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badendesigns Lifetime member
Joined: 01 Feb 2010 Posts: 851 Location: Wales
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 11:20 Post subject: Chickens!!! |
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Anyone keep them? Just built our first coup yesterday and we're picking up our first 4 at the weekend.
Anything I need to be looking out for?
Got a secure large rear garden and in the process of building a run if it ever stops raining.
We're looking to buy a small holding over the next year or so. That way we're out of town and can do our own thing. Has anyone else done this? _________________ 99/00 Frontera B 3.2 V6
79 XS1100
82 XS1100 midnight
87 454 LTD
Lovin it!!!!!
Wear sunscreen
LTM 000103 |
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 11:20 Post subject: Google Ads keep this community free to join! |
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mekka ***
Joined: 16 Dec 2009 Posts: 161 Location: durham
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 18:51 Post subject: |
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richard briar and penelope keith tried it I think |
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DAVID's J99P Lifetime member
Joined: 30 Oct 2009 Posts: 1614 Location: UK's Horse Doping Capital
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 19:53 Post subject: |
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Father-in-law started of with 4 chickens he's got about 30 of the smelly things along with 3 bloody noisy roosters now
The eggs taste real good tho _________________ aka x66dag
David ltm47 |
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DYLAN Moderator
Joined: 25 Sep 2006 Posts: 5115 Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 20:09 Post subject: |
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Agree about the eggs My parents have two, Hope you dont treasure your garden because they dont half make a mess of them. _________________
2002 S-TYPE JAGUAR 3.0 SPORT |
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Mork_77 Lifetime member
Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 797 Location: Northumberland
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 20:37 Post subject: |
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Look out for foxes! Ive lost quite a few hens to one on 2 different occasions, they kill as many as they can catch but only take a couple. |
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badendesigns Lifetime member
Joined: 01 Feb 2010 Posts: 851 Location: Wales
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Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 8:09 Post subject: |
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Probably a silly question Mork but would a security light make a difference with the foxes? Our coup is just outside the kitchen door and we were thinking of putting up a halogen light with sensor. Am looking forward to the eggs though. We're just trying it to see if these are what we want on the small holding. There are so many different animals but these do seem to be the least effort as we're also gonna be growing various crops. Naturally I'm gonna need to be able to spread my time as well as run what will by then be two businesses.
Dylan, We're going to have a run that can be rotated around the garden. Let them run on one bit then move it and seed where they were. Am hoping this will work.
DAG? No roosters!!!!!! I couldn't stand them
Mekka! Only you !!!!! _________________ 99/00 Frontera B 3.2 V6
79 XS1100
82 XS1100 midnight
87 454 LTD
Lovin it!!!!!
Wear sunscreen
LTM 000103 |
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Mork_77 Lifetime member
Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 797 Location: Northumberland
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Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 12:23 Post subject: |
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It might put them off at night, Ive had one chew its way through the roof of an old coop in the middle of the night and twice its got into the run during the day all in the space of a year but previous to that they were fine for years with no sign of a fox, not sure if the fox hunting ban had anything to do with it and both times were during cold patches so maybe it was getting hungry. |
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mekka ***
Joined: 16 Dec 2009 Posts: 161 Location: durham
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Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 18:37 Post subject: |
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you lock the hens in at night |
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DAVID's J99P Lifetime member
Joined: 30 Oct 2009 Posts: 1614 Location: UK's Horse Doping Capital
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Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 20:12 Post subject: |
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The roosters will encourage the hens to lay more as well as waking you up at silly o/clock
The oldman said straw not hay for their bedding _________________ aka x66dag
David ltm47 |
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zircon **
Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 56 Location: Birmingham uk
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Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 20:33 Post subject: |
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i had 8 chickens 18 months ago, but 6 died then i was given 2 more
we had our igloo from the omlette company who have a really good advice forum
the chickens are great characters and the eggs are the best you will ever have, although it might put you off whem when you see what they eat
the day my girls murdered a frog and ate it i gave those eggs away |
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Chavy Chevy *
Joined: 06 Dec 2009 Posts: 45 Location: North Lincolnshire
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Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 20:57 Post subject: |
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Over the last 3 years we have had around 80 or so hens all lost to foxes over a period. All locked in at night and lost during the daytime. Foxes are quite clever when hungry.
The other side of the fence is the main garden and usually during the day 1 or 2 Bullmastiff dogs in there and that didn't put foxy off. _________________ Yes its badged Chevrolet but its an Isuzu
Yorks-Lincs 4x4 responder |
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DAVID's J99P Lifetime member
Joined: 30 Oct 2009 Posts: 1614 Location: UK's Horse Doping Capital
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Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 21:40 Post subject: |
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this may not be applicable as you have said that you plan on regualy moving the run around the garden
but if you dig a 12/18 inch trench and sink the wire fencing into it. Stops foxy getting in and mother hen getting out. _________________ aka x66dag
David ltm47 |
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DAVID's J99P Lifetime member
Joined: 30 Oct 2009 Posts: 1614 Location: UK's Horse Doping Capital
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Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 21:42 Post subject: |
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[quote="X66DAG"]this may not be applicable as you have said that you plan on regualy moving the run around the garden
but if you dig a 12/18 inch trench and sink the wire fencing into it. Stops foxy getting in and mother hen getting out.
Watch for rats and rat holes as they will kill the chickens as well. _________________ aka x66dag
David ltm47 |
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badendesigns Lifetime member
Joined: 01 Feb 2010 Posts: 851 Location: Wales
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Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:05 Post subject: |
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Thanks for that DAG!!!!! We'll see how it goes with moving the run but definitely bear that in mind. If anything tries to get in we'll sink it as you said.
Cheers!!!!!!
[img][/img]
The new coup!!!! _________________ 99/00 Frontera B 3.2 V6
79 XS1100
82 XS1100 midnight
87 454 LTD
Lovin it!!!!!
Wear sunscreen
LTM 000103 |
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Mork_77 Lifetime member
Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 797 Location: Northumberland
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Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:53 Post subject: |
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How old are the ones you are getting? you might find they will be able to get over that if they fancy a wander. |
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