Chickens

[bunique]

Hello!

Does anyone here keep chickens? We're considering getting a few ex-battery hens in the next local 'rescue'. Seems more people than I'd realised have chickens lurking in their back gardens, so was wondering if there was any experiences to share on here!

[Spindles]

Hi, my neighbour (and now also 2 of my friends) keeps chickens in his back yard (and I think they might come in the kitchen from time to time). I have absolutely nothing more to add than that, sadly. I like them, they look cool, they have come to an understanding with my cats that seems to work.

[bunique]

So my hope of them putting the local cats off shitting in our garden is unfounded?! Bah!

[lharris92]

best bet is to get a pen that is caged, otherwise foxes will be lurking.

as for putting off cats, no idea.

[bunique]

Yep, been doing oodles of research on secure coops. Foxes don't seem to be as bit a problem as the parasites chickens seem to attract. Nice.

[Spindles]

My cats don't go in and poop in their garden for sure, but they do nip through the garden they are in. Chickens are more than capable of defending themselves against a cat and as soon as cats figure this out they keep the feck away. The chickens occasionally get into my garden, there's yet to be any incident, when it happens the cats keep away/stay inside.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

A colleague at work bought some chickens and an anti fox cage to keep them in at night. Result - the fox dug under the cage (which was already dug some way down into the ground) and ate the chickens. His wife was in bits about it apparently. Just telling you this so you know to protect the underneath of any cage you may use. I suppose a timber hut for them to be in at night might be a better option.

[Uncle Liam]

When the girl wonder gets a little older... earplugs.

[bunique]

When the girl wonder gets a little older... earplugs.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Girl Wonder - I love that!

Do you mean for the hens? They don't seem to be as bad as cockerels. They're right noisy bastards by all accounts.

Thanks YoS - have been reading lots about runs/coops. Plan is a recycled Eco raised hen loft in a metal run across the bottom of the garden, paved in and out with a buried skirt of wire underneath to prevent digging and mesh up the side to stop them getting their snouts through and pulling the hens out. And a roof. But ultimately a determined fox will find a way - circle of life and all that!

Anyway, there's an asbestos shed to dispose of before any of that so sadly the chooks will have to wait!

[bunique]

Absolutely - leaving that one to the professionals!!