Guest Countryboyo Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 Ive 3 hens ordered for thursday and I have a few questions. what time of the evening should i put my free range hens in for the night and what should I do about nest boxes in my 3 foot x 3 foot x 3 foot high hen house? Would the hens be ok in this size of a hen house for the full night? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mccroryart 0 Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 Ive 3 hens ordered for thursday and I have a few questions. what time of the evening should i put my free range hens in for the night and what should I do about nest boxes in my 3 foot x 3 foot x 3 foot high hen house? Would the hens be ok in this size of a hen house for the full night? Once they get used to it, they will go in themselves - just before dark but at the start you will have to catch them and put them in - use a landing net for this. IMO the easy way to look after hens is to put up a good walk in pen - wire the sides and sheet the roof (even with just felt over wire) - put the hen house, nest box and water inside, place straw or wood chips on the floor. This method is easy to keep clean, they get fresh air and if you cant let them out some days then at least they can move around. Eamonn Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Countryboyo Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 Ive 3 hens ordered for thursday and I have a few questions. what time of the evening should i put my free range hens in for the night and what should I do about nest boxes in my 3 foot x 3 foot x 3 foot high hen house? Would the hens be ok in this size of a hen house for the full night? Once they get used to it, they will go in themselves - just before dark but at the start you will have to catch them and put them in - use a landing net for this. IMO the easy way to look after hens is to put up a good walk in pen - wire the sides and sheet the roof (even with just felt over wire) - put the hen house, nest box and water inside, place straw or wood chips on the floor. This method is easy to keep clean, they get fresh air and if you cant let them out some days then at least they can move around. Eamonn Could I not coax them into the hen house in the evening with food? I want my hens to be free range by day and just in the hen house at night. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mccroryart 0 Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 Ive 3 hens ordered for thursday and I have a few questions. what time of the evening should i put my free range hens in for the night and what should I do about nest boxes in my 3 foot x 3 foot x 3 foot high hen house? Would the hens be ok in this size of a hen house for the full night? Once they get used to it, they will go in themselves - just before dark but at the start you will have to catch them and put them in - use a landing net for this. IMO the easy way to look after hens is to put up a good walk in pen - wire the sides and sheet the roof (even with just felt over wire) - put the hen house, nest box and water inside, place straw or wood chips on the floor. This method is easy to keep clean, they get fresh air and if you cant let them out some days then at least they can move around. Eamonn Could I not coax them into the hen house in the evening with food? I want my hens to be free range by day and just in the hen house at night. Yes, as long as they are hungry. they will soon go in themselves anyway. A net is a handy thing to have about Eamonnn Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lost scouse 46 Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 when i got my first hens i made a 4 by 4 house and a 6 by 4 run and kept them enclosed for a week and after that open the door of a morning and just before dark they make there own way back to roost bobs your aunty Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JPTfellterrier 65 Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 sounds fine to me, we had 16 ducks in a wendy house at night but mister fox came and took 12 so we only have 4 now so we plan to get somthing similar to what your thinking about my wonderful photography below Quote Link to post Share on other sites
manksie 0 Posted June 30, 2009 Report Share Posted June 30, 2009 yes that would be fine as they will snuggle up ang keep each other warm. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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