Beginner Chicken Owner needs help! :-)

[countrygirl1326]

I'm getting my first hens today or tomorrow. I'm converting a bay in my barn to a chicken house and have just fenced in a 15x20 foot area for them to stay in when they arent free ranging. I'm getting 4 Buff Orpingtons hens and I'm wondering if they will fly over a 5 foot fence? I'm guessing so and I'm guessing I'll need some sort of net to go over the top that I'll secure with some zip ties.

We're going to build 4 nesting boxes.... hopefully tonight, but I'm wondering if I could go ahead and get the hens and just sit some sterlite 16x13x6 bins to put on the ground for them to have a couple of days. Would that be sufficient?

Can I just give them water in a bowl? And can I just give them feed in a bowl?

Is a 2'x2'x2' cardboard box okay to transport the hens in? It will be a 40 minute drive.


THANK YOU!!!

 

[Mrs. K]

Yes to the box to transfer them in.
Yes to the bowl of water...... you might have to check it often, cause they can tip it over and empty it.
Yes to a bowl to feed them, or even right on the ground.... currently I am using an old hubcap, the little lip, kind of helps keep the feed in. I try and put enough feed out that there is only a little left in the afternoon. If there is a lot left, I feed less the next day.

Yes to the nest ideas. Really any box will work, just put a little hay or stray in it, or some other bedding, and stick a roundish rock or golf ball in it. You don't need 4 nests for 4 birds, very likely they will all pick one single nest to lay in. They seem to have the theory that if that hen laid there, it must be a good place to lay.

Buffs may or may not fly over the fence, they are kind of borderline, but I have had some good fliers out of that breed. However, something over the top can help with other things not getting in. Netting will work to keep out most birds, but it will do nothing to keep out coons.

Welcome to the board, come back often, you can learn lots. It is a fun hobby.

Mrs K

 

[countrygirl1326]

If netting doesn't keep coons out, how do I keep them out?

 

[ChaoSS]

Electric fence around the run.

Or do what i'm planning, set up the run to keep out the dogs and have dogs outside the run to keep other predators at bay.