Chicken questions

[fenwoman]

Originally Posted by CKS

We all have our own methods of rearing and keeping animals ... as stated my chickens have access to my garden all day so it's not like they need an obstical course to keep them entertained.

But I responded to the OP and was basing my replies on his description of the environment he had. You posted a reply generalising things and stating that he was making too much effort for only chickens.The fact that you consider mere fowl to be something not worthy of keeping properly, makes any advice you give on fowl, to be lacking.

Your very opinionated in what you believe to be true

I am indeed. Perhaps it comes from being somewhat experienced in keeping/breeding/exhibiting fowl. About 36 years worth experienced. And how long have you kept fowl?

disagree by all means but don't disrespect others experience or advice.

And where did I disrespect you? How can I disrespect you since I do not know you ? Respect needs to be earned and even people who dislike me, will respect my knowledge.I did disagree with you and said as much.Are you saying that because I disagreed, in your eyes, this equates to disrespect?

Your fantasist view that anyone keeping animals should do the very best for them would mean no one actually owning any animals.

what utter nonsense. I am no fantasist. I simply believe that anyone who chooses to aqquire a living creature, has a moral and legal duty to provide them with the best they can possibly provide for them, and not the barest minumum they can get away with without leading to an RSPCA prosecution. The fact that you consider my ideals (and those of plenty of other dedicated animal keepers on here) and my attempt to provide the best that I can and not the least I can get away with , to be odd, shows me that you should perhaps not take on any animals at all.

Ultimately keeping animals captive at all is cruelty

and you base this nonsense on what exactly? How is keeping dogs, cats and poultry (or indeed any other species) considered a cruelty? There are laws in this country which state that all species should, by law, have certain things, by right. Things like freedom to express natural behaviours, freedom from pain and fear etc etc . It's all in the animal welfare act. I suggest you study it. It came about because owners like yourself who are happy with minimal standards needed to be forced to raise their game.

which makes you just as unsuitable a keeper as me

you have no idea who I am. You know nothing about me. Ergo, this statement is invalid. You may be happy to admit that you are an unsuitable poultry keeper. I am no such thing.

Now kindly keep your opinions to this person valid

since you are the one who went off topic and started ranting about the OP's concern to get it right being unnecessary I name you a hypocrite. You do not tell me what to post or how to post.
Might I suggest that you keep your posts valid.
The OP asked for help and advice. I and others gave good help and advice based on a deep care about poultry and many decades experience. You simply twittered on that he was being too careful and any old thing would do.

[CKS]

Originally Posted by fenwoman

But I responded to the OP and was basing my replies on his description of the environment he had. You posted a reply generalising things and stating that he was making too much effort for only chickens.The fact that you consider mere fowl to be something not worthy of keeping properly, makes any advice you give on fowl, to be lacking.


I am indeed. Perhaps it comes from being somewhat experienced in keeping/breeding/exhibiting fowl. About 36 years worth experienced. And how long have you kept fowl?


And where did I disrespect you? How can I disrespect you since I do not know you ? Respect needs to be earned and even people who dislike me, will respect my knowledge.I did disagree with you and said as much.Are you saying that because I disagreed, in your eyes, this equates to disrespect?

what utter nonsense. I am no fantasist. I simply believe that anyone who chooses to aqquire a living creature, has a moral and legal duty to provide them with the best they can possibly provide for them, and not the barest minumum they can get away with without leading to an RSPCA prosecution. The fact that you consider my ideals (and those of plenty of other dedicated animal keepers on here) and my attempt to provide the best that I can and not the least I can get away with , to be odd, shows me that you should perhaps not take on any animals at all.

and you base this nonsense on what exactly? How is keeping dogs, cats and poultry (or indeed any other species) considered a cruelty? There are laws in this country which state that all species should, by law, have certain things, by right. Things like freedom to express natural behaviours, freedom from pain and fear etc etc . It's all in the animal welfare act. I suggest you study it. It came about because owners like yourself who are happy with minimal standards needed to be forced to raise their game.

you have no idea who I am. You know nothing about me. Ergo, this statement is invalid. You may be happy to admit that you are an unsuitable poultry keeper. I am no such thing.


since you are the one who went off topic and started ranting about the OP's concern to get it right being unnecessary I name you a hypocrite. You do not tell me what to post or how to post.
Might I suggest that you keep your posts valid.
The OP asked for help and advice. I and others gave good help and advice based on a deep care about poultry and many decades experience. You simply twittered on that he was being too careful and any old thing would do.

Then you missunderstood me entirely. I was not suggesting that basic care is all that should be provided. I said that chickens need not be over thinked. The fact i do not have a plush henhouse with toys and such does not make my hens any less well cared for. Most of the reptile keepers on here keep them in plastic tubs for hygene and space reasons. Are you branding all those that do incompetent? Ive no doubt your an experienced animal keeper but that does not make others advice invalid. I have over 20 years experience keeping animals of all descriptions and in my opinion a good standard of basic care is the merely the start. That is also the law which you mention several times. Neglect is another matter entirely. This site is for sharing others experience and advice ... thats all i was offering so forgive me for thinking that your the hypocrite ...

[Pimperella]

Originally Posted by CKS

Thats not what i was implying at all ... my hens are healthy and happy. I was merely pointing out that a lot of the extras can be excluded without any ill effect. And btw they were temporarily without a sand bath why i was landscaping the garden FOR THEM .. hence the sand bags. I asked myself why they tore open the sand bag as you suggested ... i came to the conclsion it's because they are intelligent. Unfortunately i cannot say the same for your ill concieved and inappropriate response to my post. Read again - i said my hens have free range all day every day. Nothing about locking them in a hutch all day - clearly somewhere you should be

You have land do you?
Confinded to a small yard is not free range lol Don't make me laugh.
You were the one who said they don't need much. Funny that, I'm DEFRA registered with over 100 chickens and well, you are a backyard keeper who thought he'd get some hens cause it would be fun.
You are the one who didn't give them even a tray of sand.
Yes, intelligent they are that they had to find it for themselves as YOU had not provided anything for them.

[CKS]

Originally Posted by Pimperella

You have land do you?
Confinded to a small yard is not free range lol Don't make me laugh.
You were the one who said they don't need much. Funny that, I'm DEFRA registered with over 100 chickens and well, you are a backyard keeper who thought he'd get some hens cause it would be fun.
You are the one who didn't give them even a tray of sand.
Yes, intelligent they are that they had to find it for themselves as YOU had not provided anything for them.

read the post again .... i get the impression im wasting my time conversing with someone who holds themselves in high regard when they've absolutely no need to. Back yard chicken keeping has been practised for hundreds of years, long before commercial keepers like you waded in. And isn't that what this person posted the thread about in the first instance? Your slanderous remarks about my ability and the condition of my animals have been made on the other end of a computer about a remark i made (without full explenation granted), and have nothing valuable to add what so ever. I suggest you get your facts straight in future and avoid the hideous tone you use to respond to people. A healthy discussion would have achieved more in the way of advice for this intended keeper

[CKS]

As i seem to be misunderstood in what i was originally advising - this is how i house my hens, hopefully it will be of some use to you, I have a 4x4x2.5 foot hen house made from 3/4 inch thick toungue and groove hardwood - (foxes have been known to pull featherboard appart to get at chickens) with a sloping felted roof. Onto which i tacked corrugated upvc (very cheap and offers ultimate weather protection) the run is a 6' extension half of which is covered. i used 2'x2' softwood for strength. It's double skinned with mesh to fox proof it. i have doors front and back for cleaning and a lifting roof. All has been treated with non toxic wood preserver. It's on concrete & is raised to prevent damp and vermin, I have feeders and drinkers inside and also in the garden. I let them out daily. I give them leftover veggies and oats as treats. They have a 2x2 sand bath under a tree to keep it dry. A large rockery outside as well as a rotating system where i keep a portion of the grass covered to allow it to grow (they eat loads). As previously stated i don't have toys or a particularly huge hen house but they go out every day. if you want to keep them inside more often then bigger accomodation is obviously desireable. All i can say is that mine are laying extremely well, they look great and i have no health problems with them. That is what i would call a good standard of basic care. Btw hybrids are a safer option but rescued hens can be equally as pleasing.

[LiamRatSnake]

Can we please keep this thread on topic?

Right, most of my questions have been answered. I would still like to know how I can provide enrichment for my birds.
Also can anyone please let me know whether the ideas I have will be suitable, another idea we've had is to pave a section of the run as we have some slabs lying around.

[fenwoman]

Originally Posted by LiamRatSnake

Can we please keep this thread on topic?

Right, most of my questions have been answered. I would still like to know how I can provide enrichment for my birds.
Also can anyone please let me know whether the ideas I have will be suitable, another idea we've had is to pave a section of the run as we have some slabs lying around.

For enrichment, think food. One thing they like to do is scratch about, so, one day, chuck a load of straw in the run, they sprinkle for wheat in the straw. The chickens will spend hours scratching about searching for the grains. Then try a whole white cabbage or couple of whole apples. You might have to bash an apple on a fence post first off to show them the flesh inside.If they've never sen one before, they won't know how to peck hard to get inside. You'll find they make a hole in the skin, eat all the flesh and leave the empty skin. Cabbage is very good for them as it can help prevent cancer.
You can also hang dandelion leaves up for them to peck at. They contain calcium so are good for chickens. Will they be allowed out of the run at all?
Paving the run is good as it makes it easier to clean and ease of cleaning is always good.

[CKS]

Originally Posted by LiamRatSnake

Can we please keep this thread on topic?

Right, most of my questions have been answered. I would still like to know how I can provide enrichment for my birds.
Also can anyone please let me know whether the ideas I have will be suitable, another idea we've had is to pave a section of the run as we have some slabs lying around.

As stated paving keeps the run clean and its easy to remove uneaten or spilt food, which encourage vermin. Also stops foxes digging under it (if your planning to keep the henhouse on grass) One thing they love is when i turn over a piece of soil. They scratch around it for ages. Throwing corn into the soil keeps them busy. they love cabbage and greens, the leaves from a cauliflower, boiled leftover veg .... anything like that really. Obviously this in in addition to their standard feed. I avoid sharp grains like wheat as they tend to disagree with my hens.

[ambyglam]

Originally Posted by LiamRatSnake

How much space, per hen, inside the house itself? I'm looking at half a dozen hens, just wanna know how big to make my coop, and if I wanted 8... Liam.

Im not sure if the laws there are the same as the laws here, but if they are you can only have 6 birds maximum, as more than that requires a license for commercial breeding...when you will then be considered a farm...lol

so stick with half a dozen, also try some battery rescues to start off with as they are usually good starter hens for someone not sure of what to do with hens yet as they can sometimes, especially fancier breeds, be quite a handfull!

[Pimperella]

Originally Posted by ambyglam

Im not sure if the laws there are the same as the laws here, but if they are you can only have 6 birds maximum, as more than that requires a license for commercial breeding...when you will then be considered a farm...lol

so stick with half a dozen, also try some battery rescues to start off with as they are usually good starter hens for someone not sure of what to do with hens yet as they can sometimes, especially fancier breeds, be quite a handfull!

Laws here are 50 chickens or more require DEFRA registration.
And if you have more than 50 laying hens you need to have a licence for egg production.