Does anyone here keep chickens?

[char1ie]

You'll have a challenge keeping the foxes out. I think they'll dig under the edges so make sure that your coop has a floor. Crafty little buggers. My ex lived on a farm that had around 120 chickens in a large run and the foxes managed to infiltrate that. Regularly.

Charlie

[Annasfield]

Not cheap - cheep!! ;-)

[Keef]

char1ie Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> You can't hear a marrow crowing at 5.00am can you?

No, and neither can your neighbours! ;-)

[char1ie]

It's the rooster that does the crowing, not the chickens.

Rooster:

http://www.wallsofthewild.com/rooster.jpg

Chicken:

http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/economy/pictures/chicken.jpg

Charlie

[Keef]

Er I did know that, I was making a funny... Which obviously wasn't very funny :-S

[Alan Dale]

char1ie Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> It's the rooster that does the crowing, not the

> chickens.

>

>

A rooster is a chicken. An adult male chicken.

[char1ie]

Indeed.

[PeckhamRose]

If we think it is a bad idea and we are trying to be helpful, and speaking on behalf of neighbours who may be mighty irritated by the noise and so on, I think we have a right to say so, and the Chav is a lawyer who knows as well as anyone else that such rights (to have a chicken shed and do what the hell she likes) come with responsibilities.

Responsibilities in a modern civilised world include being neighbourly and helpful and kind and thoughtful.

Yes you read lots of negativity in here to your idea, Chav, but go ahead, ignore it all and do what you want and go with your ideas and not the advice or wishes of those around you.

After all, isn't that exactly what politicians do?

[Keef]

Whoa, easy tiger. Chav never said she was going to ignore everyone, and she wouldn't be the first person in London to have chickens.

I can't promise this link will work because my work computer is playing up, but I think this will take you to a thing about a channel 4 programme about forxes, where some chicken keepers had real real problems. If you do decide to keep chickens, please don't do what these c**ts did and hire some wannabe soldier to come round and shoot the foxes using his night vision scope!

Link here

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Much better to save your shot and club them - less expensive.

[PeckhamRose]

Should not the above be a reply to the goose for New Year posting, PeckhamGateCrasher?

But yes, clubbing them is better than shooting.

The shots will have Trident down on you before you can say GasMark5 for 90 mins.

[ChavWivaLawDegree]

As for the neighbours, i already promised them some fresh eggs, so i better get on with it!!

[dulwichmum]

Lovely Chavtastic Amanda,

My Monster-in-Law keeps chickens on her extensive estate in Wales. The next time she rolls into town, I shall invite you over to high tea. She will advise you on how to keep Mr Fox away (apparently they are rampant since the local hunt has been curtailed), the choice of an appropriate breed, and even what to feed them! She really is quite the expert.

[Fuschia]

We did, bantams, we got them from someone else who lives locally. Got a coop from someone via ebay, dug it in well to prevent foxes digging in. Sadly they both got eaten by foxes while out in the garden one afternoon.

There are places you can buy Chicken feed and supplies in Kent and Surrey.

Female chickens don't make much noise or fuss, btw.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Was just browsing the rescue homes for a dog and came across this - they do rescue chickens!

http://www.anim-mates.org.uk/billysdogs.htm

[Ondine]

we keep guinea pigs and get loads of visits from hopeful foxes, who shit everywhere. And one of my neighbours was traumatised by seeing her screaming rabbit being dragged over the fence from a fox. So I suspect it's no fun.

But have you checked out the eglu = claims to be fox proof

[Nero]

Have a 'gander' at this.

Nero

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Chave said: "Don't you think my dogs would scare the rats off, or would I need a cat?"

A pair of cats are better at getting rats - they are a bit of a wuss on their own, rats are quite vicious when cornered. Best option would be a terrier but get one from a pup so you can acclimatise him to the chickens or they will be fair game for him.

[citizenED]

Better check with the council that you are allowed to keep chickens in your yard.

[Fuschia]

The difficulty is either you fill your whole garden with a huge pen, or you keep them in quite a small space, or you let them out/free range, but even in the daytime with you nearby a fox can have them. We also had foxes sitting on the pen roof a lot of the time, biding their time!!!

There's no issue with the council and keeping a few chickens, why should there be? Lot less antisocial than dogs!

PS They can get fleas and lice and things, it can be hard to get vet care. I know a farmer which was a help when needed some medicine for ours.

[woodie]

same happened in our road. did some hamsters/guineapigz in as well.

Brendan Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> We tried to keep chickens once and our dog ate

> them all.

[ChavWivaLawDegree]

Thanks for all the info guys, very helpful and DM, I don't get high anymore, but thank you.

[char1ie]

I don't think high tea means that CWALD. But then I guess you're joking.

Charlie

[dulwichmum]

OHMYGOD!

Lovely Chav,

I was offering cucumber sandwiches and a cup of Earl Grey!

[ChavWivaLawDegree]

Oh, in that case, I'd be honoured DM!