Oh dear - are the perches too high? There is a ladder getting to the table and the logs are stacked so they can hop easily (I thought). Will they jump off the table? This is a better angle http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv146/wendybird_bucket/Chickens/P1060162640x480.jpg I will separate them and...

So two silkies arrived yesterday afternoon. They have been named Daisy and Annabelle by my four year old and they are lovely! Daisy checking things out from the safety of the carrier. http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv146/wendybird_bucket/Chickens/P1060154640x480.jpg Kids waiting patiently http:/...

Thank you everyone for such wonderful advice and support! I have just gotten off the phone with a breeder and I'm off to get 2 silkies this afternoon and 3 hybrids tomorrow! I will post pics as soon as I can

Yes, have grit and oyster shell. I didn't think of sudocream, so will get some of that and the purple spray.

I've hinted strongly to the husband that an automatic door opener would be a very good mother's day pressie I suspect I'll be getting one soon, though my 4 year old is a very early riser and would probably love this particular chore

I have 2 kilos of DE ready, but not flubenvet. Where is best to get that? I'm planning on 4-5 chooks and have read that the pellets have a short use by date, so should I get powder? Will pick up some poultry spice. Any other meds, etc for emergencies?

I am very nearly chicken ready, just a couple of final touches on the run tomorrow.

I have the basics; bedding, pellets, corn, treats, etc. I also have apple cider vinegar. What else do I need?

So so excited!!

I have yet to think about chicken breeds as I'm still working on the chicken housing, but you've got me sorely tempted by silkies! So very very cute

Oh no. I'm so terribly sorry. What an awful shock.

Ugh, I know you are right. Having looked at it again with fresh eyes this morning I am going to go with the original plan and see how we get on. It is just going to take longer and more materials than I anticipated. On a positive note I found a pallet that is just the right size to raise my coop on ...

Thank you all for your wise advice. I had intentions of getting the run up this weekend, but have realised the ground is not as level as I first thought (after laying a lot of the foundation - oops!) and 6x 12 feet is not as big as it looked when I was measuring! So I'm having a rethink about it all...

I'm glad you have 'help'. Later anything you do in the garden will have hens helping as well as toddlers, so you'll be doubly blessed. Such a good start for them, to learn where food comes from and how to care for animals. Yes, this has occurred to me - thus trying to get it right the first time I ...

Thanks everyone! The ground where the run is to go is reasonably level, so I'm thinking I may lay a perimeter of paving slabs and level them out, then put a couple of fence posts with spikes in to secure the whole structure. I will have a corrugated roof (& guttering!) but will postpone that unt...

I have just taken delivery of the aviary panels I will use to construct my run and would love your advice on the best way to go about securing it. I will attach wire to the panels and bury a 'skirt' as I've read about, but should I put the panels on some sort of foundation to prevent rot? Such as di...

Oh yes, I'm tall so had considered the height issue - we'll be going 6 foot panels in the front up to about 7 feet at the back. I was just going to get standard door - so just shy of 3 feet wide - do I need to reconsider that? I was hoping by using sand on the bottom of the coop and run (hay or shav...