I want Hens

Jesus Nut

I would like to have my own healthy organic Eggs!
So, how would a total Hen newbee go about getting set up with Hens?

I have lots of garden space all around the house (country house).
However, I do have 2 cats and a Dog!

As I would be new? should I buy some sort of house for the hens and some sort of fence to keep them in?

How often would I get eggs?

I eat about 10 eggs a week so to stop me buying eggs how many hens would I need in order to produce 10 of my own eggs a week.

Thanks very much for you help.

lanod2407

10 eggs a week - 2 or 3 hens depending on the breed of hen.
House - needs to be secure, with somewhere to lay eggs - preferably a quiet darker corner / nest box.
Do you have an out-house that can be used? I'd prefer a proper shed to put mine in - just don't have it.
Area - needs to be secure from dogs and foxes. I've an orchard with a wire mesh fence that's dug down a few inches. Certainly not completely fox-proof, but I've not lost a hen yet.

I've a converted dog kennel on stilts as a house for them with a nest box inside. Shed can be closed at night, but I leave it open a tiny bit so that they can get out in the morning before I'm up during the Summer - I close it in winter as I'm up before daylight at that time!!!
I've also a large feeder that lasts up to a week in the shed - it's either that or feed then outside each day yourself. The feeder unit is in the shed cos the crows and magpies will eat it all in a day outside.

Farmer Pudsey

If you buy a hybrid hen they will lay about one egg a day so 2 hens will provide you with enough eggs for a week.
http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/poultry/2140443
You can buy a hen house like this but you wull need to fence around the house. You can but chicken netting and use an electric fence to power it.
http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/poultry/1401250
Something like this in the pictures you can see feeders and drinkers that you can use so that if you are away for 2-3 days you do not need to get anyone to check your stock.

The other type of house is like the one below that has an integrated run this is just about suitable for 2 hens you can move about lawn ever day.
http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/poultry/3814363

Organic eggs arte a bit tricky as hens need a high protein feed to produce eggs and organic feed is expensive most people that keep hens keep them for to have free range eggs (real ones). There are numerous books about keeping hens try any book store Katy Thear has written a few so buy one and see how you go

tabby aspreme

Make sure you can contain them away from your house, as hens can rapidly become fu-#ing hens depending on where they crap last

Jesus Nut

Thanks for the replies.
I don't like the idea of giving my hens a feed.

Can they not just eat the grass or what ever in the garden?

I really want my hens and eggs as organic as can be and that means no feeds of any kind.

The whole reason I am growing my own veg now and want my own eggs as I believe the reason for so much sickness is sprays and feeders etc been used.

What were hens fed say 100 years ago?
That will do my hens.

Thanks again for help and replies.

Sam Kade

lanod2407 wrote: »

10 eggs a week - 2 or 3 hens depending on the breed of hen.
House - needs to be secure, with somewhere to lay eggs - preferably a quiet darker corner / nest box.
Do you have an out-house that can be used? I'd prefer a proper shed to put mine in - just don't have it.
Area - needs to be secure from dogs and foxes. I've an orchard with a wire mesh fence that's dug down a few inches. Certainly not completely fox-proof, but I've not lost a hen yet.

I've a converted dog kennel on stilts as a house for them with a nest box inside. Shed can be closed at night, but I leave it open a tiny bit so that they can get out in the morning before I'm up during the Summer - I close it in winter as I'm up before daylight at that time!!!
I've also a large feeder that lasts up to a week in the shed - it's either that or feed then outside each day yourself. The feeder unit is in the shed cos the crows and magpies will eat it all in a day outside.

If the dog gets used to the hens he will protect them from the fox. We used to keep 40 hens back in the 70's they just roamed free around our yard and our sheep dog kept the fox at bay.

Sam Kade

Jesus Nut wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.
I don't like the idea of giving my hens a feed.

Can they not just eat the grass or what ever in the garden?

I really want my hens and eggs as organic as can be and that means no feeds of any kind.

The whole reason I am growing my own veg now and want my own eggs as I believe the reason for so much sickness is sprays and feeders etc been used.

What were hens fed say 100 years ago?
That will do my hens.

Thanks again for help and replies.

More than likely grain of some sort oats I presume. Layers pellets are cheaper than oats and are a balanced diet for hens, they also need greens like grass for protein. They will eat household scraps but don't feed them meat leftovers.

lanod2407

Feed

Layers pellets
Rolled oats
household scraps - boil up potato and veg skine
stale bread

I'm quite dubious on the "if it was good 100 years ago it must be good now" approach ....... people and animals were dying from disease and illness that we don't worry about today - it's important to ask if you're also ready to accept the mortality and illness rates of 100 years ago. I'm not going to get into anti-biotic / immunity / etc debates as all of these points have validity ...... just pointing out that health and longevity were very different back then.

Farmer Pudsey

Jesus Nut wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.
I don't like the idea of giving my hens a feed.

Can they not just eat the grass or what ever in the garden?

I really want my hens and eggs as organic as can be and that means no feeds of any kind.

The whole reason I am growing my own veg now and want my own eggs as I believe the reason for so much sickness is sprays and feeders etc been used.

What were hens fed say 100 years ago?
That will do my hens.

Thanks again for help and replies.

Hens a 100 years ago laid about 120 eggs a year today the modern hybrids lay about 300 eggs a year for two years after that they drop back substantially. Back then hens foraged for snails and worms in woods and along riverbanks. These eggs would have been quite strong to eat and you could noy compare to modern eggs they would have been stronger than modern free range Duck eggs.

Modern hen feeds are about 18% protein, so if you feed stale bread, veg and potato peelings you need to balance as these would be only around 10%. As well hens need a calcium source either limestone or oyster shell otherwise you get a weak eggshells

I would not worry about organic as long as your hens are free range and have access to a goodsized scratching area or a new one every day you will have good quality eggs.