I've kind of promised myself to a worthy project this coming weekend, without really knowing much about what I'm about to do...
All I need is a chicken shed and 4 chickens...I can build the shed but can't find any plans, and as for the chickens...well, apparently you can get ex-battery hens which will still lay for a couple of years, which is what they want to do. Can I find any in the Yellow Pages?!
Sorry about the cross-post - the weekend is approaching fast, I've tried to do my own research, but all I came up with was the opportunity to buy a brand new shed for something like £450..... So, any pointers towards simple plans and ideas for where to buy (preferably reasonable condition ex-battery) poultry in the Berks / South Oxon area?
Ex battery birds are cheap but have to be carefully watched if you want to care for them well. They are used to completely controlled conditions - not the vigorous life that a range reared and kept bird is used to. They are used to controlled light, the same bird next to them so are not used to the fearful hen politics that range birds have to deal with. They are used to controlled environment - they have never had to deal with wind, rain, other wildlife, finding hteir own food or anything like that. Their entire lives they have had everything provided for them. Some adapt and some don't. Its a very stressful thing. They are coming to the end of their laying life in terms of egg shell quality - this will decline - no amount of feeding or conditions can prevent this as its in the genetics. Weak shells will crack inside the bird and set up gross infections so you must be prepared to cull sick birds swiftly to prevent prolonged suffering They have not produced their feathers in response to the harsh conditions that make up the British climate so will be very susceptible to the weather. They will not have built up any immunity to the bugs and diseases that the wild birds carry as they have had completely bug free environments. You need to be very vigilant in the first months to treat infections rapidly and effectively. They will not know about perching and roosting so you will have to teach them
If you want good long lived vigorous hardy birds I would strongly suggest you look at young Black Rocks - they are far better for only a few pounds more. I have a customer who is about to add to her flock of still laying 12 year old Black Rocks
Its certainly possible to buy a fully fitted house well made for 4 chickens for considerably less than that but if you want to make one there are a number of books on making houses which you may find in your local library You need to ensure
- that the perches are in the correct place, that they are the right size so they are comfortable for the birds to use and do not cause injury.
- that the nestboxes are also the right place and size - get it wrong and they will not be used.
- that the framing is not so situated as to provide homes for red mites - equally the roofing.
- that the house is easy to work in daily for you and for the birds.
- that it is simple to clean completely and thoroughly.
- that it is easy to move
- that it is secure from all night time predators when shut.
- that the ventilation is correct. You do not want draughts around the birds, especially their heads but you want good ventilation to prevent disease build up. This must not be to compromise the security
If you still want plans i have some from a 1956 woodwork book. it has a house with attached run, says it can hold between 6 - 12 birds. i can try scanning them if you want?
Excellent - would be much appreciated, as is all the info provided so far, specially Jill's long email about battery hens - will print out and show to them this evening. I don't think they realise how much work is involved!!
Sorry, I missed the beginning of the thread... Is the following any good?
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a bit OTT to me. All of our hen houses have been made from old wooden boxes (free from local industrial estate). Takes less than a day to modify it, quicker if the children help paint it ;-) Good fun to build, allows a creative outlet...
I made a chicken shed..... a few years back and a run but still haven't filled it with chickens, Kinda gave up with th eidea aftyer finding a fox trapped inside the run!!
For the base I use a old stair landing as and built up the sides to make something that resembled a dog house (Without the large door) and with a roosting bit attached to the back
I saw a chap on tv say that it's not difficult to get regular shop-bought hens' eggs to hatch. I can't remember his exact words but I got the impression that a fair number of them will still be viable when they get to the consumer.
Perhaps we have a chicken expert here who would like to comment on this?
Hens are wonderful garden pets as so many people are finding out each year but they are a commitment. They need to be shut in every night even if they have a pen as predators will try all the harder if you present them with their breakfast menu strutting their stuff. Every morning they are let out -- daily checks of fresh water, ample food, clean bedding and egg collecting. None of this is onerous but has to be done as a routine. Depending on how well designed your house is and what your weather is - your cleaning out routine will vary Depending on how well designed your house is the time spent cleaning and treating for pests will vary
All that said birds that are bred for being outside are great characters, they are brilliant for keeping down pests and beasties in the garden, they give you the most gorgeous eggs [meat too if you are that way inclined] and generally become an thoroughly entertaining part of the family
If they were fertilised eggs, they'd probably still be viable, but only the very smallest of backyard egg producers is going to run a cockerel with his laying hens. Male birds of all the hybrid laying strains don't make it beyond their first day out of the egg.
To the OP: Jill's advice was excellent, although I was disappointed with the Black Rock hens I had. There's such a multi-tiered arrangement of suppliers of poultry that it's very difficult for the buyer of small quantities to get the same exact hybrid twice. I'd also add a recommendation for electric netting to keep foxes out of the run, and the idea of using a stripped out caravan to house up to say 30 chickens. Cheap to buy, easy to move to fresh ground every couple of weeks, and has some value as scrap when it falls apart. Do get the perch and nestbox design right though - plenty of books give dimensions.
Everything you said, Jill, is true in theory but the practicality seems to be different. I know several people who only have rescue battery reared birds and they develop into healthy, well feathered hens within two or three weeks. Everything you say about harsh conditions could apply to newly hatched chicks ... they learn very quickly. None of my friends' rescue birds have ever needed to be taught about roosting.
I'm sure that Black Rocks are excellent birds and will lay on and on and give good value to their owners. For most people, though, having rescue birds isn't a matter of cost. It's about giving a good life to birds which have had a terrible one. They become loved pets, eggs are a bonus but not necessary.
Resuce birds are not suitable for commercial operations of course but we're going to try to get them to replace ours when Zen and Gen turn up their toes.
It can be compared with obtaining a badly treated dog or cat from the RSPCA.
Also the wonderful supply of chickensh*t deposited at varied and interesting spots around the garden or if the door is left open in the house. Nothing nicer than a good dust bath in the herbacious border on hot dry days. It doesn't do the plants much good but what the hell chickens don't care about the looks of the garden. Been there, done that and worn the tee shirt. We even got rid of the rats under the hen house only a couple of months after the last chicken departed this mortal coil.
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