Hens and the sun/shade

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
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Anonymous

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Hi,
I have 2 Black Rocks and 2 Pekins in the garden (4 days and counting).
At the moment their henhouse is in permanent shade, but with the summer it will get sun for part of the day - the run will get sun for longer.
Is this OK? I thought it would be becasue I read hens were forest birds, but now, I've been told that they need to be placed in full sun and my set up won't allow that. What do you all think?

Also, only of the Black Rocks is laying. How long do they take to settle in and start laying - perhaps the other one is a just a bit younger?
As for the Pekins, they were born on October, so I don't think they will lay for a while yet - I didn't get them for the eggs, but becaue they were cute

Last question (for now)...the enclosure is 14 x 15 foot, is this big enough, and could I fit another couple of bantams in? (they're all getting along fine, now, especially as they can get out of the run now into the larger area.)

Any thoughts?

Liz
 
Regarding the sun,it sounds fine as you've got it now,hens do love to sunbathe,but,they don't sweat.So if they were in full sun all day they would most likely get too hot.
As to how many hens/bantams,you need to consider not just the run,but the dimensions of their house for when they're roosting.
 
Hi, Lydia,
The henhouse should be Ok - it was billed as 5/6 LF or 10 bantams and I've only got 2 of each at the moment.
Liz
 
I have my run under a huge tree which provides shade at the back of the run and the front gets the sun. Mine don't seem to mind the sun, they sunbathe or dustbath there and don't seem to stay in the shade, but that is always an option if it gets too hot. :P
 
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