- Jul 31, 2011
- 12
- 0
- 22
Hello all,
I am a new convert to the world of keeping chickens, and I have found the advice on this website to be second to none, so thanks!
Keeping chickens is totally addictive. I simply went to a local poultry farmer to see his set up, and immediately took a shine to a few hens. I came home with five in the boot of my car. Even before I had a coop! I have since bought a coop, and two more pullets. However as I soon realised, I couldnt mix my hens and pullets (and I have since learned a massive amount about hen feeding, psychology and behaviour), so I built a coop. The ad for the one I purchased said suitable for 4-6 chickens but it really isnt. And the roosts are realy low, leading to nest box sleeping and dont think the chucks were all that happy. They wanted to get higher. In the process, learned lots so started another coop, which looks a lot better. I now have three coops for 7 chickens, which I realise is excessive. However, it leaves me some room for expansion!!
So the three hens are RIR, Light Sussex and a silver laced wyandotte. The pullets are another buff sussex (more about her later), golden brahma, blue giant jersey and an astralorp.
The only difficulty I have had is worrying about predator proofing my coop. We have had several visits from the fox, but no casualties yet, thankfully. As the coops are mobile, I dont want to bury wire etc. I do have a skirt of wire but it is getting frayed and would probably not be that effective. I have it weighted down with rocks and wood, which makes the pace look messy. I am wondering how likely is it that a fox would dig under the coop - is this common?
Anyway, I am loving the poultry keeping - and hope to have chicks next year if one of the hens goes broody. The individual personalities are so interesting to watch. Interestingly, the light sussex is extremely quiet - allowing you to pick her up and routinely comes into the kitchen. However, the buff sussex is a crazy chick. So nervous is she, that she is turning my other quiet pullets into nervous wrecks also. I have had to put her in with the hens in the new coop as she is graduating to layer feed, but she is currently squawking like mad outside my window. I will keep an eye on her and see if she settles in.
Thanks for all the advice on this site, very helpful.
I am a new convert to the world of keeping chickens, and I have found the advice on this website to be second to none, so thanks!
Keeping chickens is totally addictive. I simply went to a local poultry farmer to see his set up, and immediately took a shine to a few hens. I came home with five in the boot of my car. Even before I had a coop! I have since bought a coop, and two more pullets. However as I soon realised, I couldnt mix my hens and pullets (and I have since learned a massive amount about hen feeding, psychology and behaviour), so I built a coop. The ad for the one I purchased said suitable for 4-6 chickens but it really isnt. And the roosts are realy low, leading to nest box sleeping and dont think the chucks were all that happy. They wanted to get higher. In the process, learned lots so started another coop, which looks a lot better. I now have three coops for 7 chickens, which I realise is excessive. However, it leaves me some room for expansion!!
So the three hens are RIR, Light Sussex and a silver laced wyandotte. The pullets are another buff sussex (more about her later), golden brahma, blue giant jersey and an astralorp.
The only difficulty I have had is worrying about predator proofing my coop. We have had several visits from the fox, but no casualties yet, thankfully. As the coops are mobile, I dont want to bury wire etc. I do have a skirt of wire but it is getting frayed and would probably not be that effective. I have it weighted down with rocks and wood, which makes the pace look messy. I am wondering how likely is it that a fox would dig under the coop - is this common?
Anyway, I am loving the poultry keeping - and hope to have chicks next year if one of the hens goes broody. The individual personalities are so interesting to watch. Interestingly, the light sussex is extremely quiet - allowing you to pick her up and routinely comes into the kitchen. However, the buff sussex is a crazy chick. So nervous is she, that she is turning my other quiet pullets into nervous wrecks also. I have had to put her in with the hens in the new coop as she is graduating to layer feed, but she is currently squawking like mad outside my window. I will keep an eye on her and see if she settles in.
Thanks for all the advice on this site, very helpful.
