Keeping chickens in the suburbs

Iyaibeji

I have 3 RIR hybrids now but want to expand my flock to 6.
I want to try a different type now, i'd really love a white hen.

What breeds are nice and friendly and are good layers as well as good pets?
Also, my current ones were vaccinated and used to being handled by the breeder, do all breeders do this?

I would have no problems going back to the same place for more hens (farm fowl) but he is only doing the RIR hybrids now.

Iyaibeji

Bluecherry, how did you decide on your short list?

aonb

If you want a white hen that lays well, the first one that comes to mind is the Light Sussex - I think they're smashing! - the other white hen that would be commonly available would be the leghorn.

Make sure to keep your 3 new hens seperated from the old 3 for a few days - but so that they can see each other if you see what I mean - maybe a wire fence down the middle of your run - there will be a bit of hassle while they establish their new pecking order. Let them out to free range (if you free range them) together for an hour or so in the evening building up to longer time together. They can sleep in the same coop at night from day 1.

Lucky you getting new girls!!

(did you see the post on here somewhere that LarchHill (Co Kildare) poultry sale is coming up soon - if you are anywhere near its worth going to for a good selection!)

Iyaibeji

Thanks aonb.
I must go now and look into those breeds. Someone had mentioned the leghorns to me recently now that i think of it.

Yes i knew about integrating them gently and i have a set-up that will allow for that.
Before i can get any more hens i have to get a bigger coop.
The one i have is ok for 3, but i wouldnt put any more than that in it (although it's sold as a 4-5 bird coop!).

Will get a proper robust coop this time, the one i have is one of those flimsy flat pack ones.
It has served me well though,so i cant complain.
I have my new coop picked out (8-10 birds - to allow for chicken maths lol).
Just have to save for it now.

Getting the chickens has been the best thing ever, they are great pets, and it's teaching the kids first hand about the food chain.

bluecherry74

Iyaibeji wrote: »

Bluecherry, how did you decide on your short list?

I chose the Light Sussex because everyone I've talked to raves about them. They're supposed to be friendly and do well in a run as well as free ranging, and lay plenty of eggs.

The Black Rocks and bluebells were recommended to me by several people as well - they're good layers and are hardy.

Leghorns lay white eggs and I like the idea of that just because they'll look different to the usual brown eggs.

And I like Plymouth Rocks purely for their looks.

Iyaibeji

I really like the look of the white leghorns, very pretty birds.

Another question for you all, if im getting 3 more, could i get 3 diff breeds?
Or get 3 the same?

theparish

That run looks a beauty,keep posting the pics.Had to build a new coop myself last summer due to redmite.All breeds mentioned are great but the light sussex is a legend.My 2 lay ostritch sized eggs.I bought a patridge brahma hybridy kind of hen about 3 years ago,great layer,absolute beauty,docile and every time I go out to her I think she tries to talk to me,hope to pick another one up sometime.I have hens a few years now but last weekend I had to cull my first egg eater.I stuck with her for 2 months but she would not stop, even eating 3 eggs a day.Had to be done unfortunately.Now is a good time to dust down for red mite,ends of roosts and vaseline under the roost.Happy hen keeping.

Naraka

Different breeds are fine if you don't plan to breed.

Qualitymark

theparish wrote: »

last weekend I had to cull my first egg eater.I stuck with her for 2 months but she would not stop, even eating 3 eggs a day.Had to be done unfortunately.

Any time my hens started eating eggs I did two things: removed the eggs religiously, and went out and bought a tray of eggs in the supermarket, and cooked them up in a couple of batches as scrambled eggs laced with garlic powder. They always stopped egg-eating after a couple of feeds.

bluecherry74

theparish wrote: »

That run looks a beauty,keep posting the pics.Had to build a new coop myself last summer due to redmite.

Thanks! I'll hopefully have new photos to post at the weekend.

I've actually been meaning to ask about red mite powder - I wasn't sure if you put it on the hens on in the coop/run?

Also can someone recommend a natural wormer that'll allow me to keep eating the eggs after I dose them?

Qualitymark wrote: »

Any time my hens started eating eggs I did two things: removed the eggs religiously, and went out and bought a tray of eggs in the supermarket, and cooked them up in a couple of batches as scrambled eggs laced with garlic powder. They always stopped egg-eating after a couple of feeds.

Do the hens eat the eggs because they're deficient in something? I'll keep your tip in mind if I end up with an egg eater.

Naraka

Replace the eggs with golf balls. Give it a few days and that should sort out the problem. You can also get rollaway nestboxes.

Qualitymark

bluecherry74 wrote: »

Do the hens eat the eggs because they're deficient in something? I'll keep your tip in mind if I end up with an egg eater.

That was always my assumption; and feeding them garlic-laced scrambled eggs always stopped the egg-eating.

I can't help on natural wormers; only time my hens ever got any parasite it was a leg mite, and I threw out the eggs for the requisite time they were on the medicine.

Naraka

Egg eating is simply a bad habit.

Iyaibeji

People talk of using apple cider vinegar in their drinking water, and pumpkin seeds as natural wormers.
There is a product called vermx which is a herbal type wormer (im not fully sure of the composition though).

Only foolproof way to treat worms is flubenvet, which kills all types of worms, gapeworms included.
You treat them every 6mths with it.

I have treated mine once so far.
Apparently by the time you see worms in their droppings they are heavily infested.

There is no egg withdrawl time with flubenvet, but there is a wait time if the bird is for meat.

aonb

Yes, I agree with previous posted - FLUBENVET is the best option, and you dont have any egg withdrawal. Its expensive but you will get enough powder to do you for MANY years you can buy on AMAZON etc. Feed every day for 1 week - 2/3 times/year

Egg eating is a bad habit. The roll-away nest boxes (saw some home made ones once - brill) is the best solution once a hen gets into the habit.

I give scrambled eggs to my hens occassionally to boost their protein intake. When they're moulting they need more protein. Tinned fish (in oil not brine - salt is very bad for them) is a great source of protein and they LOVE it. I also give my girls probiotic yogurt for good bacteria and protein - they get covered in it and go mad for it

Red Mite - I avoided it for 6 years. Am on constant watch for it now. Can control it without any chemicals by covering the ends of the perchs with lots of vaseline, and wiping over every surface with a damp rag, squashing any rotten little red bodies as you go :eek: Im told that getting a plastic coop is a good red-mite-deterrant - have friends who have used garden-furniture-storage or coal-bunker type 'boxes' from hardware suppliers as coops - just add perches & nest boxes - and are SOOOOOOOOOOO easy to clean out - with hot water or hose

paddy147

bluecherry74 wrote: »

Hi All,

My first post in this forum. I've been thinking about keeping a couple of chickens for ages now and I'm ready to take the plunge. I'll be getting 2 to 3, mainly for laying but also for the pleasure of it.

I'm not sure which type of coop/run set up would be the best as there are so many to choose from. Can anyone recommend something compact that would give the chickens enough room to wander around during the day while I'm work, while still keeping them secure? I've been looking at these:

http://www.adverts.ie/other/henly-chicken-coop/1350696
http://www.greenhenworks.com/Loft%20Details.htm
http://www.oldmcdonald.ie/products/orpington-chicken-coop-hen-house.php

Ideally I'd also like to be able to let them out for a wander around the garden for an hour during the summer evenings.

I have 2 cats and 2 dogs. How do they generally mix with hens? The dogs are in a secure run during the day and won't be able to go near the chickens, however they're quite excitable and I'm worried they'll frighten the living daylights out of the chickens. The cats are free to wander, so whichever set-up I choose would need to be cat proof.

Finally, do hens need grass or will dirt and gravel work?


Thanks!

You need to apply to the Dept of Agriculture for a licence to keep them or any sort of poultry.

So you need to get a licence sorted.

http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/farmingsectors/poultry/PressArticlePoultryLegislativeRequirements160511.pdf

bluecherry74

aonb wrote: »

Red Mite - I avoided it for 6 years. Am on constant watch for it now. Can control it without any chemicals by covering the ends of the perchs with lots of vaseline, and wiping over every surface with a damp rag, squashing any rotten little red bodies as you go :eek:

Nice tip - thanks very much! I'd much prefer a chemical free option if it works.

paddy147 wrote: »

You need to apply to the Dept of Agriculture for a licence to keep them or any sort of poultry.

So you need to get a licence sorted.

http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/farmingsectors/poultry/PressArticlePoultryLegislativeRequirements160511.pdf

Thanks Paddy. I downloaded the form a while back but had forgotten about it. Will get it sorted over the weekend.

bluecherry74

The hen house arrived yesterday! Oh, the excitement. I'm pretty happy with it. It looks roomy enough inside for 3 or 4 hens and it's high enough off the ground that I can put feeders/waterers underneath. I can see myself upgrading to a shed-style solution in the future, but this is a good enough start.



The dogs were extremely curious, probably because it looks a lot like their kennels. There's going to be some reaction from them when they discover what will be moving in to their garden...

dozy doctor

That's a real nice coop... Where did you get it from?

bluecherry74

Got it from http://www.greenhenworks.com. It took about a week and a half to be made and delivered.

Iyaibeji

That coop is lovely, and it looks really sturdy.

Have any of you heard about Diatomaceous earth to use in their chickens dust bath area?

Im interested in trying it but i dont think it's widely available in ireland.
I emailed one irish place that sells it because they didnt have prices listed, but they haven't gotten back to me yet.

aonb

My friends all use Diacxxx Earth - in the UK - swear by it for prevention of bugs etc - who supplies it in Ireland?

Hens LOVE a dust bath, you could fill an old tyre up with grit/sand and they will be in heaven!

Iyaibeji

This place say they sell it, but im still waiting for a reply to my email re the cost
http://www.organicanimalfeeds.ie/diatomaceous-earth/

Yes my ladies love their dust baths. They love digging holes and getting in to cover themselves.

I have a large plastic tub filled with a mix of compost and sand in the corner of their run for them.

They have plenty of places to dust bathe really, their run has sand in it and the sunniest part of their garden has a patch of sand for them.

aonb

Iyaibeji wrote: »

This place say they sell it, but im still waiting for a reply to my email re the cost
http://www.organicanimalfeeds.ie/diatomaceous-earth/

Yes my ladies love their dust baths. They love digging holes and getting in to cover themselves.

I have a large plastic tub filled with a mix of compost and sand in the corner of their run for them.

They have plenty of places to dust bathe really, their run has sand in it and the sunniest part of their garden has a patch of sand for them.

thanks for that. From what Ive read, I dont think I would use diatom. earth exclusively for a wormer, but it sounds like its definately a good idea to add to the hens dustbath. Let us know if Willow Farm reply to your email

Cabaal

Guys I'm curious of your thoughts on this coop,
I'm looking at 2-3 hens, don't have a massive garden but will be leaving them out in the evenings and when we're around,

I would have loved to opt for the eglu as easier clean out but its beyond my budget



Here's a much much much larger picture of it
http://undermangoes.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/img_2590.jpg

aonb

Caball, the coop looks really cute, but there isnt enough space for two hens to be cooped (!) up in there all day...even if you are planning on letting them out in the evenings. You would be better off to get just a henhouse/coop and build a bigger run if at all possible.

These manufactured coop/run units are so tiny its ridiculous. The hens end up stressed, bullying, feather-plucking etc etc. But thats my opinion. We wasted money on an 'ark/coop' set up many years ago, we soon realized that its too small and ended up building a huge walk in run, so everyones happy now.

Iyaibeji

I agree.
They really do not have enough space for the amount of birds they specify.
I have one similar to this and we used pallets and wire to extend the size of the run.

I have since detached the coop and hooked it up to a much bigger enclosed run but if i want to get more hens i'll have to get a bigger coop.

Just to let you know, those coops are very flimsy, the roof on mine was one that opened and it literally blew off one night.

There is a chap in laois selling really fantastic coops, so sturdy and well made, and they are a similar price, if not cheaper, than the one in your pic.
He makes runs too.
He trades as bramblefarmpoultryandhousing.com

Iyaibeji

The reply i got from willow tree is
"... Thanks for contacting us, there are three grades of D/E human grade for internal parasites and general well being pest grade for all external parasites flees ticks bedbugs etc and animal feed grade for external parasites, cost of each human €12 per kilo pest €8 per kilo and animal €10 per kilo
Delivery is €8 for up to 30kg..... "

I asked them what grade is suitable for use with chickens and they said pest grade.

bluecherry74

I was looking at those type of coops when I first started researching this chicken keeping lark. I eventually decided to get a much larger run built, mainly on the advice of aonb and others on here.

I think those small coops are tempting because they're inexpensive and don't take up half your garden, but they are a bit unfair on the chickens. I'm paying someone to build me a run because I'm useless at DIY, but if you're any way handy you could build one quite cheaply. A roll of chain link isn't very expensive - I'm using something like this for my run:
http://wireandfencedepot.ie/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_5&products_id=25

And as Iyaibeji suggested you can use old pallets for the posts which you could probably pick up for free easily enough.

If you're definitely going to go for one of the small all-in-one coops, I would look at something Irish made. The one you posted looks like an imported kit to me and might not withstand our weather too well. I was originally looking at one of these - they start at €145 and you can get an extra 6 ft extension for €50.
http://chickencoopsireland.com/gpage.html

gramar

Very interesting thread as I'm thinking of getting a few chickens too.
I built a dog run but he's not in there very often so I could use it for the
chickens. It's about 220sq foot and has 5ft plastified chain link all around
so there's no problem there from what I've read in terms of space and containing them.
The question I have is about the size of the dog kennel and the perch inside.
The space inside is 3 foot by 3 foot and the same height. Is that big enough for 3-4 chickens?
Is it as simple as fixing a pole from one side to the other or do they each need
their own little box inside?