Hi everyone, I'm Chris- my wife and I are based in the UK (Scotland) and currently have 4 hens. We started with 3 back in the spring, and lost 2 of them in the last couple of months (one due to some unknown sudden illness, and one to egg peritonitis). We've just got another 3 (a white star, a blacktail and a "marsbar") to join our surviving hen (a buff barred).
Our set-up currently involved a pre-fab roost with laying box (I know!) enclosed in a shell made from plastic greenhouses, with an extended uncovered run we built ourselves. All reinforced with chicken wire, plus some metal mesh around the edges to prevent anything burrowing in. They get to free range when we're in the garden, but we own a couple of dogs, so we're taking time to get them new hens and them used to each other.
Nice to meet everyone, and happy to hear any advice, answer any questions!
Our set-up currently involved a pre-fab roost with laying box (I know!) enclosed in a shell made from plastic greenhouses, with an extended uncovered run we built ourselves. All reinforced with chicken wire, plus some metal mesh around the edges to prevent anything burrowing in. They get to free range when we're in the garden, but we own a couple of dogs, so we're taking time to get them new hens and them used to each other.
Nice to meet everyone, and happy to hear any advice, answer any questions!