hens for my dad's birthday

chavro

Hi there,

Looking for some advice please about getting a few hens as a surprise for my dad. He's a cattle farmer, so has plenty of land & a few spare small sheds. He's 70, so don't want to give him too much work, but I think he'd love a few fresh eggs every morning

*Should I buy a readymade chicken coop, with a small fenced in run? Would the hens just sleep in here, but want to be let out to roam around during the day?

*Or would they be happy in an old shed? Would the shed need to be kitted out with nesting/laying areas or would an open shed with some straw on the floor be grand, & they do their own thing? Would they spend all day in there, or I presume they need to be let out during the day to roam around, & back in at night?

*Do hens lay all year round? Stupid question probably, but are they ok in a coop/shed in the winter?

*Another stupid question! Will our cat go after them? Or will she be more scared of them?

Any advice appreciated, no matter how obvious! Thanks.

Nekarsulm

xxx

chavro wrote: »

Hi there,

Looking for some advice please about getting a few hens as a surprise for my dad. He's a cattle farmer, so has plenty of land & a few spare small sheds. He's 70, so don't want to give him too much work, but I think he'd love a few fresh eggs every morning

*Should I buy a readymade chicken coop, with a small fenced in run? Would the hens just sleep in here, but want to be let out to roam around during the day?
Depends on his set-up. As long as he has a small shed that's fox proof, there is no need to go buying specialist coops. The price of some of them would keep you in eggs for a couple of years.

*Or would they be happy in an old shed? Would the shed need to be kitted out with nesting/laying areas or would an open shed with some straw on the floor be grand, & they do their own thing? Would they spend all day in there, or I presume they need to be let out during the day to roam around, & back in at night?
He would need a roost nailed up for them, and a nesting area. They will be happy to mooch around the yard all day long. Get them used to feeding in the evening, and they will come running to the shed, then he can shut them in. A half dozen hens will be lots, he'll soon be giving eggs away.

*Do hens lay all year round? Stupid question probably, but are they ok in a coop/shed in the winter?
Probably get 4 to 5 eggs per hen per week. They may take a break from time to time. Get "second hand" hens from a laying unit, and they will lay away happily for a few years.

*Another stupid question! Will our cat go after them? Or will she be more scared of them?
If the cat is a real hunter, she might. Most don't bother.Have a small bucket of water ready when you introduce her to the hens, and if she makes a move, drench her. All you can do really.......

Any advice appreciated, no matter how obvious! Thanks.

Future Farmer

Hi,

Hens are easy kept.

You could pick him up 5 hens and a cockerel for c€70.

An old shed is better than a hen house you could buy to be honest, as a shed has walls and is probably easier cleaned!

All you need is a roost and a few laying boxes 3-4 will do you.

They stop laying during the winter, but you'll get 280 - 300 eggs a hen a year.

Don't worry about the cat.

Breeds I would go with would be: Rhode Island Red, Light Sussex, Welsummer, Bluebell, Cuckoo Maran, Barnevelder.

I would avoid Bantams as they tend to be a bit flighty.

Also hens hatched in an incubator tend not to hatch out their own chicks.

tradhead

Just came across this charity, something to consider maybe when sourcing the hens?

https://www.sites.google.com/site/lasthopeanimalcharity2/about-us

"Once again Last Hope are working alongside Littlehill Animal Rescue & Sanctuary to help save 7500 battery hens destined for slaughter. Our volunteers will be travelling to the battery on November 22nd & delivering to various collection points. Our convoy will be coming to a town near you (Mullingar, Delvin, Athboy, Kells, Navan, Trim, Dunboyne). It's not to late to place an order for some hens of your own - just private message us or email lasthopequeries@gmail.com. There is a charge of €4 per hen (as we need to cover transport costs, feed & pay the farmer). We will also be rescuing extra hens for anybody that would like to take some but can't make it to the collection points on the day. There will be a €5 charge on these hens due to the extra feed needed."

Nekarsulm

I wouldn't get a cockerel, not if you plan to eat the eggs............

Future Farmer

Nekarsulm wrote: »

I wouldn't get a cockerel, not if you plan to eat the eggs............

Why?

I have always been under the impression eating fertile eggs is ok...

Nekarsulm

Future Farmer wrote: »

Why?

You want to be breaking a fertilized egg onto the pan?

Nekarsulm

And anyway, 1) Who needs a cockerel beating up the hens
2) If she is sitting on a nest of eggs, she won't be laying for the house.

Future Farmer

It makes no difference!!!

The embryo doesn't start to grow until it's incubated!

Nekarsulm

Future Farmer wrote: »

It makes no difference!!!

The embryo doesn't start to grow until it's incubated!

I stand corrected! never realised that, FF.:)

Future Farmer

It's nice to have chicks about the place...

It's nice to have a cockerel!!!

aonb

Breaking a fertilized egg will at most have a tiny blood spot.

Having a cockeral has advantages and disadvantages. A good cockeral will 'mind' his girls - there will be no bullying amongst the hens (often a serious problem) - he will herd them in at night to their coop/shed.

If you have less than 5 hens (IMO) I wouldnt have a cockeral

I would say yes to a shed over a coop. If you get some wooden fruit boxes from your local greengrocer, and line with a bit of straw, that would be fine. A few perches as someone mentioned - a few thinish branches nailed at a couple of different heights would be fine. I would scatter a bit of straw or sawdust or something around to make a bit of bedding/litter (to help with the poo!)

You should consider water and feed hoppers - or similar. The feeders should be taken in at night to deter rats.

Keep them in the shed for at least a day or two so that they will know its home - if you have a light in the shed, or a window to provide some light Then when you let them out, they will return to the shed in the evening. Make sure that when you open the door of the shed, that they are allowed to wander out by themselves/in their own time. (You might have to encourage them to go back in the first or 2nd night!)

chavro

Thanks for all the advice.

I think I'll forget about getting a coop so & just try to use one of his sheds. I think there's one with a window, but the glass might be gone. Would I need to put chicken wire on that to keep foxes out?

I think I'll get 4 birds. Should I get all the same breed or mix it up? No rooster though -chicks would be lovely but probably too much hassle for him to sell on.

What feed should I buy to get him started?

Thanks again.

Nekarsulm

A bag of "Layers Mash" or ask the seller what feed they were on. Don't forget they love potato skins (cooked)!

chavro

P.S. Been looking on donedeal etc & a bit confused by the variety of ads! Am I looking for pullets? Point of lay hens? Thanks.

Nekarsulm

I would buy from someone who is changing their layers for a fresh batch. Its a great lease of life for them, rather than end up in a packet of Chicken Soup. Point of lay pullets can take a while to start laying, they may not be as near "point of lay" as they are being advertised as! and the change of surroundings/travel can upset them.

I will PM you the number of a friend who has free range hens, and sell off the old ladies every year or so. They are Leinster based.

aonb

If there is no glass in the window DEFINATELY put chicken wire over it!

The best layers are hybrids - Rhode Island Reds are good - and are tough little birds. If you are getting 4, you could get different breeds - the pure breeds tend to lay less but are prettier, they tend to not lay over winter too though.

I would get Point of Lay (POL) - yes they may not be as far on as the advertiser says if you are using donedeal etc, but they will soon come in to lay. SInce its winter now, you should probably get Hybrid POL's which might start laying sooner, as the Pure Breeds often stop laying over the winter... Go to look at them - they should have a bit of a comb - (and it shouldnt be too pale) if there is hardly any comb at all, they are very young and I would avoid. Their eyes should be bright and clear, their feathers tidy and clean. There should be no drooping wings or dirty nostrils/eyes. They should be alert and pecking about. No hunching, heads in necks or lying down! (Apologies if you know all this!)

Get their feed from someplace local to your father - so that he can buy the same brand. A bag of layers pellets will do 4 hens for a couple months. I would buy a bag of mixed grain too - your dad could give them a handful each in the evening (in the shed) - it'll keep them 'warm' during the cold nights. Get the nest boxes set up as soon as they arrive. Get their water bowls and feeders in there too when they arrive.

I hope your dad enjoys having them - they are great 'company' (!!! I love my hens!!!) and a good hobby - especially when its all new! There are lists on the internet of foods hens should NOT be given, that u could print out for him. Leftovers (not meat or anything salty) can be given to the hens (after they have eaten their pellets) - cooked rice/pasta/potatos/cabbage/veg are very popular. Tomatos and most (non-citric) fruits are gobbled up. But the best food for them is the Layers Pellets - balanced nutrition for hens in lay.

Nekarsulm

aonb wrote: »

I hope your dad enjoys having them - they are great 'company' (!!! I love my hens!!!) and a good hobby - especially when its all new! QUOTE]

This is very true, they are very easy to "pet" and can have wildly different personalities. My little girl trained one to sit on her shoulder while she rode her tricycle round the yard. She reckoned it was a Pirate hen!:D

chavro

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I got four RIRs for my dad & he's delighted! A few eggs already ðŸ˜႒

Joemassey

thats great, hens have such great character, a few people mentioned layers mesh and pellets, i generally prefer the pellets i find less waste, also its a bit late now as you already have eggs but i wouldnt start them on layer pellets until you get eggs, keep them on growers pellets until you get eggs,