Em_chickennewbie Posted April 24, 2020 Share Posted April 24, 2020 Hello, I hope you can help me.I’ve bought an Eglu Cube which is due to arrive in June. I’m thinking of getting 3 hens, or perhaps 4 bantams. I am hoping for them to be able to roam free for an hour or so a day whilst I’m around in the garden. However I do have a dog who is very gentle, but has never met a chicken before so I’m not 100% they could roam free, depending on his reaction. Basically worst case they would have to be in their run permanently but I’m hoping not. I’m going to put the cube and the run on a what was my vegetable patch (have uploaded a pic). So my first question is would I need to put paving slabs down before the wood chip, or can chickens live on soil? And if they were on soil I’m not sure it would be that fox proof as the soil is soft. Secondly I’m really struggling with which breed to get. I have 2 young children, 2 and 4 and have read that bantams would be great. I have a fence at the bottom of my garden that backs on to fields, which is only 4 ft high. From researching it seems some chickens are less flighty than others? I am mainly getting chickens for the fresh eggs so although they don’t need to be laying every day I would prefer better layers. Any advice or suggestions would be great fully received. Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted April 24, 2020 Share Posted April 24, 2020 I have my chickens on soil, but have paving slabs dug in about 20 cm deep. If the soil is very soft, then you rub a risk that the cube will start sagging, as it’s quite heavy. My Go and run stand on concrete border slabs as the chickens will definitely dig under the legs and run sides. my chickens do really like their soil patch and it takes very little maintenance. I just top it up with old compost from pots and planters, and hose it down once in a while in summer. The worms do the rest as I left quite big gaps between the slabs. I’m sure someone will be around shortly to tell you why my set up is bonkers and you should stick to slabs and woodchips (don’t do woodchips on soil!) 😉 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Em_chickennewbie Posted April 24, 2020 Author Share Posted April 24, 2020 Thanks for your reply, so it is an option to have them on soil then. How do you secure your run down if it’s on slabs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted April 24, 2020 Share Posted April 24, 2020 Found the photo. Run itself is heavy enough to stay down, but you can add logs on the run skirt if you want it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Em_chickennewbie Posted April 24, 2020 Author Share Posted April 24, 2020 Oh thank you, that is helpful to see! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted April 24, 2020 Share Posted April 24, 2020 With regard to escapees, you can clip the girl's wings. It seems a bit brutal the first time that you do it but they don't feel a thing...just like us having a hair cut! You may get away with only one wing or, if your girls are very 'flighty' you'd probably have to do both. That said though, if you think that your dog might chase them then they may need to retain their flight capabilities to escape.......although, once your dog is used to them, he/she may very well ignore them completely (esp if there has been a peck or two as a warning!) Otherwise perhaps the dog could be outside when the girls are in and the dog in when the girls are out? Could you put some trellis on the top of the fence to add to the height? You don't want to be chasing them around a field!!! There are much wiser ones on The Forum who will be able to advise you as to breeds......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 24, 2020 Share Posted April 24, 2020 You can have soil in the run, but it's just more difficult to muck out and they will dig craters in it. Mine are on totally slabbed bases with Aubiose in the run - they keep clean, are super secure and easy to muck-out. What size run did you buy? This will dictate how many hens you can keep. I have 2 dogs - ex-working lurchers, so they don't go out in the garden when the birds are free-ranging. I wouldn't bank on being able to mix the birds and dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Em_chickennewbie Posted April 24, 2020 Author Share Posted April 24, 2020 Yes I did think about keeping the dog in when the chickens were out but my two kids are constantly in and out the house so the door is always opening. My dog is usually timid with new things, he’s scared of cats so I am hoping he gets a peck and then stays away. ahh yes trellis could work. I had read about clipping the wings too I bought the standard 2 metre run but once it’s here I think I’m going to see if I have space for an extra metre, but we’ll just have to wait and see. Do you secure your run with anything when it’s on the slabs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sallybeligum Posted April 24, 2020 Share Posted April 24, 2020 2 hours ago, Cat tails said: I have my chickens on soil, but have paving slabs dug in about 20 cm deep. If the soil is very soft, then you rub a risk that the cube will start sagging, as it’s quite heavy. My Go and run stand on concrete border slabs as the chickens will definitely dig under the legs and run sides. my chickens do really like their soil patch and it takes very little maintenance. I just top it up with old compost from pots and planters, and hose it down once in a while in summer. The worms do the rest as I left quite big gaps between the slabs. I’m sure someone will be around shortly to tell you why my set up is bonkers and you should stick to slabs and woodchips (don’t do woodchips on soil!) 😉 Why do you say "don't do woodchips on soil" ??? I'm new here too and I am very curious...because I wanted to put woodchips on soil in my run... Greetings SallyB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 24, 2020 Share Posted April 24, 2020 If you have the new cube, then the run is much smaller than the cube mark 1, so you'll only be to fit 2 large fowl or 3 bantams in that 1 minute ago, Sallybeligum said: Why do you say "don't do woodchips on soil" ??? I'm new here too and I am very curious...because I wanted to put woodchips on soil in my run... Greetings SallyB Sally, I think that's because the woodchip gets mixed into the soil and impossible to separate and dig out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Em_chickennewbie Posted April 24, 2020 Author Share Posted April 24, 2020 Ahh ok thanks for the info. Which chickens do you have? Do you have any favourite breeds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted April 24, 2020 Share Posted April 24, 2020 Yes woodchips and soil make a horrible muddy mixture.... done it once, never again. Don’t be tempted to use weed membrane. Chickens dig and dig and dig, and then dig some more. I currently have a Dutch bantam, a New Hampshire bantam, a Wyandotte and a Barnevelder bantam. My favourite is still the Dutch and the New Hampshire bantam. Both very easily tamed and very friendly. Dutch bantams are prone to be broody though. And remember it is very down to the individual hen. My Barnevelder is very shy, which are said to be quite outgoing. My Wyandotte is very skittish and loud. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sallybeligum Posted April 24, 2020 Share Posted April 24, 2020 23 minutes ago, The Dogmother said: If you have the new cube, then the run is much smaller than the cube mark 1, so you'll only be to fit 2 large fowl or 3 bantams in that Sally, I think that's because the woodchip gets mixed into the soil and impossible to separate and dig out. Oh, that makes sense...thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 24, 2020 Share Posted April 24, 2020 25 minutes ago, Em_chickennewbie said: Ahh ok thanks for the info. Which chickens do you have? Do you have any favourite breeds? I have 15 pure breed bantams Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted April 24, 2020 Share Posted April 24, 2020 (edited) Cattails set-up works because although her run is soil, it’s not very deep down to the slabs below. If you only have soil, chances are it’ll be a total mud bath in the winter. Also, you’re right, it will be difficult to secure the run against digging in soft soil. On slabs, you can secure the run by putting slabs or bricks on top of the run skirt to hold it down - I’ve done this mainly because I worry that on very windy days it might take off (the clear tarpaulin cover acts a bit like a giant sail on very windy days. I think you’ll find that even if they do end up coming out for an hour or so a day you’ll be unhappy with just a 2m run - if at all possible I would recommend an extra metre. I would also suggest 3 bantams in that set-up. Even though the house is easily big enough for more, your run wouldn’t be and crowding too many chooks into a small space is a recipe for disaster. Probably the friendliest, most child friendly bantams are pekins - they’re also highly entertaining and easy to get hold of - however they aren’t best layers and they can be prone to going broody a lot. However these are generalisations as the pekin I’ve got at the moment lays on average every other day between March and September and hasn’t been broody at all yet at 2 years old. Wyandotte bantams (I also have two of these) are generally known for being good layers - of my two one is OK (an egg every other day from March to September but with frequent serious broody spells) but the other hasn’t laid a single egg since passing the age of 5 and before that she only laid a few every year. Wyandotte’s are said to be friendly but although mine will eat from your hand they’ll screech blue murder if you try to touch them. I also have a Plymouth Rock bantam who is an excellent layer and hasn’t yet been broody (she’s also 2) but she’s not overly friendly. Then I have a Campine who is, if anything, overly friendly, and lays brilliantly - 3 eggs every 4 days, but she really hates being shut in the run. And I have three Dutch bantams. They’ve become quite friendly, they lay well (an egg every other day or so) but small eggs, and seem to do ok shut in. None have been broody yet and they’re 2 years old too. They fly extremely well so you’d definitely have to clip their wings if letting them out. I have had araucana bantams as well. They lay well, mine didn’t go broody. One was very calm but the other was completely mental! So - long waffle but for you based on my experience I’d recommend pekins, Plymouth Rock bantams, Dutch bantams or araucana bantams. I would suggest you definitely don’t go for campines. Im sure others will disagree / have differing experiences! Edited April 24, 2020 by mullethunter 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Em_chickennewbie Posted April 25, 2020 Author Share Posted April 25, 2020 Thank you for your reply. I’m definitely heading towards bantams, their size really appeals to me too. it’s really helpful to know which breeds people find the friendliest and the best egg layers. I know each hen will have their own personality but a generalisation is still good. I think I’ll go for slabs, I was just worried about how fox proof the run would be not screwed in to the ground but if you’ve experienced bricks being strong enough I’ll give that a go. Thanks everyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 The skirt itself is what makes it fox resistant. The idea is that the fox will try and dig under at the sides of the run. But this won’t be possible at all if the run is on slabs. If you make sure the slabs extent under the skirt, there is no way a fox will dig under. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 1 hour ago, Em_chickennewbie said: Thank you for your reply. I’m definitely heading towards bantams, their size really appeals to me too. it’s really helpful to know which breeds people find the friendliest and the best egg layers. I know each hen will have their own personality but a generalisation is still good. Bantams are less destructive... to a point. Most birds can be trained to be handlable, but frizzles and pekins are more human-centric and will follow you around. Generally Wyandottes are good, hardy layers and friendly too, but the 'twins' that I have at the moment are evil, moody, broody cows; they will be going when we re-stock after the lockdown. Araucanas tend to be a bit crazy until they start to lay, then settle down ot be just bonkers, but are hardy reliable layers of blue eggs. I have had German Langshans, Plymouth Rocks, leghorns (mad as batsh**) all sorts really, but as you have realised, it depends largely on the individual bird. I refuse to have Silkies - broody like mad, not waterproof, can't fly or climb and in my opinion, they're cuddly toys, not chickens (sorry folks). Whatever you get, do plenty of research,look around at different breeders and handle them. Do a healthcheck on each bird and be prepared to walk away if you're less than happy with anything about that outlet or the birds. Never buy a bird that you feel sorry for. Apologies or the chapter and verse, you almost have one of my courses there! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 I’m glad it’s not just me who doesn’t like silkies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
