Do chickens need a run in the sun?

stickywicket · « **on:** September 25, 2007, 09:20 »

I am new to this forum so please bear with me

.

I am considering getting 3 chickens primarily as pets for my children so egg production is not my priority but would be a bonus. Can anyone recommend a breed?

I would like something which can be easily tamed so the children can pick them up and hand feed etc (children aged 8 and 10 so fairly confident about this )
Also I don't have a lot of room so presumably a small breed would be best.
I would like a fairly quiet sort of a bird so as not to disturb neighbours too much (though my neighbours have chickens as well - silkies which seem pretty quiet I have to say but they don't seem very tame) but they are not handled much.)
Finally I would like a hardy breed so I'm not off to the vet all the time :cry: .

Am I too fussy or will something fit the bill?

Secondly I have 2 possible locations for them of reasonable size both approx 6ft x 20ft. Both are fairly shady but one more so than the other as it is underneath some conifer trees. Do chickens need much sun?

Thirdly can you recommend a good chicken house (small and easy to get access to clean out)

Sorry to go on so much but look forward to any advice you can give me

Thanks

agapanthus · « **Reply #1 on:** September 25, 2007, 10:24 »

Pekin bantam are a good breed...they are very friendly. As for the run, mine is south-facing but I have a removable screen where the choox can go behind if it is too warm.
As for hardiness, I think they are all sucesptable to the usual chicken ailments. As long as they have the right food, grit, oyster shell, fresh water, fresh greens and their housing is kept clean they should keep healthy...not forgetting worming and dusting.
Housing can be very expensive so I made a hen-house out of marine ply. There are lots of designs to choose from on-line and you should be able to find plans too.
I hope this helps.

muntjac · « **Reply #2 on:** September 25, 2007, 11:30 »

welcome to the gang sticky

cant add to the above .other than they will roost in the conifers given chance :roll:

richyrich7 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 25, 2007, 12:31 »

Just saying Hi and welcome

Celtic Eagle · « **Reply #4 on:** September 25, 2007, 12:39 »

Now thats' an idea hadn't thought of using Marine ply to make a coop.

Ta Aggy

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #5 on:** September 25, 2007, 12:48 »

I think chickens like a bit of sunshine. Mine love to sunbathe for a few minutes. It is good for them to - vitamin D is produced in the oil on their feathers which they then absorb when preening, it aids calcium uptake. The must however have shade from the sun too. Mine especially like some shelter from the wind on blustery days.

I have an eglu, which is suitable for 2-4 birds (6-7 bantams I think), it is simplicity itself to maintain and clean.

http://www.omlet.co.uk/products_services/products_services.php

muntjac · « **Reply #6 on:** September 25, 2007, 12:50 »

eglu ,,,,,,,,anty plug

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #7 on:** September 25, 2007, 12:51 »

I will convert the world of pet hens Munty :roll:

Celtic Eagle · « **Reply #8 on:** September 25, 2007, 12:57 »

Would dappled shade under trees be OK ?

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #9 on:** September 25, 2007, 13:01 »

Quote from: "Celtic Eagle"

Would dappled shade under trees be OK ?

I'm sure it would. Chickens were originally jungle fowl and enjoy the cover, but a few pools of sunlight to bathe in would be welcome.

bean · « **Reply #10 on:** September 25, 2007, 13:04 »

Hi Sticky Wicket,

I am new to the site and to chicken keeping too. We got our 4 girls 3 weeks ago, 1 Barbu D'Uccle, 1 Silkie, 1 Silver Dorking and 1 Cochin (a bit of a variety!). I was advised that the Barbu D'Uccle would be very tame and she certainly is. She is very small, but will eat from my kids' hands and sit on their laps and is by far the easiest to catch

. The silkie is very flappy :!: (technical chicken term there) and the other 2 tend to peck quite hard when they eat from your hand. She is only 13 weeks so don't know what egg production is going to be like but I would guess very small and not in huge numbers.

I have been lurking around the site for quite a while so thanks to all the newbies who have asked all the questions I wanted to ask, and for all the great advice from everybody.

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #11 on:** September 25, 2007, 13:06 »

Welcome bean. Keep posting

muntjac · « **Reply #12 on:** September 25, 2007, 13:14 »

yups welcome young bean

stickywicket · « **Reply #13 on:** September 25, 2007, 14:53 »

Great. Thanks for all your advice so far keep it coming!

It seems to me that the most expensive bit and the area where the biggest mistake could be made is in the choice of house/run. I have been looking on the net and as usual, with anything I seem to research, there is a bewildering array of choice out there and loads of opinions :?

Would like to hear what people out there find good/bad about their choice.

I like the idea of a raised up house - room underneath for chickens to run about and saves getting a stiff back at cleaning out time?

muntjac · « **Reply #14 on:** September 25, 2007, 15:40 »

save money and build it yourself use these plans and im sure you will be fine.
http://www.goldcockerelbooks.co.uk/bookpage.cfm?booknumber=11&source=GoogleSelect&keyword=chicken%20coops&gclid=CJKoirTr3o4CFRdHEAod62dcNw

i have a copy and its great for little chicken coops

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