A quick question regarding space

[Anonymous]

Hi, Everyone,
I've had my hens for alomost 4 weeks now and things on the fowl front are going OK.

On the husband front, it's not going so well.

After 8 years of asking, and just the odd bit of nagging, for some reason my beloved gave in and let me get some hens for the back garden - nothing rash just 2 Black Rocks and 2 Pekins. So far, so good.
It would appear that the honeymoon period is over! Nothing but black looks and grumpiness from His Lordship whenever the poor lovelies are mentioned.

So, some drastic compromising is needed on my part.
I've already reduced the run area, but it now looks as though I may have to keep them in there and not let them out at all. At the moment they are around the garden for a couple of hours a day.

What I need to know is whether the space they have is enough - I know it's not ideal, but can they be happy there? They have 140 square foot, inlcuding the 12 square foot henhouse. I'm just waiting for a delivery of woodchip for the floor, so they'll have part woodchip and part pea gravel, which they seem to love. I've got a dust bath of fine ash in there and some stumps and branches for them to climb on - even some CDs hanging up to entertain them.

I want to keep them, but I don't want to be cruel and a bit of advice from someone with more experience would be very helpful.

Thanks.

Liz

 

[Lucylou]

Hi,
This is my set up, I've got 6 large fowl in an enclosed run which is approx 24 sq mtrs.The hen house is approx 4' x 3' + nest box on the side & this is within the run. Because I have a fox problem & am out all day mine stay within their run all the time & seem perfectly happy.

My only concern is that the ground is now getting very overworked which is something I'm looking into but I'm sure you will have no problem with space.

Hope that info helps. Hubby will love the fresh eggs, that might placate him!

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Liz,
the area you have them in now sounds fine to me.They possibly have more space than some smaller gardes where hens are free ranging all day.
It is a shame that his lordship has taken against them so much.I must admit that i'm no longer married,but,I wouldn't let him use any of their eggs.Compromise isn't one person in a relationship grumping around(the way men do so well )and not giving a little.Presumably the garden is as much yours as his,ask him if he wants a fence down the middle-you and chickens one side and him the other :lol: .
Actually don't do that,just say in a friendly,joking voice if he doesn't stop moaning and grumping about the chickens,you'll start moaning about all of his habits that annoy you(he must have some)most men only have to breathe and they they can be annoying :lol:
Basically,the chooks will be more than fine with what you're providing,they may find it a while to adjust at first, if used to roaming where they want to.They will adjust though.They will be fox safe always,and,you could split the run in 2,so that the ground gets a chance to recover.
If he really doesn't want them eating the grubs that eat his plants in his garden,more fool him.He will have to use killer chemicals that are pet/hen friendly or do the deed by hand(back breaking) :mrgreen: .
Surely,allowing them out for an hour or 2 a day for company with you is not too much to ask,and to stop being a misery.Life is too short to be miserable.
Oooh,just had another thought,there are some sites on the internet,that sell er leather masks and gags.Why not get him one for his birthday,or just a pressie,and,he'll assume you're into kinky bedroom olympics...you can then calmy shatter his illusions by saying your going to put it on him,whenever he starts moaning grumping :lol: :lol: ,I've also been told,they sell leather whips .

 

[dawn]

He might come round in the end with time. My other half was a bit grumpy about the chickens at times once the novelty wore off, but we found him picking the rooster up recently when he thought no-one was looking. He had him the wrong way round mind, but Elvis didn't seem to mind :lol:

 

[Scuffer]

Lydia

You ae so rude !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

anyway i am the man of he house, i am a 17 stone (38 inch waist) Millwall Skinhead and my little lovely wife suggested we get some quials which we eventually gave away when one died and the other one was left on her own, we bought 2 warren chicks (at 2 weeks old) and i then bought 4 warrens and now have 12 in total.

I love them all dearly and truely believe they have enriched my life, i too am a keen horticulturalist and love my garden however i dont think you view the whole picture if you have not loved an animal,there is a part of your soul you have yet to awaken, i have a small dog, a guinea pig 12 chickens,and 4 cats. I also like to fish. people are too sterile and too far detached from reality these days, there are more chickens on the planet than humans and they were here first scratching around looking for worms while we were ploughing up the planet with th arse bone of a giraffe so i make you right (you nutter!!!) and long may it reign that way !!!

regards

Scuffer