Chicken Project

[Caralou1981]

I've been thinking for a while about offering help to other people locally who want to keep back garden chickens and don't know what to do or are put off by the initial outlay costs.

I'm not sure how much interest people will have in this but I can offer guidance on how to set up a coop cheaply or free using salvaged materials, would be willing to hatch eggs for free for people to start them off with chickens under one of my broody hens in spring as well as showing those who want to know how to dispatch male birds or meat birds.

I also have a few bits and pieces of equipment that are free to good homes locally and even a couple of point of lay chooks for people who really want to jump straight in (as long as they have a good set up and know what they are doing first of course though!). I'm in the Dewsbury area (near Leeds) and am happy to talk people through set ups either at my setup or coming out to them locally. Please though, let those who are new get the freebies and not if you already have a set-up, I want to encourage more people into this so think that's only fair

I guess I just love keeping my girls (I also have a few ducks and can talk people though this as well) and want other people to learn that good quality eggs from home chickens beat any shop bought and the welfare is in your hands not a cage. I'd also love to hear from other people locally who keep chickens .
Cara x

[maple]

Hi Cara,

Im working my way up to getting some chooks for the garden. The idea is for them to have some space to run around in whist locked in at night (we have foxes) but just roaming the garden for the rest of the time. I am going to make my own coop and was hoping for some advice like how much space per chook? do chooks use perches? best materials to use and any design ideas. Im a little handy but my jobs always have that rustic just about to fall apart look. I have a hammer, drill and a jig saw thats about it.

Look forward to hearing from you,

Jo

[Carlos78]

Hey Caralou1981

Im would like to know more about keeping chickens, I think i have an idea of what is needed for the start up but would love it if you would be able to give me a list of what would be needed two keep two / three chickens and how much food and space would roughly be needed too, also what kinds of things would they eat (eg veg peelings, grain etc) all advice would be greatly received so i could evaluate if it is worth me starting it up as i have a limited income.

For a little bit of background of where im thinking, i have a section of garden roughly 6m by 6m where im looking to plant 3 fruit trees and thought they could help fertilise and dispose of dropped fruits and possible any bugs, the ground is currently lawn with a border planted with some plants n shrubs what would be removed / moved if i went ahead with it. It is also a site near my compost heap i started this year incase this would case any problems with the chickens

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give
Carl