We have had some good news we have had our offer in a new house accepted so should be moving in the next couple of months so will have a garden so have managed to talk the wife into prepping but she doesn't realise yet lol. She like the idea of chickens fir eggs and pets I see food for the future.
Now I have no idea how to keep chickens so where do we get started. Like the idea of ex cage hens give them some love and space at the end of their lives I know not best layers tho but 3/4 should give us enough eggs to get started
keeping chickens how to get started?
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bob the builder
- Posts: 97
- Joined: Tue Oct 01, 2013 1:32 pm
keeping chickens how to get started?
Not planning for the end of the world just to survive till normality resumes, while sticking to the scout moto be prepared!
Still considering do I want to survive the end of the world or deck chair on the front lawn with a cold beer?
Still considering do I want to survive the end of the world or deck chair on the front lawn with a cold beer?
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preppingsu
Re: keeping chickens how to get started?
We had ex-bats when we started out, it was good for learning.
http://www.bhwt.org.uk/
They do come in all shapes and states of featherless.
We now only have point of lay - they lay better, are in better health and last longer. They do destroy your garden so I would recommend having a dedicated area for them. Obviously a coop and a secure run for when you are not around. Wire needs to be dug into the ground around the run/coop area to prevent rodents getting in. Our coop is raised off the ground. When we looked into it, it was suggested that shiplap coops can harbour red mite inbetween the slats so consider other options.
If you want chickens for meat they need a smaller area to roam in so they fatten up quicker. We haven't gone that route yet.
We wouldn't be without them now. 4 hens give us enough eggs for the week and enough to sell (friends and family).
There is plenty of info out on the web so have a good mooch around.
Hope that helps.
http://www.bhwt.org.uk/
They do come in all shapes and states of featherless.
We now only have point of lay - they lay better, are in better health and last longer. They do destroy your garden so I would recommend having a dedicated area for them. Obviously a coop and a secure run for when you are not around. Wire needs to be dug into the ground around the run/coop area to prevent rodents getting in. Our coop is raised off the ground. When we looked into it, it was suggested that shiplap coops can harbour red mite inbetween the slats so consider other options.
If you want chickens for meat they need a smaller area to roam in so they fatten up quicker. We haven't gone that route yet.
We wouldn't be without them now. 4 hens give us enough eggs for the week and enough to sell (friends and family).
There is plenty of info out on the web so have a good mooch around.
Hope that helps.
Re: keeping chickens how to get started?
Good info, it's been on my radar for a while but needed some real experienced advice before thinking more...preppingsu wrote:We had ex-bats when we started out, it was good for learning.
http://www.bhwt.org.uk/
They do come in all shapes and states of featherless.
We now only have point of lay - they lay better, are in better health and last longer. They do destroy your garden so I would recommend having a dedicated area for them. Obviously a coop and a secure run for when you are not around. Wire needs to be dug into the ground around the run/coop area to prevent rodents getting in. Our coop is raised off the ground. When we looked into it, it was suggested that shiplap coops can harbour red mite inbetween the slats so consider other options.
If you want chickens for meat they need a smaller area to roam in so they fatten up quicker. We haven't gone that route yet.
We wouldn't be without them now. 4 hens give us enough eggs for the week and enough to sell (friends and family).
There is plenty of info out on the web so have a good mooch around.
Hope that helps.
Entirely certain that nothing is certain
Location: Areas 8 & 10
Location: Areas 8 & 10
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moocher
Re: keeping chickens how to get started?
Don't buy an eglu and watch out for secondhand wooden housing harbouring mites.
Make sure rats and foxes cant get in the enclosure ,remember chicken wire was made for keeping chickens in ,it won't stop a predator chewing through it,weld mesh is better.
Make sure rats and foxes cant get in the enclosure ,remember chicken wire was made for keeping chickens in ,it won't stop a predator chewing through it,weld mesh is better.
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preppingsu
Re: keeping chickens how to get started?
Also put a roof on the run. We didn't to start with and the fox got in, killed two. We heard the other making a racket, ran out and the fox climbed back out again! 
It also means they stay a little drier in this horrible, wet weather.
It also means they stay a little drier in this horrible, wet weather.
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bob the builder
- Posts: 97
- Joined: Tue Oct 01, 2013 1:32 pm
Re: keeping chickens how to get started?
Chickens for food is shtf plan eggs for lunch
Plan would be buy a coop big enough for say 5 then get max 4 better the extra space and keep them in there all the time. Would this work? If we bought a coop and re trimmed it with weld mesh all round would we need to dig the wire into the ground aswell?
Point of lay last longer and lay better so how long do they lay for and roughly how many eggs?
Plan would be buy a coop big enough for say 5 then get max 4 better the extra space and keep them in there all the time. Would this work? If we bought a coop and re trimmed it with weld mesh all round would we need to dig the wire into the ground aswell?
Point of lay last longer and lay better so how long do they lay for and roughly how many eggs?
Not planning for the end of the world just to survive till normality resumes, while sticking to the scout moto be prepared!
Still considering do I want to survive the end of the world or deck chair on the front lawn with a cold beer?
Still considering do I want to survive the end of the world or deck chair on the front lawn with a cold beer?
-
preppingsu
Re: keeping chickens how to get started?
The coop is where they sleep and the nesting boxes are. It's best to get one for the amount of chickens you want, they like to snuggle up when it's cold. It needs a roosting bar.
The run is an enclosure that includes the coop that the chickens will spend a majority of the day. If you don't want rodents/pests digging in then the wire needs to be dug into the ground, ours isn't too deep but comes out horizontally about 18" then soil placed back on top. This is were the chickens are during the day when we are at work to keep them safe.
When we are around they have another large fenced area they can roam in or we let them into the main garden. However, they dig everything up and you get chicken poop everywhere.
When in their larger area they have space to scratch, take a dust bath etc. We have one Houdini that stills gets out from there no matter how many times we clip her wings
The amount of eggs depends in hours of daylight, time of year etc. If they are moulting they lay less. Around November 5th they lay less. Chickens lay approx every 36hours, so with one chicken you won't get 7 eggs a week. They need to have a rest, bless 'em!
Just been told by OH that hybrids are best as they lay all year round whereas pedigree don't.
The run is an enclosure that includes the coop that the chickens will spend a majority of the day. If you don't want rodents/pests digging in then the wire needs to be dug into the ground, ours isn't too deep but comes out horizontally about 18" then soil placed back on top. This is were the chickens are during the day when we are at work to keep them safe.
When we are around they have another large fenced area they can roam in or we let them into the main garden. However, they dig everything up and you get chicken poop everywhere.
When in their larger area they have space to scratch, take a dust bath etc. We have one Houdini that stills gets out from there no matter how many times we clip her wings
The amount of eggs depends in hours of daylight, time of year etc. If they are moulting they lay less. Around November 5th they lay less. Chickens lay approx every 36hours, so with one chicken you won't get 7 eggs a week. They need to have a rest, bless 'em!
Just been told by OH that hybrids are best as they lay all year round whereas pedigree don't.
Re: keeping chickens how to get started?
Try clipping just onepreppingsu wrote:We have one Houdini that stills gets out from there no matter how many times we clip her wings
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preppingsu
Re: keeping chickens how to get started?
Yep, did that too and she still got out! By god she can jump. But she only does it when our backs are turned....Malthouse wrote:Try clipping just onepreppingsu wrote:We have one Houdini that stills gets out from there no matter how many times we clip her wings
Re: keeping chickens how to get started?
I found with my mixture of pedigrees and Heinz that the average was a bit less than that, maybe 28 hours ish. And they have at least a gap of that when the are due to lay late in the day.preppingsu wrote:Approx every 36hours
So on day 1 a hen might lay at 0600
On day 2 1000
Day 3 1400
Day 4 1800 (if it is not dark by then)
Day 5 - no egg
Day 6 - maybe, maybe not
Day 7 back to 0600 (or whenever first light is)
Chickens love to explore, they also like a "pecking order" that is stable. And they need lots of fresh water.
I miss my chickens
