[ming]

Am considering keeping chickens, will be Springtime before I get any though. Will take the winter to think and ask and research , if I could pick your excellent brains    Have kept, flown, and reared hawks so used to birds but only meat eaters 
I have a bit about 12x8 that was used for tatties, is sheltered behind nextdoor's shed and my shed.  It gets sun in the afternoons and evenings.We live high on moors in a very cold windy place so this spot is as good as it gets in my back gdn.
There's only the two of us so I thought 2 hens - is this a good idea - will be warm and cosy if only two?
Has anybody ever tried these EGLU things at fantastic money - are they worth it? ( Husband screamed and fainted when I showed him the price lol)
What is best for the run that's easily washable with a jet hose ?
And finally what breeds would be tough and hardy and yet lay a reasonable amount of eggs ?
many thanks and all excited waiting for answers now! 

[bamford6]

the onley breed that would love that place black rock .i would go for 3 the pen second hand shed free paper job done the breed The Black Rock (sex link) is a sex linked Hybrid bred from two specific strains of natural breeds of birds, the Rhode Island Red (male line) and the Barred Plymouth Rock. It is the inherent natural characteristic derived from these strains, together with its Hybrid breeding which makes the Black Rock, that have been scrupulously preserved by not selecting for a few specific traits or fads, as has been the case with other Hybrid breeders. In breeding there comes a stage where selecting for specific traits results inevitably in the loss of other, often essential, characteristics. This is the case with other Hybrids, where creating even higher production while at the same time reducing feed consumption through reduced size, has resulted in loss of shell quality. In these cases thin shells are found after nine to ten months lay, resulting in an actual lower production of grade A eggs, unlike the Black Rock, where the shell quality and colour are persistently good.

The Black Rock is also a vey hardy bird. Their thick, rich plumage protects them from all weather conditions. This together with their highly developed natural immune system means they have the potential to have a long productive life. The do indeed love the outdoors. They are also very docile birds and as such are not easily stressed therefore living happily together. This results in the Black Rocks not needing to be de-beaked, reducing the rearing maintenance of the birds.
The Black Rock is a consistently good egg producer. With egg production levels of two hundred and eighty plus in the first year and then consistently good throughout the life of the bird. With excellent egg and shell quality and consistent shell colour, the Black Rock is a great producer of Grade A eggs throughout its life.

[jacob and Georgina]

what moors are you on if you don't mind my asking? we have warren hybrids, they are consistently good layers all year around but don't seem to like the cold and wet much! still haven't seem them this morning as it has not stopped raining! i would agree three may be a good idea apart from anything if you did loose one which does unfortunately happen sometimes then you would at least still have 2 left instead of one lonely hen! also if there is three you will be more likely to get 2 eggs a day which would make sense as there is 2 of you!

[ming]

I'm in southern Scotland, in the navy bit on this map  Zone 7b. TY for this so far, 3 hens it is then !
http://www.trebrown.com/hrdzone.html

[Izzy]

I would recommend Black Rock hybrids. A friend and I got 8 point of lay 19 months ago. We killed one due to repeat broodiness but generally they have been no bother. We are in central Scotland in arable countryside, usually completely free range in the bottom of a big garden with mature larches and leylandiis. The hens never go indoors except to lay (or go broody!) When t'other lass goes on holiday I am 100 percent responsible I have to keep 'em in the run in the morning (I work early shifts). It is about 6m x 4m and they seem happy contained in there.

Earlier this year one seemed to have a bit of a hirple. I diagnosed bumblefoot (no idea if I was right or not - it was a bit swollen). I knew someone who'd had & given up hens with Egglu. Went 'round and offered to take it off her hands (it was still sitting in garden) in exchange for £100 to hospice (my Dad had just died so I was vulnerable).

Confined the patient for a month and got anti Bs from friendly vet. (Ate the eggs myself with no ill effects.)

When I got the Egglu it was in a bit of a state. Took it to car wash mid week and got them to power wash it. (Thanks!) It doesn't completely come apart and is a bit fiddly to clean.


Base on my limited experience I would say the Best hen house is a customised shed. Hens like to lay in the darkest, most draught-free corner of the shed. Those nest boxes that stick out of the side of henhouses are very draughty. You can get wall-mounted nest boxes in steel from Solway feeders. Fit your own roost bars away from the pop hole which you can add yourself.

[ming]

OK many thanks for that - bumblefoot in hawks is treated with Anusol (cream for piles) - reduces inflammation and heat. Not sure of it would work with hens but dont see why not. Am off now to look at black rock hens 

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Hi,
  I keep bantams and all mine like to tough it out in the snow and rain. If you have a sheltered spot and some shrubs or conifers they will be able to get out of any bad weather. With smaller birds you can keep a few more in the same space though the bantams that I keep ( croads, sussex, plymouth rock, wyandotte) are not as tiny as the true bantams so the eggs are a good size for the size of the birds. They dont scrat up the grass and are cheaper to feed.
The plastic coops like the egloos are reportedly easy to clean out and make it difficult for red mite to hide but wood coops seem to be most popular with many poultry keepers. Coops vary in price and design but in the end its personal choice. A few things to bear in mind are,
coops which are up off the floor prevent vermin from living under them,
external nest boxes make egg collection easy,
second hand coops may be infested with red mite,
coops which have slide out trays, open roofs, access doors removable perches etc are easier to clean,
coops should be water tight, draft free and well ventilated,
covered runs prevent soggy ground and resist contamination from wild birds,
If you buy a coop complete with run, check that the run has the same capacity as the coop - many do not

Buffy
C

[ming]

I'm wondering if we should just give one of our sheds over to them then ? Can you keep chickens in a shed if we were to add a  door & wire run ?

[shetlandpaul]

hens are petty tough. we have your normal red hens and rare breeds. i would suggest avoiding those with with feathered feet. your standard untility should do fine.

[manian]

our hens sleep in a converted shed and they love it. We have a light so they are all laying still at the moment

[ming]

brilliant help and advice, thanks everybody !

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Hi,

  if you put sheds in the forum search box you will find a recent thread from someone who has purchased a shed from Focus for less than £100. I recently got a nice 4 x 6 gable end style BillyOh shed from garden buildings direct but it wasnt as cheap as the focus one. Its a better shape for where I want to put it than the 6 x 4 shaped one though.

If you are only intending to keep 2 -4 birds the little 2x2 coops complete with runs are an option. They are easy to clean and have a little door on the front with a 4 pane window so you can see inside. I have two as well as sheds and larger pens and coops. Mine were both purchased from ebay and they are great for the price. They come from china so the wood needs treating but they fit together easily and are small enough to keep the birds cosy on a night ( It was -12 in my coops last year) The run isnt big enough to keep 4 birds in all the time but you can buy extensions for them and they are light enough to move about onto fresh ground. Do be careful if buying other types of coops from china as many are complete rubbish. I have one from P and T poultry which I got from the poultry mag and its dreadful but the square ones with the window door style are ok for starters, poorly birds or broodys.

Why not take a trip to the national poultry show at stoneleigh this weekend and chose a breed as well as stocking up on all your kit. Then you can sit back and look forward to your first egg.

the most expensive one you will ever eat! 

Buffy

[darkbrowneggs]

I think a shed is always best if you have the space, as you can walk inside it to clean it out, and also they can spend sometime indoors if the weather is bad.  They wont need a run unless you have daytime foxes or need to pen them off your garden.

Hens like to lay in darkish places, so make some nest boxes ( an old carboard box with a bit cut out so they can get inside will be fine, and you can burn it when dirty) Wood shavings are good for bedding and inside the laying boxes, and they will need something to perch on - 2x2 with the corners taken off are good, but make sure they dont wobble, as that upsets them, and dont make the mistake of putting them high 18" to 2ft is plenty.  You can fit a droppings board under to make life easy, and your laying boxes can go underneath that.  Although birds like to perch high they dont need to if they are shut in and protected from vermin, and high perches can lead to bumblefoot. 

I would say go for 3 or even 4 birds would be good  as if you have bad luck you will still have a couple left, and everyone likes a gift of eggs or even a swappsies.  Black Rocks are a reliable breed, especially if the climate is not good, but make sure you get the proper ones.

Feed them on layers pellets in a peck tub thing fitted in an old barrel or tub, make sure they have water and grit available if they want it and you will have easy trouble free eggs.

all the best
Sue

[ming]

  Getting all excited about this now ! Tell me what you mean by this - ??
"in a peck tub thing fitted in an old barrel or tub"  You just mean put a feeding dish inside something else?
Buffy I'm up in the Borders, near Peebles. Too far away. Not sure yet whether to use the shed or a wee box, I will just stick to 3 hens I think.

[darkbrowneggs]

These fit into the bottom of a plastic bin  or buy one ready made like this

All the best
Sue