Well, we´ve finally made the leap and now have three beautiful ladies. I think they´re Rhode Island Reds, but really not sure and as I bought them in Spain from a Spaniard I couldn´t quite work out what he said, except they are good layers. I´ll try and get some pictures once the girls settle down.
Anyway, I have some questions, probably stupid ones, but please bear with me.
We have a coop and was told it was big enough for four hens, but it looks pretty crowded to us, so we want to build a run where they can get some really exercise.
My first question is, how high can they fly? We don´t know whether we need to put a roof on the run.
Second question, is it a good idea or not to put some perches in the run?
Third question: we have a large terrace which is tiled and I´ve filled the base of the coop with lovely grass from the campo. Will that be OK for the run, or should I put gravel in it?
Fourth (and final question): I´ve been regularly talking to them and stroking them (we´ve only had them three days!) and they seem pretty OK with that. If you were me, would you be attempting to pick them up and handle them or is it too soon?
Ooops, I´m going to slip one more in... they have had their beaks trimmed. Will they grow back and if they do, should they be trimmed again or is that as cruel as it seems to sound to me?
Thanks in anticipation
Irene
Anyway, I have some questions, probably stupid ones, but please bear with me.
We have a coop and was told it was big enough for four hens, but it looks pretty crowded to us, so we want to build a run where they can get some really exercise.
My first question is, how high can they fly? We don´t know whether we need to put a roof on the run.
Second question, is it a good idea or not to put some perches in the run?
Third question: we have a large terrace which is tiled and I´ve filled the base of the coop with lovely grass from the campo. Will that be OK for the run, or should I put gravel in it?
Fourth (and final question): I´ve been regularly talking to them and stroking them (we´ve only had them three days!) and they seem pretty OK with that. If you were me, would you be attempting to pick them up and handle them or is it too soon?
Ooops, I´m going to slip one more in... they have had their beaks trimmed. Will they grow back and if they do, should they be trimmed again or is that as cruel as it seems to sound to me?
Thanks in anticipation
Irene