2013 Plans

vtsnowedin · Post by **vtsnowedin** » 01 Feb 2013, 02:00

Chicken wire is cheap. build them a nice big chicken run.
Take full advantage of your prefered status.

Post by **adam2** » 01 Feb 2013, 08:51

Agree, keep the chickens enclosed in a generously sized run or pen.
It is cruel to confine them in a small space, but a large run is good.
Free range chickens are rather destructive.

nexus · Post by **nexus** » 01 Feb 2013, 09:03

I've found chickens are fine roaming around lots of veg and fruit: spuds, tomatoes, soft fruit, fruit trees, most legumes and onions, what you don't want to let them near is lettuces and brassicas.

We fenced off the stuff we didn't want them near and let them mosey around the rest, the biggest problem with free ranging back garden hens is attracting foxes and them killing your flock (or worse, half killing them). Having a good size run and letting them free range anytime you're in the garden is a good option.

UE- you honestly can't beat having a still warm, freshly laid tasty egg for your lunch, BUT if you're not into eating eggs then the effort won't be worth it.

UndercoverElephant · Post by **UndercoverElephant** » 01 Feb 2013, 09:34

nexus wrote:I've found chickens are fine roaming around lots of veg and fruit: spuds, tomatoes, soft fruit, fruit trees, most legumes and onions, what you don't want to let them near is lettuces and brassicas.

We fenced off the stuff we didn't want them near and let them mosey around the rest, the biggest problem with free ranging back garden hens is attracting foxes and them killing your flock (or worse, half killing them). Having a good size run and letting them free range anytime you're in the garden is a good option.

UE- you honestly can't beat having a still warm, freshly laid tasty egg for your lunch, BUT if you're not into eating eggs then the effort won't be worth it.

I get through at least ten eggs a week (on my own.)

The trouble is by the time I've bought a large pen, and made it all secure, and bought a henhouse, then it is going to take a very long time before I break even. I am not doing this as a middle-class trendy. I will do only what I can justify economically. I have plenty of spare time but very little spare money. I'm sure freshly laid eggs taste nice and make you feel like you've done something right, but 6 free range eggs don't cost much to buy. By comparison, keeping rabbits for meat seems inexpensive, and meat costs real money (apart from factory farmed chicken.) Rabbits are cheaper to feed, and easier to keep happy without the mess and potential destruction.

Tarrel · Post by **Tarrel** » 01 Feb 2013, 10:17

UndercoverElephant wrote:
nexus wrote:I've found chickens are fine roaming around lots of veg and fruit: spuds, tomatoes, soft fruit, fruit trees, most legumes and onions, what you don't want to let them near is lettuces and brassicas.

We fenced off the stuff we didn't want them near and let them mosey around the rest, the biggest problem with free ranging back garden hens is attracting foxes and them killing your flock (or worse, half killing them). Having a good size run and letting them free range anytime you're in the garden is a good option.

UE- you honestly can't beat having a still warm, freshly laid tasty egg for your lunch, BUT if you're not into eating eggs then the effort won't be worth it.
I get through at least ten eggs a week (on my own.)

The trouble is by the time I've bought a large pen, and made it all secure, and bought a henhouse, then it is going to take a very long time before I break even. I am not doing this as a middle-class trendy. I will do only what I can justify economically. I have plenty of spare time but very little spare money. I'm sure freshly laid eggs taste nice and make you feel like you've done something right, but 6 free range eggs don't cost much to buy. By comparison, keeping rabbits for meat seems inexpensive, and meat costs real money (apart from factory farmed chicken.) Rabbits are cheaper to feed, and easier to keep happy without the mess and potential destruction.

I understand the need to focus on economics, especially during Business as Usual. Many of our decisions have also been made on that basis (you play by the rules existing at the present time). However, surely making your new place collapse-proof should also be a consideration? In which case having more than one source of protein available gives you more resilience. (Mind you, we don't have either at the moment. Something we need to get round to).

nexus · Post by **nexus** » 01 Feb 2013, 11:35

UE, We got a rabbit hutch off freecycle, added a perch and nest box. Used scrap timber for the run, finished off with chicken wire which we purchased. You really don't need to spend a lot. Once they're laying you are saving money.

Little John · Post by **Little John** » 01 Feb 2013, 13:15

An second hand garden shed converted for hens is cheap option, surrounded by a 6 foot high chicken wire fence. As long as their wings are clipped, they wont try to clear the fence and as long as they are locked up at night, the foxes or cats won't get them.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 01 Feb 2013, 13:23

I nearly got some ducks recently. They probably wouldn't have been cost effective just as egg producers, but I also want them for pest control. Doing some of the gardening for me would make them worthwhile!

nexus · Post by **nexus** » 01 Feb 2013, 13:44

Good point John, chickens are good for pest control and chicken manure is lovely for compost or once broken down as a straight fertilizer- yet another reason to keep chickens

If you're worried about space, UE then what about bantams? they are a third the size of normal hens and eat a third of the food, but their eggs are half as big- australorps are great layers, not prone to diseases and come in bantam size.

UndercoverElephant · Post by **UndercoverElephant** » 01 Feb 2013, 17:37

I need to think about this...

nexus · Post by **nexus** » 01 Feb 2013, 18:04

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 02 Feb 2013, 03:29

Bantams also seem to have a bit more sense than chickens and last longer free ranging. Not so good for boiled eggs but for anything else just have a few more eggs!

nexus · Post by **nexus** » 02 Feb 2013, 07:54

If you get a bantam of a larger breed, you'll won't be getting tiny eggs, so they are fine for boiled eggs, but I'm surprised that bantams may have more sense, I thought they were all daft.....

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 07 Feb 2013, 14:10

UndercoverElephant wrote:
emordnilap wrote:I'll have to go back and make a note of the specific mushroom names, to see if they're native to these isles. The pack was American, so maybe not.
Let me know if you find out what they are.

OK, found the product. It's here.

You can zoom in to read the label.

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 07 Feb 2013, 16:10

We are back dwon to two bantums . This morning I found our best layer had dropped off her perch - literally. 3 eggs in the egg box too .