[Staceyluu]

We have just moved onto our tiny little plot (half an acre) and intend to get a flock of chickens (10) towards the middle of the year but we need to first sort out the area we want to put them. (Long story but it could be a while) So in the mean time I'd like to just get a couple so we can have some eggs while we sort everything else out. Can anyone recommend what I need by way of coops/runs for two chickens temporarily, bearing in mind we don't want to spend a lot with upgrading later. We do have a fox as he runs down the lane in front of the house in broad daylight, but next door (a little way but within fox distance) has chickens roaming all day so he can't be too much of a problem? Also does anyone sell chickens at point of lay near Cambridgeshire! Thanks in advance!

[Hevxxx99]

Oh lucky you, getting your first chickens!  Nothing in the world beats eating your first ever home-laid eggs. I'd suggest getting 3 hens rather than 2, in case one keels over or gets got by a fox.  A small house and run is easy to come by on ebay (buy new or make your own: secondhand can carry parasites, especially the dreaded red mite).  Many have built in runs but get the largest you can afford, or get just a small house, (which'll come in useful when you start breeding them as a broody house  ) and heras panels or similar. 

Help keep foxy away by having a dog in the area as much as possible and spreading human urine around the house and run. And obviously keep them shut in from dusk.  Chickens have very poor night vision so are completely vunerable to attack when light levels are low: during daylight hours, they have a fighting chance.  For this reason, I never clip the wings of my birds!

Enjoy your search for your new mobile flowers!

[chrismahon]

Urine didn't work for us I'm afraid- 3 fox strikes and 10 dead chickens later we realised there is no substitute for a good strong enclosure, preferably electrified. We don't clip wings either unless absolutely necessary -some breeds are very flighty.


There are some wild claims about coop and run capacity so beware. Some coops are very badly constructed and have no ventilation. Some leak and are difficult to clean. Minimum of one nest box for every three hens. They will need a foot of perch space each and an absolute minimum of 2m2 run space, preferably 4m2. Too small and you will have major behavioural problems. Ours have 2m2 run space each but range in a secure enclosure most of the day which provides 15m2 each. They need shelter from rain and sun.


Best advice is to visit someone well established at keeping chickens before you do anything and get some books to read. The most basic is Katie Thears 'Starting with Chickens', the best is 'Storeys guide to Raising Chickens' by Gale Damerow.

[Buffy the eggs layer]

You can download my book Talking Chickens on Amazon which has info on coops, runs, space, nestboxes, fox proofing etc.


You will also find a good coop guide on my blog.

[Backinwellies]

Just buy a decent shed ... add nest box and internal perch which can be removed. Cut pop hole in side.  .... you then have temporary hen shed which when you have finished with it becomes a storage shed.

Or alternatively why not invest in the hen house / shed for your proposed 10 straight away?

[sss]

There are quite a few chicken sellers around Cambs. We have bought POL from a place at Bottisham and Fen Ditton in the past.  Our first ones we got from BHWT (ex bats). We got four to start with whilst we learnt about chickens. They happen to have had a rehoming day in Cambs at the time. Very cheap, eggs straight away and as a new chicken keeper it suited me.

I would agree with backinwellies, get a coop that will do you in the future and it will save upgrading at a later date. If you buy a commercial style such as green frog they are expensive but will be easy to sell on should the need arise.

[chrismahon]

A potential problem will be mixing the new 7 with the existing 3. To do this successfully will need them all to move into a new coop and run area at the same time. Otherwise the existing 3 may fight off the new 7, who won't have an established hierarchy. I would take the easy route and get all 10 at the same time. You also need to decide on hybrids or pedigrees, but not a mix because hybrids are immunised as chicks and they could potentially infect the adult pedigrees. We quickly switched to pedigrees because hybrids have such a short life span, but it depends on your relationship with them as to whether that is important.


Green Frog coop is a good choice. We have converted several sheds, but inevitably controlling red mite in them becomes a major problem- they evolve immunity to all chemicals. We used to alternate between pesticides and a biocide with creosote thrown into the mix. Plastic is definitely the way to go as it can simply be jet washed.

[Marches Farmer]

My preference is for Smiths Sectional Buildings, which are well designed and very sturdy. The Eglu houses are probably more red mite proof but very expensive.  Your neighbour has been lucky - a fox will take anything, any time, it's just a matter of when.  I wouldn't start chicken-keeping with ex-batts as they may be in very poor shape and have also probably been vaccinated, which could be a problem if you later buy in unvaccinated birds.   Get a friendly breed, such as Sussex, Dorking or Wyandotte.  Bantams and lighter breeds, such as the Sebright and Araucana, can be very flighty.  And read, read, read!

[MarthaR]

I'd second Smiths Sectional. They are not cheap but of the three I have had for 3 years from different suppliers that's the one I like the most and have had the least issue with. They're very well made and they deliver constructed which worked for me (after nearly shooting myself building one previously). It's the only one I have had no red mite issues with and mine has a raised coop with run underneath and carry handles running through as perches. I have had several near misses with foxes. I also have a permanent run which is essentially a large fruit cage like structure which has chicken wire dug well into the soil. Had digging around the edges but not got in (touches wood). They free-range whenever I am there. My view is you have to accept that the risk from foxes is always potentially there and act accordingly ie do all you can within reason to protect them but know it doesn't always work unfortunately. I've only lost one in three years to a predator. And that was to a daytime buzzard attack of all things!
Martha R  

[Polyanya]

Lots of good info being posted here for you but from my own experience of keeping chickens is to get a small shed and fix up a couple of nest boxes. I have several chicken coops around the croft and I absolutely hate cleaning out the small ones during the winter months, much preferring the 'walk-in' ones.

Like someone else mentioned keep a minimum of three - it wont be long before you just have to get some more