If you're planning on using barrier red mite powder .. It's not intended for use in the house only on the birds. So what is the stuff to put in the coop? & is it best to do coop or hens? for prevention that is. I know these hens are mite free now, but there are a couple of chickens nextdoor to ...

Hi, We're getting our coop Weds & picking up the hens Thursday. A buff & a black Orpington, not sure about the third (3 inc with the coop price) We may go for a Bluebell, does anyone have these? are they good natured & docile? They also have Ambers, they looked a bit flighty. starting fo...

sit and talk to them (ok so your neighbours might think you are bonkers but it works). I'm sure our neighbours already know we're bonkers! Actually our chicken obsession started off on holiday at a farm cottage in Cornwall, where there were free range chickens & ducks galore. My son fell in lov...

Hello all you experienced chicken keepers, I have another (rather daft) question. Having now found a nice, locally made henhouse, we are dwelling on which 3 chickens to actually get. Looks like one will be a buff orpy, but my other son cant decide, he wants me to ask you all - which is the most cudd...

Hi, we're still preparing to get our hens(shouldnt't be long now!) The place I was about to clear for the run seemed perfect in all ways, except it will only get sun first thing in the morning. We're hoping the chickens can free range alot of the time so it wont matter then, but on days when they ha...

one orpington who is gorgeous. She is the only one who has ever gone over the fence Golly! I didnt think an Orpington with those short wings would get that far off the ground! This morning I loaded 6lb of stuff from the cupboard into a bag & handed it to my son so he could imagine cuddling a he...

We've been discussing which 3 hens to get. I'm thinking that bantums may not be the best for us, as they're more likely to escape into nextdoor's (has nice veg patch!) or the field (fence is lower our side). The family favourites so far are - a buff Orpington, a Faverole, & a silkie. Does anyone...

Thanks everyone for the replies. The hedge is fenced at the bottom, I'm more concerned about them flying over the top, I'm hoping that if they cant perch on it, they're less likely to try& go over. I had thought to get silkies or orpingtons that cant get far, but then we fell in love with some b...

Hi, we've decided to get 3 hens & I have some questions. I'm intending to free range them most of the time, most of the fencing is quite high but there's a 5 foot beach hedge between us & a neighbour, & we have a veg patch that will need fencing in. The kids are quite keen on getting Pek...