Chicken keeping advice

Surrealean

'lo folks.

Much to my surprise, I have been offered an allotment out in Merlin Park (at least a couple of years after enquiring about them in a different area, but I'm not complaining).

When I originally applied, I was unemployed and had lots of time on my hands: now, I do shift work but only do a 4-day week. I haven't seen the space yet, but it's apparently 10x5 meters, so not bad. We're allowed to keep chickens, or rabbits, and I'm very vaguely thinking about keeping chickens.

Are there any shows coming up soon where I might be able to chat to someone about coops and the like? I was at one a couple of years ago and I'm absolutely certain there's someone in the county who specialises in breeding and making hen-houses, but for the life of me I can't recall them, sadly.

Advice welcome, but fear not, chicken fanciers: I'll not rush into this decision, and this is very much at a nebulous stage of thinking right now.

Hoki

There are people at the Moycullen market every friday who specialise in all things chicken coop related . They sell chickens as well . Thats all i know about the matter im afraid

dcukhunter

You could also try the Claregalway Sunday Market. I have seen signs up that there are chickens for sale there but I don't know is there any coops for sale as well.

Interceptor

There are plenty of people in the area who will sell you coops and birds, have a look for the guy in Athenry on Donedeal who advertises as a Dept of Agri approved poultry breeder and you won't go wrong. The guy in Moycullen is a little pricey for coops but oldmacdonald in carlow on Donedeal will make and deliver anything you want.

Do some research into keeping chickens - there are plenty of books and websites (fowl.ie) and decide if you are just after eggs or whether you want to raise meat birds too. I keep chickens, ducks and turkeys for eggs and meat but after four years I'm still learning. If you just want a few eggs, get a pair of Isabrown chickens and a hen ark and away you go.

'c

biko

It's an Animals issue, Farming/Smallholding maybe?

Anyway some older threads might help
Cluck
Cluck
Cluck
Cluck

I'd visit some Farmer's markets where someone sells eggs and kinda get chatting to them.
Go out and chat to Tara in Athenrye www.freerangepoultry.ie

aonb

how far is the allotment from your house? You will need to make sure that its fox-proof, and that you can get out there very early in the a.m to let the hens out of the coop, and back again at dusk, to close them into the coop.
Theres a list of breeders on IRISHFOWL.COM - breeders are usually happy to bore for Ireland on the subject of hens , and will surely be able to give you lots of advice

DBB

OP, if you'd like me to move this thread to smallholdings, let me or another mod know and we'll move it for you. You might get even more help there!

bluecherry74

I'm about to be first time chicken owner; my run is currently being built in the back garden. I've gotten some very helpful advice from the folks over on the Smallholding forum.

I don't know about shows in your area, but I've contacted a few local chicken sellers on various advertising sites, and some of them have been very helpful and informative regarding various breeds, taking care of hens etc.

I'm about halfway through reading "Keeping Chickens for Dummies" which is pretty good, covers all the basics. A very useful site is backyardchickens.com. It's an America site, but the basic information is the same.

I got my hen house from greenhenworks.com - I got the Big Alp which holds up to 6 hens (even thought I'll be starting with 3 I know I'll end up want to add more :rolleyes: ) It arrived yesterday and it's great; very sturdily built and looks easy to clean. There are lots of sites selling hen house though, just make sure you get one that's made in Ireland and not an imported flat pack as they won't last nearly as long.

Hope some of this helps!