Chickens.

Just an idea Rusty,but i hung my feeder from one of the roof bars just high enough for the 'girls' to eat from and to stop any furry 'friends' having a free lunch.....because i noticed the Mices were getting fatter

 

I remove the feeders every night.

 

Both feeders and the drinker hang from the rafters ('S' hooks & baler twine) to keep them above mouse height.



P.S. Those naughty hens are always chucking the dirt out their dust bath (into their food) and kicking straw into it.

 

Yes I had read about doing this, so there will be a bar across the middle of the roof to hang them off. I was thinking maybe lifting feeder and water about 10-12 inches. Is this too high for the chickens?

Rusty

 

I've just measured ours at 12". Another useful device to hang greenstuff from is one of these spring clips which cost about £1 for 2 from cheapo shops and are ideal for hanging up leaves for the hens to peck at.

 

Got 6 of these panels from work each measures 70 cm x 120 cm and the holes are 1.5inch square. I am going to dig down and put these in to stop burrowing animals to get into the run. I think I will have to get some chicken wire and wrap them in that first to stop rats.




Rusty

 

Good idea putting that mesh screen across your kitchen door to stop hens getting in and eating all your food.

 

Thanks Scrungee you have sparked an idea there. I was going to build a gate to shut off the veg patch from my son using 4 ft picket boards, but now I am going to use 1 panel and router out some 2x2 to fit and slide the panel in.

Rusty

 

I got some child gates for the back doors and conservatory they're really handy in 'summer' when/if it's warm and all the doors are open it's good to close the gates behind me because when i let the 'girls' out of their run they race straight for the kitchen and the dogs food .....plus they once had it away with my Battenburg cake that was left on the side......i wasn't happy......

 

Cleared the area for the chickens today. Hopefully start building run and coop next week.





Rusty

 

Lucky, lucky gals . They will love it in there Rusty. So looking forward to seeing them all safely housed ,
Jenny

 

Hurry up then Rusty

 

I'm trying lolimac. But with the new baby due in 2 weeks I have been upto my eyes decorating and putting furniture together. I am giving myself a target of 6 weeks to get it all sorted and get the girls in, now that the lighter nights are here and hopefully the weather is getting better I can spend a couple of hours after work during the week.

Rusty

 

In that case you are excused you've rather alot going on....

I'm counting 6 weeks from now

 

Hi All,

I am finalising the design for my chicken house. It is going to be 5ft x 3ft and I am going to put the floor at 1.5ft off the floor. I am thinnking that I will make the house 3.5ft at the front and 3ft at the rear with a sloping roof. I am putting 3 internal nestboxes that will be 1ft square and the roost bars will be 6 inches off the floor.

I have 2 questions,
1) Will the roost bars be ok at that height as I do not want the chickens sleeping in the nestboxes?
2) There will be 3ft of head room at the front of the house and 2.5ft at the rear. Will this be enough head room for the chicken.

I will be getting hybids.

Thanks
Rusty