Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: RichardA on November 19, 2009, 18:43

Title: Keeping chickens - is there a good book available out there please
Post by: RichardA on November 19, 2009, 18:43

Can anyone please suggest a good book on keeping a few chickens in the garden at home. We have done well with 6 ducks and want to make an informed decision on adding about 6 to 12 chickens. They will have to share a pen around 20 metres square and a large hut for nights with the ducks.
Would probably buy in at POL rather than rear our own.
First question that struck me was ducks sleep on the floor and chickens roost above so does that mean ducks wake up with very messy heads in a morning -- hardly fair -- can I put a shelf under the roost etc.
Alternatively if they have a house each how on earth do you keep each out of wrong sleeping space ????????
Lots of questions - hence need for  a good book to read over the winter.
R

Title: Re: Keeping chickens - is there a good book available out there please
Post by: mumsy on November 19, 2009, 20:15

Hi
Katie Thear's book is excellent, think it may be available on here in the allotment shop.......IMO ( although I do not have ducks ) separate sheds would be the way to go
Good Luck

Title: Re: Keeping chickens - is there a good book available out there please
Post by: RichardA on November 19, 2009, 21:25

many thanks and I doa gree and I am more than willing to build an extra shed but how do you make sure ducks go in to their own shed and chickens go into their shed if they have both had the run of the available space ????????????
I don't really want to halve the run space as well.
R
Sudden Brain wave do I put a moat around the duck shed and only a tiny pop hole on the chickens one !!
Surely this has been solved before - help someone please
R

Title: Re: Keeping chickens - is there a good book available out there please
Post by: karlooben on November 19, 2009, 21:32

if you ever need help stick to this forum  :lol: the peeps on here really know thier stuff an they are all wonderfull  :D

Title: Re: Keeping chickens - is there a good book available out there please
Post by: mumsy on November 20, 2009, 13:34

My only experience with ducks is on my SIL's farm, we had to round them up every night to get them into their house.  When you get your chooks, its suggested that you keep them in their coop for 24 hours so they know thats their new home, they go to bed all by themselves at dusk.

Title: Re: Keeping chickens - is there a good book available out there please
Post by: Grassilakes on November 21, 2009, 22:56

I like the book Urban hen by Paul Peacock (yes that is the name honest) Its published by How to books at £9.99. I first got it from the library but invested in my own copy