.

 

2. How much food should they be eating daily, they are having layers pellets? Do I need to chuck out the uneaten food at the end of the day and provide them with fresh in the morning?

 

3. Is it OK to give them a small handful of corn every day or should this be restricted?

 

4. Some of their poos are really runny and yellowish, is this normal?

 

Thank you so much, I think I have a lot more questions but they're the ones I can think of right now!

 

[Luvachicken]

Hello and welcome to the fun world of chicken keeping from me

 

1. The chicken run is covered with Chicken wire, this seems fairly flimsy, do I need to put a double layer of wire on or reinforce it somehow? They are in the run when we're at work but free range when we're home. We shut them in the Eglu overnight.

Chicken wire is very good at keeping chickens in but sadly not very good for keeping predators out, so you need to make it stronger somehow. Doubling it up would be good until you can afford something else. Lots of people use weldmesh.

 

2. How much food should they be eating daily, they are having layers pellets? Do I need to chuck out the uneaten food at the end of the day and provide them with fresh in the morning?

Most people just fill up the grub as it gets empty. Taking the food in at night is a good idea to prevent unwanted visitors.

 

3. Is it OK to give them a small handful of corn every day or should this be restricted?

I would save the corn treats for winter as it heats them up. You can use meals worms instead.

 

4. Some of their poos are really runny and yellowish, is this normal?

There are loads of different poops - this one sounds like the typical chicken curry poop

[Chiccoletta]

Thank you luvachicken, very helpful.

 

https://www.photobox.co.uk/my/photo/full?photo_id=21695008270

[Luvachicken]

Sorry, meant to say you won't be able to post photos until you have made 5 posts.

[Cat tails]

 

Tadaa!

[Cat tails]

Lovely set up though!

[Luvachicken]

Fab Cat tails

 

Chiccoletta your run looks huge.

I'm sure your chickens will be very happy in there.

[Chiccoletta]

Thank you cat tails for posting my photo, my husband did most of the work (he was fairly ambivalent towards chickens but he really loves them now and was determined to give them a big run). We still have about 1000 tie wraps chop off..... but they seem happy and my 4 & 5 year old sons pop out at 06:30 most days to let them out. I am thinking of filling the whole base with the Aubiose as the girls insist on pooping on the concrete which I thought would be easy to clean but it actually just looks a mess (I do try and poo-pick most mornings).

 

Anyway thanks for your replies, I really love these forums, great source of support!

[Grandmashazzie]

Great set up, I would add a dust bath area as chickens love that and if husband has some free time a few perches as they love to perch and watch the world go by. Mine looks a bit like a Victorian towel rail for bathroom. I use wood chips in my WIR I haven't used aubiose, would it be more expensive for large area.

[mullethunter]

Looks lovely chiccoletta

 

As luvachicken said though, that chicken wire wouldn't keep a determined fox out, I'd attach weld mesh panels as well / instead if I were you.

[Chiccoletta]

So I've added about 90 cm high ,easy panel to the bottom of the run. I've also made a perch which Cookie has hopped up on once but doesn't seem overly interested in.... watch this space. Dust bath is in the bit where I've removed a concrete slab, they haven't used it yet (they keep on going to the dirt under our unfinished raised deck).

 

Does any on have the chicken swing and do they like it?

 

Thanks again to those who replied.

[Luvachicken]

Does any one have the chicken swing and do they like it?

 

My friend bought one for her chickens, when the swings first came out, but she is very disappointed that they have never used it

I would put the money towards something else.

[grahamrhind]

Does any one have the chicken swing and do they like it?

 

My friend bought one for her chickens, when the swings first came out, but she is very disappointed that they have never used it

I would put the money towards something else.

 

I agree. I made one and my chickens just walked around it.