Newbie looking for advice.

[bigray]

Hi,

We have recently moved and now have a large garden with an area that is currently just a pile of soil/rubble. The plan is to convert half of this area into a veg patch and the other half will hopefully be used for chickens. I've always been interested in keeping them but have always lived in rented accomodation until now. I have a few questions and i'm hoping someone can help. Firstly the area (excluding a hen house) I was planning on setting aside is about 25ft by about 15ft. There would ideally be a smaller run in here for when it's daytime and we aren't around that is moe secure incase mr fox visits. Does this sound like enough space? I am thinking of starting with 3 and maybe going to 5/6 hens.

I was also thinking about planting a couple of small fruit tress in this area (plum/apple/pear) would this cause any problems when the fruit falls for the chickens?

At the bottom of the garden there is already a steel cage structure (and if i've got it right there is a picture of it on this post) it is around 7ft hight with a corrugated steel roof and most of the sides are steel wite that is fairly thinck (you need a hacksaw or bolt croppers to get through it) I had planned to board the walls leaving some ventialtion holes. Does this sound suitable or would I be better with a purpose built structure?

The other thing I haev noticed is ther are a lot of post regarding issues such as pecking, soft shells, red mite etc. Is it normal to experience lots of issues or is it just a worst case scenario.

Sorry for all the questions and it is going to be a few months before everything is ready but i'd rather get planning things properly.

Thanks

 

[Marigold]

Hi Bigray, and welcome to the Forum.
You're very sensible, to think it all out well in advance of getting your birds. With an area of about 21 sq. metres to play with, you've certainly got plenty of space for up to 10 birds, though however many you get to start with will enjoy the space. Its certainly a good idea to have a smaller area divided off securely for protection from predators, and if you are aiming for 5-6 birds this should be about 12 square metres, or maybe half of the total space. The only problem about planting fruit trees might be that the birds would get more of the fruit than you would! In time the trees would provide shade. It would depend on whether you felt it would be a good idea to fix mesh over the top of this part of the run - this is advisable for security, as foxes can climb the sides, but then you can't really grow trees in there unless they are small half- standards and kept pruned.
Yes, there are a lot of posts about dreadful problems, but then, that's what a poultry forum is for! Like any livestock, there are many possible health hazards and management issues with your stock, and things can go wrong, but don't let that put you off - if you plan ahead, you can avoid the major mistakes, and if you take advice on sourcing good healthy stock, most of the issues are unlikely. If you can make your run and coop safe from predators, give your birds plenty of space in the run and good ventilation in their coop, provide suitable food and fresh water, and introduce the new ones carefully, you should just be able to enjoy your eggs without worrying about your flock.
What sort of chickens are you thinking of getting?

 

[bigray]

Thanks for the advice. Not sure on breeds yet although there is a local supplier that has Ross Lohmann's. I was also considering ex battery chickens. Hopefully the picture will be on this post of the proposed coop.

 

[valeriebutterley]

Hello and welcome to the forum.
Lohmanns are lovely!
Have just purchased my first two, no Warrens available. Had many little brown girls previously, but these two are great. Named Clarissa and Jennifer, after "two fat ladies" they are also friendly, productive and very pretty, absolute darlings, were both on my lap after one week!.
They were put in with the laying flock a few days ago, and seem to be bearing up very well, just fly on to the roof of the hut or a portable ladder type perch at the first sign of trouble.
Hope your planned project goes well, chicken keeping is great.