New to Chickens

:gnthb::gnthb:

 

Loofah

Like you, I've done a bit of research on chicken coops and agree with Mr Sussex that most commercial ones seem to be expensive, flimsy and sometimes poorly designed. I have some plans formulating in my head and it will be interesting to see how our designs compare. As a learner, I'm ready for mistakes so I intend to make my coop modular so that it can be easily unscrewed and modified if necessary.

 

This pic was taken while it was being cleaned so they were out having a bit of grass time(find thread, look...grass) and during winter(mainly due to the lack of fence) are in there 24/7 to the main door is usually closed bolted and padlocked(foxes are crafty:lollol. When it's warmer and my fencing is sorted they will be let out into a 24ftx30ft section of the garden in a morning and locked up just before dark( as that's when they'll go to bed)

 

thanks sweetpeas, yeah my site allows chickens aswell as pigs and bee's you just have to apply, thanks for the advice should get me off to a good start i plan on building something very similar to yours with all recycled materials pallets etc, thanks for the links too ill take a good long look.

 

Take a look at material (and your time) costs. If it rockets up, then I would advise trying the hen house I have.

http://www.forshamcottagearks.com/poultry-housing/boughton902a-poultry-ark.htm

Providing you aren't getting huge pure breeds, regular hybrids or bantams will be fine in it. We have 5 bantams/small Large Fowl and its great as we can leave them secure in the small run underneath for up to 5 days. The rest of the time they have a large run to free range in.
Unless you have money to burn, don't get an Eglu. They look good but I think the price is too high, run too small and I don't think they are as fox proof as they claim.

 

Loofah, Brahmas are HUGE and need a lot of head space in their house. When I saw huge, I mean they can be taller than a small child. But they are gorgeous, fluffy and cuddly and very docile for their size. If I had the room I would love to keep a few of these gentle giants.

John, chickens can be noisy when they have laid an egg or they get spooked by something but it doesn't go on for long and unlike cockerel crowing neighbours have few grounds to complain about them.

 

A common myth and totally untrue. Chickens will lay just as well without a cockerel bothering them constantly and will be a lot happier too.

 

It's great to see more people keen to take up poultry keeping :gnthb:

 

I'm pleased to say that our three hens have noticed that the nights are drawing out and are starting to lay better. We've had an egg a day for the last few days and two today! Either that or the vague threats about chicken stock and sage and onion stuffing. Not really, as vegetarians we just love having them around. Even if they're not vey productive they're lovely to look at and comical, especially when eating spaghetti, Just like Lady and the Tramp!