Ok, so im building a chicken coup big enough for about 10 hens, what do I need to know?

[RATTER15]

Ive never kept chickens so completely new to this, where do I get the hens? what sort do I get and how much are they?

I will be building the coop along the lines of the one in this video only not quite as rustic.



Any advice please.

[RATTER15]

Oh! and we want plenty of eggs!!

[ladybirder]

Oh Ratter please give some poor battery hens a home. Pretty please:-)

[RATTER15]

Just point me in the right direction Ladybirder, would love to!

[ladybirder]

http://poultrykeeper....hens/ex-battery-hens/

[ladybirder]

This one's in Devon.
http://www.sovereignt...tnmouth/battery1.html

[RATTER15]

That one is at Chulmleigh, Devon, about 15 miles from me :)) I got to build the coop first then I will contact them.

[ladybirder]

Slobber slobber XXXXXXXXXXX. And to Carakeel. I know you will give us a running account when you're ready. Brilliant.

[slinkycat]

Ten hens? Thats around 60 eggs a week, your family and friends are going to love that, nothing like proper free range eggs :)
Think the hybrid varieties are in general more prolific layers than pure breeds.
Happy hen keeping!

[welshlibranr]

My friend keeps hens, and he says that hybrids are much easier to keep, they lay better, and aren't so open to disease!.......hope this helps, good luck with it!.............

[Clanad]

It doesn't appear that the one built in your video is made from weather proof or treated lumber. Even if it was, I'd recommend that the base not be set directly on the ground. Instead, I'd rest it on some fairly inexpensive (here in the U.S.) concrete pavers. They are about 6 inches wide by 16 to 18 inches in length and are just an inch or so in thickness. These can easily be laid in a shallow trench on which the base of the building will rest. It'll protect the lumber and make the building easier to level and keep level.

You probably don't have the winters that we do here in the western U.S., where it's not uncommon to see over night temps in the below zero readings. When the soil freezes it expands and heaves, again, unleveling the little building.

[tamborine]

A concrete base will avoid rats & foxes and easy to muck out. Farmers Weekly adverts will supply good layers & feeds.

[RATTER15]

The coop will be raised off the ground so the hens can pass underneath and the run area will be about 40 meters square surrounded by a 6ft high fence. In the future we will be keeping some rare and fancy breed hens as an attraction to visitors but at the moment we need to learn and gain experience about keeping hens.

[alperchino]

Me and my brother made our own ratter and we didn't use any slabs of anything to level just made the frame put some tongue and groove where it needed to be for them laying the eggs coz they sleep on the little Perches you put In, we just painted it and put it in the garden 2 years later it's still fine, we now have 5 chickens (1 just died so we bought another 2) they recommend if your going t buy some buy at least two at once, and yeah hybrids is what we have and there quite good, usually lay every day, and really nice eggs too! Just keep the chicken house simple, build a simple frame and tongue and groove 3 sides, and a small compartment for them laying, and perches for them to sleep on, they do destroy your garden tho!! Ex battery are usually good layers and I always think its nice to give them a nice home after there ill treatment, hope this helps ratter you need any more advice just ask :) Al

[hammerman]

Just lost my 3 hens to foxes :-( They were absolutely wonderful girls and real characters too. I cannot stress highly enough that your run needs to be fox and rodent proof so whatever measures you take to do that, i'd double them.

Provide lots of perches that are high off the ground...mine were about 4 foot off and they roosted on there at night. Lots of lovely eggs...you usually get one a day at this time of the year but i didn't find anything different in taste to shop bought ones.

Chickens will eat virtually anything too...mine loved anything from roast potatoes to garden worms and maggots. Anything like caterpillas or other garden bugs are loved. I also used to throw grass trimmings in for them to look through or any weeds with roots on are very interesting to chooks.

Enjoy, i absolutely loved my chickens.

[bumble60]

I had 5 rescued battery hens. I purchased a coup that lasted less than a year. It fell to bits.The company refuse to answer any calls or emails. I decided to purchase a garden shed from Argos for £150. Its perfect. Cheap but just the job. They survived rain. snow.High winds with no problem. Well worth the £150. The coup cost £300. Plus with a couple of home made shelves you can keep hay and food in there.

[bumble60]

Not quite the question but. I was told an old remedy for keeping foxes away from your chickens. We have them wandering around at night. Has to be done in the dark lol.. Pee at the the corners of the coup. Foxes avoid the smell of human pee. Dont ask the wife of course. Easier for us guys. Never lost a checken to foxes yet. Just dont do it in the afternoon.... I wont admit responsability if you get nicked lol

[RATTER15]

bumble60, the coop im building will probably last 150 years, it is being made from big sturdy recycled timbers mostly 4"X3" clad in 1" thick shiplap, It certainly wont blow away lol.