Hello,
The smallholding I have moved to has fenced chicken run and two coops. I have cleaned them out with Virkon, painted them to try and make them more weatherproof, and (when the weather is dry!) apply some roof sealant.
So I think I am nearly ready to actually get some birds, which is a big deal for me as I've never had them before, and I want to make sure I get it right. Please excuse the questions, which probably have obvious answer, but I'd rather check with those that have some experience!
1) How many hens would you recommend to start? It is quite a large area and I was thinking an even four or six. There are two coops. One is large enough for me to climb into (croopying down) and has five nesting boxes, the other has three. Am I right in thinking at night you lock them in the hen-houses? And if so, would you recommend putting say two (or four) in the big one and two in the smaller one? Would it be classed as one nest box per bird, so the big coop is for five and the small one for three?
2) What do you cover the floor with? I read wood-shavings, not sawdust as it's not good for their respiratory system? Am sure I also read somewhere that you can use straw? Will they tend to toilet a lot in the coop or do they save up for outside? Do you do a weekly clean out and just cover any messes with more shavings till then?
3) Is there a recommended food? I've read you can feed a variety of different things but what is generally best? Also grit - I know they need this for digestion because they don't have teeth to chew their food. Would you disperse this in the run for them to peck over or supply it in a separate feeder?
Once again, sorry about the questions, just like to get opinions!