Hello

[Keulie]

My daughter really really wanted us to get chickens, and had done for about five years, so finally bit the bullet and converted an old wooden playhouse into a coop during lockdown. We now have three rehomed ex battery hens, Belle, Hazel and Blondie. They have settled in fine and are all laying regularly (4 days in!)
Any helpful advice on the following?
1. Dryness/cleanliness of the run.
2. When is it safe/ok/sensible to let them out into the (reasonable sized) garden
3. Advice on wing clipping. Everybody round here has dogs and don't want them to free range then escape and get chased. Garden fenced about five feet high.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC. I would suggest increasing your fence height but avoid wing-clipping. Here are some helpful links:

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Best wishes

Pork Pie

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.

 

[chrissynemetz]

Hi and welcome to BYC! We're glad you joined us! You can probably let them out after a week in their coop. I wouldn't worry too much about clipping their wings unless they actually start flying over. Mine generally don't hop the fence

 

[Ted_Harrell]

I usually let mine stay in the same coop for about a week then let them out for supervised foraging. I also have a neighbor with pit bulls, so I am never far away. The fact that they are already laying is a good sign, Keep up the good work, allowing them some much needed rest and a family that loves them; win, win

 

[N F C]

Hello, congrats on the new flock! If you clip wings, they won't be able to escape ground predators (like the dogs) very well. I also would encourage you to raise the height of the fence and stay out with the flock while they are wandering around your garden.

Best wishes!

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

You may need to use a roof to keep the run dry. After they have slept in the coop a few nights, they will learn where it's safe to be and will return to it. So you can let them out when you think they are ready. Wing clipping is never advised for free ranging birds. Should they need to escape a hawk, dog, bobcat, etc.... they won't be able to get away without fully functioning flight feathers.

Enjoy your new babies! And welcome to our community!

 

[DaisyG2317]

Hi and welcome!

 

[Fuchsia]

Hello and Welcome!!!!!!