[OscarInnes]

Hi everybody  - i hope some of you out there will be able to provide a little sound advice to a first timer!  My first chicken coop is arriving on Monday - Sussex type with attached run from chickencoops direct.  Does anyone have this type? what are the pro's and cons and what do you think are the ideal number of chickens for this coop - i plan on having average/medium sized layers.  Also i would be grateful if you could advise me on the ideal backgarden chickens.  I have about 80m square for them to roam in when i let them out of the run.  There is no fancy border planting to worry about - just rough grass and a couple of conifers and i will be planting a few fruit trees, so i dont mind a good deal of scratching around by the hens although i've heard that ranger birds (rhode island x sussex light cross?) can be quite devastating! The reason i am considering ranger birds is that a local girl is selling them and she offers a free holiday service which is very tempting as i'm not sure i would want to rely on neighbours at holiday times.  I would love to hear from those with advice to offer..............

[Casey76]

Hi there... sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but your chicken coop isn't actually suitable for large fowl birds

Well, theoretically, you can fit 4 birds on the inside (based up on 12ins of roosting space each), but the "run" provided isn't big enough for one bird.

I have a house very similar to the Sussex, and I have used it as an isolation house for two Sabelpoots (true bantams, about the size of a small pigeon), and I wouldn't put anything bigger in it.

To make use of the house, I would suggest you build a semi permanent run around it - you need at least 1sqm per bird, preferably two or three, and you also need space for feeders and drinkers, a dust bath (sheltered from the elements) and perching items.

Be warned that almost all hens will scratch up your grass within weeks - the feather footed breeds decrease this a little, but they have thier own problems?

My advice would be to get a couple or three production hybrids (ISA browns/ BlackRocks etc)  They are fairly hardy, and fairly forgiving for novice handlers.  They also tend not to drop dead at a whim (which hens can do - just to upset you  )

Oooh, I'm sounding terrible negative, and I don't really mean it at all!  If you can buy or borrow a copy of "The Haynes Chicken Manual"  an excellent resource to novices, and it should answer a lot of your questions

With a little modification, you should be able to keep three chickens quite happily in your garden.

[GrannieAnnie]

Hi Oscar, I would like to add to what Casey said too.  Re the fruit trees.  We had 2 plum trees in the big chicken run.  Our White Amberlinks never bothered with them, but then we got some Babcock B380's, brown hens and they pecked all the bark off and killed one tree, so I had to put wire around the other one to protect it from them.

[OscarInnes]

Thanks for getting back.   According to the blurb on the coop there is 1.6 m square approx of run - this would only be utilised first thing in the morning for 1/2 hour to an hour and thereafter the hens would be free to roam the garden space.  I'm not worried about the hens damaging the grass as it is at the moment only rough ground anyway and i would rather have happy hens than a perfect lawn!  I would just prefer to have birds that are not totally destructive (if poss)  that will leave my backgarden like glastonbury on a bad year!  With regard to the fruit trees - they will definately be protected at the base as i will be buying fairly young trees

[orchardlady]

That sounds fine if you are going to free range your birds. I keep my hens in a field and would not let them roam my garden but then I like my garden! They do scuff up the land quite thoroughly but if you are not worried that's fine. I think all chickens do roughly the same amount of scratching.

OL

[sheridan]

I have three hybrids in a similar house, but with an extra run also attached. They are in until I get back from playgroups etc with the kids, at about 12, then they have 3-4 hours running in the garden. They haven't caused too much damage, and have left the trees right alone, but the grass has been pecked to death, leaving only moss...... on the plus side, they do eat lots of grubs and creepies, hoping for no solomons seal sawfly this year!

My hybrids are tough as old boots, started laying in September 1 a day and haven't stopped, plus they are docile, friendly, and really easy to care for.

I have posted on here with a list of plants mine left alone, mostly herbs.

[rachelr]

my birds have destroyed my garden. I have no snowdrops etc left they eat the bulbs or dig them up. They have destroyed a lot of my shrubs. I have no worries but a friend of mine has golden brahmas and they dont scratch at all her garden is beautiful

[taximan]

4warrens,2silkies,2gold wyndott,2silverwyndott, 60x30 garden absolutley wrecked.its like a lunar landscape