Hello

[grahamhobbs]

Sometimes I think I must be the luckiest person in London, we have a big and beautiful allotment near central London, it is approx. 80m x 15m with a 10' high brick wall along the long side which faces due south, perfect for growing fruit to feed the squirels with. We have 2 large polytunnels and several glasshouses in poor repair (can't afford to keep replacing the glass broken in high winds). We are allowed to grow fruit trees on our allotments so it doesn't feel like the usual municipal allotments but as if we are gardening in a private walled garden. We have lovely neighbours and regular gatherings and parties.
We have had the allotment for nearly 10 years, having taken it on when it was totally overgrown, but having mastered the brambles, couch and bindweed we are now in a position where we are seriously aiming to produce all our own vegetables for at least 9 months of the year. I grow a massive range of vegetables and am getting to grips with producing a variety in succession throughout the year. We have limited storage facilities for vegetables but bottle apples and other fruit.
Seriously thinking about adding a beehive (went on course many years ago), building a brick oven for baking bread and pondering whether we could keep chickens - can someone answer do they need attention every day or would every other day be ok, also even if the coup is secure would foxes frighten them to death?

[Millymollymandy]

Hi and welcome

In answer to the chicken query yes they need attention at least twice a day - letting them out and putting them back in at night for starters! They need fresh water every day and really, any animal needs looking at every day to make sure that everything is OK. I don't know about the foxes frightening them, if they are shut in securely at night I imagine they'd be asleep and they wouldnt be able to see it unless it was trying to get in. Not sure about that one.

[ina]

Hiya Graham, and welcome to Ish for a start!

In an ideal world, MMM is right: you should look at all your livestock daily. But I have known folk who got away with doing it every other day; it does depend a lot on your setup. If you have a very securely fenced section that's definitely fox, human and other predator safe, you might be ok.

[Odsox]

Welcome Graham
Sorry Ina, I must disagree with you.
I agree with MMM, chicken need looking at at least twice a day. What happens if they tip their water over just after you left ?
It happens, and chicken without water for 2 days is cruelty.

Regarding foxes frightening chicken, I don't think that is a problem.
I had a fox "kill" a chicken once, I shot the fox and half an hour later picked up the "dead" chicken to bury it and it sprang to it's feet and ruffled it's feathers and walked away.
Chicken don't seem to be afraid of anything much until they get grabbed, then they either squawk like mad or play dead.

[ina]

Folks - chickens are forest birds, and they survive without fuss quite well... It does depend on the set up. If they have access to water that can't tip over, and doesn't run out, then you are fine. For me chickens are livestock, and not pampered pets! A friend of mine has several dozen of the beasties, and they never really get looked at; they are totally free range, don't get fed and watered, multiply like hell (because they find great hiding places for their eggs). So the only problem is that my friend still has to buy eggs at times. But the chickens only die if one is particularly daft and doesn't fly up high enough if a fox comes round. Never seen one sick, either. Of course, a sick one might have done what birds in the wild do - hidden away somewhere to die.

But then they are farm birds, not garden birds.

[grahamhobbs]

Wow, overwhelmed by so many replies, thanks to all of you for your comments. I guess I tend to go along with Ina, that they can look after themselves, but in putting them in a restricted pen, you must guarantee that they are safe and have food and water. My next question is, are there any feeders suitable for a small pen that will hold sufficient food for 2 or 3 chickens for a couple of days and is reasonably vermin proof, and is there a similar water dispenser (not connected to the mains) available?

[Odsox]

Never seen one sick, either. Of course, a sick one might have done what birds in the wild do - hidden away somewhere to die.

Wow you have led a sheltered life then Ina.
That's exactly what happened to me on Sunday. One of my chicken was in moult and looked a bit sad when I fed them at 4:00, but by 6:00 she was dead.
Given all the rain we've had she probably got a chill while being run down by moulting.
Anyway getting back to our original post, if I had left her in the run for 2 days, in Central London, in temperatures of 30c or more, I think I might expect a visit from an environmental health officer.

I do agree though that free range on a farm can be left to fend for themselves.

[hedgewitch]

No chook advice but

[old tree man]

Hello :welcomeish:

[red]

welcome

I'd prefer to visit the hens every day, if nothing else, you really need to collect the eggs regularly, otherwise you will end up with problems with egg eating, encouraging broodiness rats nicking them etc.

if you build a fox proof (well as much as possible) run, you wont need to let them out or put them back in, you can leave the door open and let them put themselves to bed. if you prefer to shut them up - you can get solar powered devices that react to the light, or I know someone who has a gizmo set up so that she phones a mobile number, and the door shuts!
you can get feeders that last for many days.. some folks reckon hanging them make them less available to vermin.

[grahamhobbs]

Thanks for all the welcomes, concern and advice, it's great to be connected to you all. Hope I can be as helpful in return.