Getting Started

From PoultryWiki

From our posters:

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"I personally wouldn't let the current problems with Avian Flu put me off. The more I read about it the more I think it needs to be put in perspective. Yes, it is something we need to be aware of as poultry keepers, and know what our obligations would be if it came here. But that is just the same with Newcastle Disease - another notifiable poultry disease of which there was an outbreak in England earlier this year... If you still have any doubts, check out the DEFRA website's Q&A's on AI.

I agree with the others - get a minimun of 3 chickens at a time if you can. If something happens to one of them, a chicken on its own is not a happy thing. If you introduce new chickens in the future, simillar applies ie don't just add one on their own or they won't have any friends for company and might get very bullied.

Personally, I would go for either 4 ex-batts, or 4 hybrids (assuming you want 4). That way you avoid any potential problems introducing new birds in the near future. If you do want to introduce new birds one way to get them used to each other is to have the new girls in a seperate run for a while - close enough for them to see each other and get used to the "strangers".

Do you need to protect your chickens from foxes? Most of us do - there are country and town foxes these days. So I would consider going for the stronger weldmesh for your run - there have been cases of foxes chewing through the thinner chicken wire to get a free meal Sad

Where were you thinking of using the corregated plastic? I think it might let too much light into the house. Chickens want somewhere safe and dark to lay their eggs, and a plastic roof might let too much light get at the nest boxes? I've never seen a commercial chicken house with a clear roof.

Corregated plastic on the roof of the run would stop the ground below getting very wet and muddy in the winter, especially if your garden is that way inclined anyway. I'm going to have a partially covered run for mine this winter, but it won't all be covered.

Also consider where you want to put the house and run, and if they could benefit from any protection from strong winds in winter- depends how sheltered your garden is.

It is also worth considering what you would do if one of your chickens became sick? It is very useful to have somewhere you can isolate a sick chook if need be - partly so they can't pass anything on to the rest of the flock, and also so they can have some peace and quiet to recover.

But the most important thing to do..... is have fun and enjoy them Very Happy "

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"For roofing I would look for onduline - it's available in most DIY stores and has the added advantage of allowing ventilation and giving red mites no where to hide.

If you buy your girls at POL then they will be on layers food, either pellets or mash, your preference really. I prefer pellets as there is less waste and less scattered around to attract vermin (either rodents or wild birds, both can carry disease). Layers should be freely available all day. Just leave the feeder and they can eat as they will. I also give mine mixed corn in an afternoon, it gives them something to scratch for, is an excellent treat for taming them and as it is digested slowly keeps them full-up over night. You might want to use Cider Apple Vinegar (at a rate of 2%) in their water this is full of essential vitamins and minerals and is good for acidifying their gut, which keeps internal parasites at bay.

I wouldn't worry about vaccinations, most commercial hybrids will already have been vaccinated when you get them. The things you need to do are worm them and keep a look out for mites."