[Cass]

Hello folks, Im thinking of having chickens in my garden and have been browsing the omlet website and this website and picked up a few hints and tips, but have a few typically novice questions to ask.  Can anyone help me please?  Do chickens attract rats?  I have a 4foot fence diving my garden with the neighbours - will the chickens be able to hop up onto it and get over?  Do I need any sort of licence?  I am so exited at the prospect of having a couple of chooks 'out back' and I want to get everything just so before the big arrival!

Cass
(Worcester)

[Kate and her Ducks]

Welcome and well done for planning ahead. Much easier than sorting out problems later.  There is loads of advice in the poultry info section and it is definately worth reading through.
To answer a couple of questions:
Yes the chickens (or really the feed) can attract rats so keep things clean and be prepared to deal with any infestations that might occur.
No you don't need a liscence but some properties have limitations in the deeds as to whether you can keep poultry.
yes they will clear 4 foot in a heart beat, probably even if wingclipped!

(Have you thought about ducks , they wouldn't be anywhere near as likely to!)

[azubah]

I keep my hen food in a dustbin to keep it dry and away from rats, and sweep up any spills every night. I haven't actually seen a rat since I started keeping hens.

[wadz81]

We got four little warrens in october and as yet no problems (fingers crossed!) But everyone on here will tell you, be warned they are addictive! Such lovely little things, we were worried about the noise so asked the direct neighbours first and they were really excited, one side are always watching them. We have more now and I spend alot of time talking to them in the garden. Everyone on here are very helpful and there is always someone to give you advice don't think we would of coped without the support would of worried our selves to death still do! But ENJOY!

[leebou]

hi cass
you will get no more rats than your next door neighbour feeding wild bird seed .So dont let them give you that old chestnut 
Lee

[matilda duck]

Hi and welcome to the mad house.....You will find us all very friendly  and helpfull,

Metal dustbins are the best for keeping food in as rats can't chew through them!!!!  You wont get rats if you have good houskeeping with poultry.  Always clean up spillages and remove eggs as soon as possible. 

You are right though Leebou, feeding birds is the main reason for rats!!!!

[Cass]

Thank you for all of your replies.  Very helpful.  Better get some trellis up at the 4 foot fence!!!  Going to look at different types of coop this weekend - how exiting!!!!

[chicklit]

Hello! I'm pretty new here too, welcome. Just as a thought, lots of others on here will tell you, you are better getting a shed and converting that if you have the space. We paid a fortune for our hen house on fleabay and although lovely, we ended up getting more chickens than it can house. It's much easier to just walk in standing up to get the eggs and clean out. And much cheaper too. We're just about to replace our hen house and two converted rabbit hutches (which the hens prefer to lay in than the coop anyway) for a 6' x 4' shed.

[Kate and her Ducks]

I also converted a garden storage chest and they much preferred it to the vastly more expensive ark they had had before that.