Keeping Chickens

Hi folks.

The wife keeps saying she would like to keep chickens. I'm inclined to think that they need quite a bit of space, for the cage and run. I don't really have the space to be able to move 'things' around. Can someone tell me (in simple terms) how much space would be required to keep say 3 or 4 ? Also, as I go away on some weekends, would that be a problem ?

Cheers...Freddy.

 

Hey Freddy,

A run of about 6/8 Metres square would do 3/4, but they do like to come out to forrage/get stuck up next doors tree etc.

Weekends probably wouldn't be a problem as long as the feeder & water is big enough.

Gotta make sure its fox proof though, lost a few dear ones to Mr Fox.

 

Hiya Ziggy, thanks for that.

Excuse my ignorance, does that mean I would HAVE to let them out ?

 

You don't have to, but they would benefit from a good scratching about. They eat a lot of garden pests & that improves their general wellbeing & the flavour of their eggs.

They are very curious & do like a good nose about. A cockerell would look after them if you don't mind the 4am wake up call.

They'll need a dry area to have a dust bath in too.

They benefit from added calcium in their diet, esp. when they are laying.

Make sure the roosting perches are all at the same height, otherwise they'll fight for the highest perch.

Eric the chicken used to eye up the step ladders, then do a vertical take off & roost on the top.

She also liked to sneak in if the door was left open & roost on the back of the sofa.

Daughter #1 came home late one night & kipped on the sofa, only to have Eric fall on her in the middle of the night.

Chickens feet lock onto a perch when they are asleep, but the back of the sofa was too big to lock onto

 

Hi Ziggy.

I'm gonna have to give it a miss then, I can't be having wild animals rampaging around the garden :D

 

Thats a shame Freddy, once you've kept a chicken or 2 you get used to their little ways. Its worth the effort really.

 

Hi Ziggy

I've no doubt you're right, but I already have time/space restraints. Ah well, maybe some time in the future

Cheers...Freddy.