Planning to start keeping chooks - Some questions I have...

Hi everyone.

We are planning to keep 5 or 6 hens for their eggs. This will be a first time for us and I have a small plot of land at the end of the garden that I am going to completely fence off. It will measure approx 5mtr by 2.5mtr and I will also fence the roof to prevent cats etc getting in.

We are looking at getting a hen house from Albany pets for them to shelter and lay in which will be within the contained area.

My first issue is that because we both work long hours, during the winter months (from about September onwards) we leave before it is light and return after dark. Because of this, we need the hens to freely “sort themselves out”, i.e. let themselves out in the morning and put themselves away once it is dark. Obviously we will ensure, once we are home, that they have plenty of food and water.

I am afraid that the chooks will need to be a little bit self sufficient some mornings.

Do they need to be locked in at night? Is that for their protection from predators or more for warmth?

Bearing that in mind, what chickens are better suited to that environment? Our first thought was to go for battery rescue, but maybe they will need more TLC as they have never had to fend for themselves.

Also has anyone had any experience of Albany pet supplies? Are the coops any good? Any recommendations for me based on the above?

I am sure there will be further questions to be asked – but thanks if these can be answered.

John

Unless yours is a very secure run and coop, yes you will have to lock them up. However they'll usually tell you when it's time to get up after a few weeks (cluck cluck cluuuuuuuk) so i've been told and will go inside when they want. Chickens can handle cold, but they don't like it with draughts.

Personally i just got three of the lovely *, but wouldn't consider getting them if i knew i wouldn't be able to care for them.

Hi John welcome to the forums  

Why so many hens ? 3-4 would probably suffice for most family's  they could give you 21+ eggs a week , the more room you give them the happier they will be, hens need a few minutes each day just to check they are all right good health etc. but apart from that they are usually quite happy doing their own thing .

Invest in an automated pop hole, this can be set to open and close at certain times so that if the chickens are in bed before you get in from work they will be safe in their coop, you can them double check them and lock their pen up.  I have one of these and its brilliant as my chooks go to bed about 4pm in the Winter and I know they are locked in safe.  I am lucky that my partner works at home a few days a week and I am usually here the days he is away so we are always about to allow them to free range.  The odd day we are both out they are kept locked in a fairly large pen, but we and our neighbours suffer, they spend the whole day shouting to be let out and jumping up at the door which makes me feel SO GUILTY!  I think it may depend on the breed you choose, I have black rocks and they love human company, I need to spend a proportion of my time with them on a daily basis to keep them happy as they love sitting on my lap, having a stroke and generally being with me.  Some breeds may not be as 'needy', so check.  I am no expert so can't help but there are many on this site that I am sure will advise.  Good luck whatever your decision!

Planner, I want to add a possitive note to the thread. We are lucky enough that at the moment there is usually one of us around during the day and always am and pm to let out/lock in. However, chickens like any other pet/animal to some extent will have to work around their owners. We can't always provide the "perfect" chicken environment...but it will always be 110% better that what they could be enduring in any intensive set up. Yep, we're always around but we can't always bring ourselves to drag ourselves out of bed first thing on a sat/sun morning, and yes, sometime we get that sinking feeling after being sucked in by Big Brother or other trash on the TV and realise it's after 10 and the chooks are still out!

Anyway...everyone, whether they work long hours or whatever has to think practically about keeping chooks. But, if you've thought, and you still want to do it, then go for it...they will cope, they are animals, programmed to survive without human interference and as long as you have done your best to ensure they are safe while you're not around...let's face it, they won't even notice you have gone!

It's simple really, secure run, plenty of food & water, they'll sort themselves out! Oh yeah, and don't forget to spoil them at the weekend  

Thanks all - The run that they will be in will be as fox proof as possible. I am investing in some livestock netting for the first metre up, so unless the foxes are equiped with quality side cutters they aint getting through that. Then all of the sides and roof will be covered with standard 1mm dia 25x13mm mesh.
The intention is to make it fox, dog and rat proof.

More so my original question was regarding, considering that they are in this enclosed enviroment, it is about their own personal comfort with the coop door left open all the time. I understand from freecyclegardner they don't like draughts so I need to improvise in the winter.

With regards to my other two questions,
Albany pet supplies - any comments?
Should I go for battery rescue or another breed

I have no experience of ex batts although I understand they require lots of tlc and there can be a high fatality rate.  As I was new to chicken keeping I went for a hardy bird that is as 'disease resistant' as possible - Black Rocks.  Thought that it would be a good start whilst i was learning.  There are so many around I think you need to decide what you are looking for and match your needs to the breed or hybrid.

wow what a bargain   mu hubbie is outside slaving away on our new hen house and the wood cost way more than that!!i dont think i will show him this!  well done