Been offered chickens!

We had a Buff Sussex go broody 5 times in about 7 months during Spring to Autumn, then go off the lay over Winter.

Never again, after that we changed to getting POL hybrids late Summer/early Autumn and they'd lay all Winter, and when numbers dropped do the same again.

 

Lots of good advice above, and some of this may already have been covered:

Hens are OK with cold and don't require insulated coops, in fact sandwich insulated construction could provide a haven for Red Mites. Cold draughts should be avoided, so we shut them up (AKA 'pop them') on chilly nights, but NB this is because they are in a safe enclosed run.

'Chicken wire' (25mm mesh) will keep out Foxes, but additional measures need to be taken to prevent them from burying underneath. Mice can get through it and will get to any food left inside the run when the Hens aren't around.

In the absence of a covered area (our hen's entire run is covered with clear plastic sheeting), dust baths will turn to mud, layers pellets disintegrate and straw for them to scratch around in become a soggy mess.

Under clear plastic roofing, and within a secure meshed run, feeders can be suspended/hung above ground to prevent mice pilfering the hens' feed overnight, and their pop hole can be left open except on the coldest of nights.

 

Cheers @"M" Read elsewhere leave them too it or dunk them! Think that's slightly cruel myself Yeah the cube is a bit big but I prefer the shape.

Thanks for that but I wont be getting unsexed chicks, the breeder sorts them into colours, sex and age.. so fingers crossed they won't be "wrong". Hoping to get "Hens which are 4 - 5 months old in black, white, lavender, black & gold & partridge, £25 each" as stated on the advert and have already said to her I'd like 4 hens instead of the initial 2, which she has said that should be no problem. She also does pekin x frizzle and have read that they are better layers.. and after reading a bit more, I might only get 2 silkies and 2 tidy laying type birds possibly Rhode Island Red and a Plymouth rock.. I do like the fancy types

Ok @Scrungee so no insulating then.. just worrying as it's winter
Oh and are you suggesting the mesh on the coop won't be decent enough so I will need to put smaller mesh on there instead or double mesh it? I'm going to screw some of that corrugated plastic stuff on top, yay or nay or is flat sheets better? I'm going to put it in the corner of the patio so it has 2 walls surrounding it (back and the run side) and its away from most of the harsh winds and probably move it up to the back concrete slab in spring. Anything other tips for keeping on patio?

As for feeds, straw, bark, diatomaceous earth... Any particular brands that are "best" or to avoid? And feeders/drinkers, plastic or galvanised? Basically is cheap ok for the time being or should I pay out?

 

Foxes can dig underneath if it's left sitting on grass

Plastic on a small ark might make it a bit too toasty for them in hot weather, the roof over our hens is 6 above ground level.