Keeping chickens in a small garden

[ianhb]

Hello forum,

We are hoping to keep a couple of chickens in the garden, for the benefit of the eggs and education of the kids. We don't have much space and cannot move an Ark around every few days, or have two runs to alternate. We have looked at various houses at country shows and in books. We think that we have found the ideal house in a Half Penthouse from the Domestic Fowl Trust. www.domesticfowltrust.co.uk/poultry1.html We were told, by the seller, that we could use a layer of wood chippings to cover the ground in the run under the house and change them every 2-3 months. This would prevent the ground from becoming sick and avoid the need to move the run.

I am trying to find some supporting evidence for this practice but it does not seem to be common in any books that we have read. It seems similar to 'deep litter', but of course is outdoors.

Does anyone have any experience of doing this? or can offer any advice?

Is it OK to do? How deep and of what type should the wood chippings be?

Thanks,

Ian

[littlefeathers]

Hi Ian and welcome, ;D
'will the chicks be free range or is the little pent house their only terrority'
I ask this because we have a narrow garden, (we live in the town) and to start with we converted an old rabbit hutch to house our two silkies at night and they had the free range of the garden in the day. This tucked neatly away in a corner.
Accomodation is now a converted bike shed, again tucked away in a corner. Other members have used dog kennels, or small sheds.
I cant help you with the wood chippings advice thou

[gillyC]

Hi I use wood chip in my run it works well much better than bark chips, I got mine from B & Q they have an offer on coloured ones at the mo but as the majority of my flock are white silkies I decided to go for natural I didn't fancy them having a green/blue/red undercarriage LOL mine is about 3 inches deep when I can see any soil I just top it up used to do the same with bark but that got soggy, mine push it out through the netting when it gets small so I probably never have to totally replace. I don't know if you have decided on a breed but Silkies make good pets for children though they are not the best layers and go broody easily but the eggs are a perfect size for children (Bantam size) they seem more furry than feathery don't fly, don't do as much harm in the garden as larger breeds partly 'cos they have feathered feet hth regards G

[duckmad]

hi ian
i think i know what kind of house you are talking about, i cant see why this idea should be a problem infact for a limited space its seems to solve all your problems.
I would choose a site in the garden where ther birds will catch the sun as they will enjoy it in the summer and also that is well drained, no matter what you use for ground cover if it is wet underneath you will end up with a mess.
as far as what to use for ground cover, as the name suggests we keep alot of ducks and we find that peelings from the local timber merchant are great, some of them are so desperate to get rid of them they will give them to you free of charge. failing that why not try ordinary bark chip, it will want to be a couple of inches beep and you will need to compact it before the birds go on it ( walk on it) otherwise they will just dig it up and scratch at the soil underneath.
If they are getting nothing from the ground you will need to supplement their diet with greens from the house, cabbage leaves, rice or pasta, sweetcorn or whatever they fancy.
You will need to think about what you are going to do with the bark chip when you change it, will the bin men collect it or is there somewhere local you can take it,
As there will be no ground for them to peck at you will also need to supplement there food with grit as this will toughen the shells so you dont end up with soft shelled eggs and you will also need to provide them with a dust bath,
for the dust bath you could use a cat litter tray filled with sand but dont use builders sand as you will end up with orange chickens
hope this helps
duckmad
ps i have kept lots of chickens before

[ianhb]

Thanks for the replies

will the chicks be free range or is the little pent house their only terrority

The base under the penthouse will be their only territory.

I don't know if you have decided on a breed but Silkies make good pets for children though they are not the best layers and go broody easily but the eggs are a perfect size for children (Bantam size)

Probably hybrid layers but your comment has prompted another question that I will post separately.

I understand the comments about diet supplements

I understand that wood 'shavings' are not suitable, they get and stay wet; I need something that will drain water through, even though there is a roof over the entire area.
Sounds like bark chippings may or may not be up to the job

I got mine from B & Q

I'll take a look at these chippings, but there are a couple of sawmill near where we live which might be a cheaper option I was told that the chickens would eventually scratch the chippings to dust , which is when it needs changing - true?

Another question: Can I fox-proof the run/house by stapling some wire to the underside? How heavy does it need to be?, is it better to extend the wire out from the side by a few inches/foot (?) to prevent the fox from starting to dig?

Thanks,

Ian

[duckmad]

the only problem with stapling wire to the bottom of the run is that it will be very hard to clean out.
if the run is not to be moved why not dig a small trench round it and put some wire from the bottom of the run directly into the ground and then rebury it. it wont look unsightly and will deter the fox
duckmad

[gillyC]

My wood chips have been down for almost 3 months and are lasting well much better than bark did. We have a wire floor to our run as we are on a limestone pavement and in most places there is very little soil so we could not dig wire in we have been here almost 2 years and touch wood no foxes have got any of my silkies and there are plenty around my next door neighbour (1 mile away) the farmer has shot 24 since last August and we also have a badger sett within half a mile!!!!! we have managed to keep rabbits out of the garden by using green netting and laying just under the turf only 1 has got in so far and one of my terriers despatched that one, as long as there is plenty of the wood chip you should be ok the benefit of our design should we want to move it we can just unscrew the 6 panels because we have silkies we have corrugated plastic on to give them shelter they hate wet and we live in the Lakes!! could take a photo for you if that would help regards Gill

[ianhb]

A photo would be great please!

Do you have somewhere to host it, or would you need to e-mail it to me?

[gillyC]

I use photobucket will sort this afternoon G

[gillyC]

The shed is 5foot wide by 4feet deep and the attatched run 6feet square,the window has sliding plastic for use when very wet or cold usually leave bob hole open unless very cold

Perches and dropping tray easier to clean out andkeeps floor clean it is 4 weeks since fresh shavings were put in,you can see strips of bubble wrap over bob hole

Nestboxes used to be on front of shed but that is where the prevailing wind comes from here and they were getting wet used to have a hinged lid,now we access from shed door to make it more fox proof and have 4 boxes not 2 as we have also increased our flock, I have used an old towel to make them nice and dark.
I hope this gives you some ideas regards G
I forgot to say this kennel is 70+ years old

[madcat]

hi gillyc , looks dead cozy in there . your chooks look right happy lol and the x kennel is looking great for an o,a,p lol madcat ;D

[ianhb]

Thanks Gilly. Could I be a pest and ask for a close-up of your outside run, particularly the chippings?

[ianhb]

My wife is having qualms about the pschological welfare of our future chickens. If we let them out onto the front lawn one or two times a week, for an hour or two; will this make them happier? or will they mope around in the run pining for the Fjor...No! ;D, the times when they are let out?

Ian

[gillyC]

Will get you a photo maybe friday now as busy tomorrow ours seem happy enough penned but expect to be let out if they see us around we do go away for weekends which leaves them penned for 2 full days but even if it is only for an hour I let them out when I can and always put them in the run if going out for an hour they just go in if I throw them a bit of corn I do not have round them up or anything so they cannot mind too much G
forgot to say not clear on the other photo but I have a wire hanging basket that I put cabbage in it keeps them occupied when penned and also a source of green food they love it all that is left is the stalks!

[Ash]

Hiya Ian ,
yes im sure the chooks would love the run of the garden , if you keep them entertained in there run they will be quite happy , hang things in there run , like brussel sprouts still attached to the stalk , i do that for mine and it keeps them going for ages , you could also try hanging a bit of millet spray they love that to although to much of this is fattening so a treat now and then is ok . Put in a dust bath , i use an old cat litter tray with play sand in it . Try not to worry and let them get on with it . ;D

Ash