Has anyone got any advice on keeping chicken's???

Question

i live above a shop and have a really large roof terrace and really want chicken's, i have done some reserch and think that if i get a very large rabbit hutch and extend it so that it has a runn the length of the roof and as wide as a double wardrobe with grass in it they will be fine.

any info would be appreciated please

how often do they need cleanning out? is about the only thing that i couldn't find out, what are the pit fall's if any?

i'm getting 3 female's.

Answer 1

First, make sure keeping chickens is permitted where you are. They are not allowed in many residential areas.  Be sure they have shade and a roof so they can get cool and out of the rain.    You might want to invest in a copy of "Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens"  by Gail Damerow -- it is a great resource.  It says to clean the coop twice per year, but depending on how big the rabbit hutch is, what the floor is like, how close they are to other people, and your own tolerance for yuck, you may need to do it more often.  (13 meat chickens can cover 24 square feet with almost 2 inches of p**p in under 5 days.  Our egg layers would take 2-4 weeks to make that much p**p.  Ours don't walk in it, so it doesn't get compressed down.  It might be less if they trample it down.  But then you'd be throwing litter in there too.)  You'll also need some sort of nesting box/area for them to lay eggs (I assume these are laying hens?).  We've had our flock for a few months, and they should start laying in the next 3 weeks.  They are being primarily cared for by a 6 year old, so they really are very little trouble, and are entertaining to watch.  If you can find or dig up worms, it is hilarious to watch them scramble for them.

Answer 2

if they were on my roof terrace i would clean them everyday not to draw insects and vermin, you don't say if you know what to feed them, if your getting hens you will need to feed them a mash made from vegetable waste peelings etc mix this with some 'layers meal' (to ensure fit healthy laying hens) throw down sum 'grit' you can buy this or you can use crushed eggshells and fine sand (this goes to making strong eggshells) any waste from your table they will eat as well, they are an eggcelent (couldn't resist, sorry) way of recycling, Rhode Island Reds are great layers and very friendly. good luck with your venture.

Answer 3

you`lle need a big shed about 5 by 8 feet, some chicken wire

and some rope. Tie the rope to something solid..tie the other end round you`re neck then jump off the roof!

Answer 4

They need a place to roost and a place to lay their eggs.  We have  2x4's in one corner so they can get up off the ground and sit on them.  They look like steps in the corner.  We also built them boxes to lay eggs in.  The need fresh water and food.  If you get very young chicks they need to be kept warm.

Answer 5

If you do get a cockerel later you will need to stop him crowing late at night and early in the morning, it is easy to do and painless for the bird, you must lock him in the hen shed for the night and put a board just above his head, he can not crow if he can't stretch his head up, once you let him out in the morning he will start so don't let him out to early, others and you need to sleep.

Answer 6

The BBC1 Programme 'Countryfile' ran some items over the past few months about keeping Chickens ! Do NOT look after Chickens the way that Frank Spencer did in an Episode of 'Some Mothers do Ave Em' on BBC Television in the early 1970's !

Answer 7

Don't let them in the house, or borrow the car, don't even lend them money, but their eggs are lovely and so is the chicken, good with Lea & Perrins source.

Oh yeah, don't kiss them (bird flu is real).

Beyond that the only thing I know about keeping them is they really put you off your breakfast when you see a headless one running round the garden after the dog got to it! - Oh the memories. lol

Answer 8

everyday.. that is the biggest pitfall!  they love to scratch and will trash your nice bit of grass in a matter of days. then they will be in a barren cage.. is that really a nice thing to do to chickens?

Answer 9

I'd recommend cleaning at least once a week, though twice would be best. As for the run - you will need a lot of space to keep chickens because as someone previously said; they scrat and will ruin the grass in days! So you need your grass divided up into 4 bits so you can rotate it and give the grass chance to recover. Also, for winter it would be ideal to have a concrete bit that you can put the run on or else the chickens will get awfully muddy and cold. You'll need to put straw down on the concrete and sprinkle worms, food and bits of scraps down for them so they can still root around. Other aspects of chicken care include daily feeding and watering - they need to be fed hen corn or similar though they don't eat a great deal. Water obviously needs to be available 24/7 and I would recommend a proper water hopper for chickens or they'll knock it over or fall in (and chickens can't swim). They'll need nesting boxes - one each. These need to be raised up off the ground inside their coop. The whole run and coop needs to be predator-proof - foxes, rats, and even other birds such as magpies will kill chickens. They need to be locked in their coop on a night as well, not loose in the run. Good luck with them, once you get the hang of it they're fairly easy to keep. Feel free to email me.

Answer 10

i know a good advise

EAT IT

Answer 11

The only chicken im keeping at the moment, is in the fridge.

its got its own foil tray, stuffing, and parsley on top. £3.50 from sainsburys. saves a lot of hassel.

ok i dont get the eggs, but sainsburys do them too.

Answer 12

chickens r very difficult 2 keep... u need 2 guard them or keep a chick frendly dog fer themm... there is no need for cleaning.. mayb once a week... n itzz very cute ven v keep chickens... n joy

Answer 13

All sounds good, but they need to be cleaned about once a week - have two bantams (small chikadees and they make A LOT of mess. You will also need a large sleeping area with at least on pole across for them to sit and roost on. .. Also, the grass it perfect, but beware it will be mush soon.

Answer 14

They will need a proper perch to roost on, one that thier feet can curl around, chickens can get very bad feet if not allowed to perch properly, if as you say you are going to keep them on a roof terrace then have a house and run that you can move about so as not to attract rats, they need cleaning out about every 2nd day that is to say, take out soiled stuff every 2nd day, then once a week take the whole lot out, wash & disinfect the house and replace all bedding.

Enjoy the lovely fresh eggs.

Answer 15

Watch out for the flying foxes .

Answer 16

I reccommend not getting chooks. They are not hard to look after but they need a lot more than what you have to offer. Sorry:(

Answer 17

sounds like trouble to me...you live above a shop??    how about the people underneath.....chickens make a noise and in close quaters are a bit grubby.....they need ground to scratch in and grass as well....a roof top is not the best place at all...id say no to this idea

Answer 18

we had 220  they all got eaten by foxes cos the sheep broke down the fencing

Never use hay as bedding it gives them coughs use straw

Give them as much grass left overs  greens -egg shells as you can -and let them scratch for worms and bugs - you will get awesome fresh orange firm eggs -not the rubbish runny yellow things you get in the supermarket

Answer 19

Wow...Keeping chickens as pets....I've had fish, hermit crabs, hamsters, cats, dogs, & rabbits---but never had a chicken!  I did find some Great sites on the internet for you to check out about keeping chickens as pets:

http://www.mypetchicken.com/chickenFAQ.a...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19871559/

http://home.centurytel.net/thecitychicke...

http://www.gomestic.com/Pets/Unusual-Pet...

I hope one of these sites can help answer your questions---I found them very interesting and I wish you all the best with your new pets!!  Take Care!