Berek chicken farming

[Berek]

in a couple of weeks I am taking delivery of a couple of hens. Do you think the dog will kill them ?? also what do I feed them ??

I plan to eat them in a couple of months

[Uncle Mort]

I thought most people keep them for the eggs rather than to eat. 

[Berek]

i'm going to have eggs for a couple of months then i'm going to eat them.. this decision is final

[Pastis]

Beware of the fox!

[Berek]

do bats eat chickens ?? we have one in our attic !

[Uncle Mort]

Not the belfrey then? 

[Snoopy]

Strange as this may sound Berek but Chickens eat CORN + anything they can grub up in your garden (Slugs, worms etc are particular favourites). Boiled potato peelings and other stuff mixed with "chicken mash" helps and they need grit (to form the egg shells) Speak to whoever you are getting them from about feeding. They also drink a lot of water.
OR at least ours did when we kept them and I doubt that chickens have changed their habits much over the 55 years since I use to feed them.

AND yes your dog will probably chase and kill them given the chance.

[Darwins Selection]

Strange as this may sound Berek but Chickens eat CORN + anything they can grub up in your garden (Slugs, worms etc are particular favourites). Boiled potato peelings and other stuff mixed with "chicken mash" helps and they need grit (to form the egg shells) Speak to whoever you are getting them from about feeding. They also drink a lot of water.
OR at least ours did when we kept them and I doubt that chickens have changed their habits much over the 55 years since I use to feed them.

AND yes your dog will probably chase and kill them given the chance.

I have nothing to add.

Except, there will be foxes even where you are, and they are very persistent.

[Pastis]

Except, there will be foxes even where you are, and they are very persistent.

Exactly. (see above)

They wreaked havoc with my sister's Buff Orpingtons and eventually killed the lot in spite of the wire.

When she first told me she was going to see the Buff Orpingtons I assumed it was yet another chapter in her hectic social whirl involving drinks and finger food 

[Nick]

Have you considered a crocodile?

The foxes wouldn't bother it

[Snoopy]

<snigger>

[Nick]

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/afp/20080704/tod-switzerland-animals-offbeat-7f81b96.html

[Snoopy]

I have a niece who lives in Switzerland. She tells me that they are very strict about obeying local byelaws and have no hesitation in "reporting" infringements, even by their firends and relatives.

There are, of course, byelaws about how close to housing one may keep chickens in the UK too ~ I wonder if Berek has thought this through 



Apart from foxes they also tend to attract rats, who will scavenge any food the hens do not consume ...... expect trouble from the neighbours Berek.

[Nick]

http://www.gardenpoultry.cwc.net/ftpk1.htm

A friend of mine was arrested in Switezarland for some piffling traffic offence. I think it was something to do with his windscreen wipers 

He was subjected to an array of psychometric tests and a machine was produced which tested his hand eye co-ordination.

His licence was confiscated. 

[Snoopy]

Yes ~ The niece tells me that hanging out washing on a Sunday will get you a visit from the neighbourhood policeman and a fine, as will any number of other very minor infringements of what seem to be extraordinarily complicated byelaws.