We are wondering what to put in our nest boxes and on the hut floor. At present we have put straw in the boxes, but nothing on the floor.

I have read that some people use wood shavings for the boxes.

What would be the best material to put on the hut floor?

We have measured the run again, and it is nineteen feet long. Have just bought some pea netting off ebay to go over the top of the run.

Thank you all for your encouragement. My husband is raising the height of the run and gate this morning, and also putting more air holes in the hen hut. The run is about five feet wide and fifteen feet long, with a shelter at the end opposite the shed. They will also be let out on our large lawn, bu...

We are excited, next Sunday, a week tomorrow, we fetch our four hens. Three were asked for but my friend thinks four would be better, in case we lose one... Names are all beginning with L, starting with Lily. This morning we bought hen food, mite and lice powder, and gentian spray from our nearby fa...

Thank you for your reply, Dom. I am sure there will be other questions nearer the time of getting our hens.

Spreckly

We have now got the hen hut, the run sorted, and my husband is making the nesting boxes (ever optimistic). We cannot remember from looking at other hen huts if the boxes have full height partitions between them. Can someone enlighten us, please.

Spreckly

Thank you Robert and Mo for your responses. We thought we were going to a poultry dealer, instead it was a place with Rhode Island Reds, and ex-battery hens, in a garden. We really don't know what to expect, to be honest. Our thinking was that buying locally, instead of travelling several miles, wou...

We have been to enquire about ex battery hens this morning, and were amazed to learn that the proprietor was asking ten pounds per hen. On one website, I see that a donation is asked for, and the average price is between three and four pounds. I am not a mean person, but I thought ten pounds was rat...

Thank you for your reply to my rhubarb query. It just seems a shame to have to waste so much of the rhubarb, when I cut it up.

We have had three meals from our rhubarb, but today when I started to cut it up, half the outer skin came away with the pieces. Is it too soon to pick it, or is it too old? Has anyone any advice, please.

Good to hear from you all. I look forward to being part of the group.

Hello I have just discovered this most informative site. It has taken me over six years, on and off, to persuade my husband that we do have room for a few hens in our rather long and narrow back garden. I have looked at some of the posts, and really appreciated the photos, and advice given. At prese...