The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: spandit on February 20, 2015, 04:40:35 pm

Title: Chickens in a stable?
Post by: spandit on February 20, 2015, 04:40:35 pm

Further to my previous question, the area where we want to put chickens is next to some wood stables which aren't being used for anything. If I cut a hatch in the back of one of them, would this be suitable for chickens or would it be too big?

Title: Re: Chickens in a stable?
Post by: HesterF on February 20, 2015, 04:49:57 pm

Would have thought it would be perfect! My parents used to keep them in the attic :-)

Title: Re: Chickens in a stable?
Post by: Womble on February 20, 2015, 05:39:43 pm

It sounds ideal!  As long as you can make it predator proof, what more could they want?

Title: Re: Chickens in a stable?
Post by: sokel on February 20, 2015, 05:58:34 pm

We used to keep all of ours in a 15x15 stable until we had to demolish it to make room for the Big goat shed.
They where locked in at night and free ranged during the day.

Title: Re: Chickens in a stable?
Post by: sabrina on February 20, 2015, 06:20:03 pm

I keep mine in a stable and they are fine.

Title: Re: Chickens in a stable?
Post by: kelly58 on February 20, 2015, 06:33:32 pm

Kept mine in one, but it means more area to muck out and clean.  :chook:

Title: Re: Chickens in a stable?
Post by: nutterly_uts on February 20, 2015, 08:04:04 pm

Loads of ideas on pinterest for this - a lot of people have nesting boxes at one end, straw or similar on the floor, and then a staggered roosting perch system with a sand dropping perch for minimal cleaning out day to day - looked amazing

Title: Re: Chickens in a stable?
Post by: lord flynn on February 20, 2015, 08:05:24 pm

brilliant place for them, if I didn't have horses in mine I would use it for that!

Title: Re: Chickens in a stable?
Post by: devonlady on February 20, 2015, 08:57:00 pm

My girls should be so lucky ;D :chook:

Title: Re: Chickens in a stable?
Post by: spandit on February 21, 2015, 08:06:39 am

Can chickens & pigs coexist?

Title: Re: Chickens in a stable?
Post by: Clarebelle on February 21, 2015, 08:48:21 am

My chickens went in the field with the pigs all the time and the pigs ignored them. I don't know what they would be like shut up together at night though. I guess if the roost is high up enough the pigs won't bother the hens but you might find the pigs bedding getting dirty from above, depending where perches are etc.?

Title: Re: Chickens in a stable?
Post by: ballingall on February 21, 2015, 06:23:36 pm

Quote from: spandit on February 21, 2015, 08:06:39 am

Can chickens & pigs coexist?

I wouldn't risk it personally. Pigs are omnivores.

Title: Re: Chickens in a stable?
Post by: Stereo on February 22, 2015, 02:28:31 pm

I don't think pigs will hurt chickens during the day but if they can get to them at night they might eat them. Chickens don't move once they have roosted and if they happened to nest down on the floor they are unlikely to escape a hungry pig. I've heard of this happening before.

Title: Re: Chickens in a stable?
Post by: spandit on February 22, 2015, 10:12:17 pm

Separate accommodation it is then!

Title: Re: Chickens in a stable?
Post by: Clansman on February 23, 2015, 09:11:28 am

The eggs certainly wouldn't survive living with pigs  :thumbsup: