[Landys2]

Hi all, 

Im looking for some advice, if anyone can help me.

At the moment we are doing all the normal self efficiency things like, 2 allotments, re use water, rubbish so on. Now we would like to keep some chickens for some eggs, and we have a few questions.

1)  Do you need planning or any other kind of permition from the council to keep the birds in our garden?

2) We have an area of about 10ft x 9ft that im going to grass to keep them. How many would that take?

3) What is the best grass seed to put down?

Any help would be great.

John

[andreadon]

1: depends on what your lease/deeds says - if it's privately owned you're usually okay, but landlords can put clauses in.
always tell you're neighbours what you're planning!

2: you have 2.77m x 3.07 m - we always recommend 2sqm per bird, which for you is 8.5sq m, so 4 birds.
(the house must have 1sq ft per bird for sleeping and a nest box)

3: good luck with growing grass in that area, the chooks will dig it up in no time!
but try rye grass as it grows quickly.

ps hello and welcome!

[Landys2]

the house belongs to surrey county council !

[EggBound]

I keep 3 chickens in 10' x 8' and they seem quite happy.  I wouldn't bother with grass - they will destroy it in no time - I just give them fresh greenstuffs every day to compensate.

The only mention of chickens on my local council's website was in relation to keeping them on council run allotments.  I checked my neighbours had no objection and went for it.  Have a look at your council's website or your tenancy agreement - I know the local council here has objections to 'exotic pets' eg. snakes, lizards etc in council owned properties, but not as far as I know chickens.

[Roughlee Handled]

It has been a problem for few users on here and one couple I read of in the paper.  You will need to check your tenancy agreement as EggBound  says.  Best check than at worse evicted.