Hi Everyone

Tomorrow I am picking up 2 hens. This will be my first time in keeping and would just like any advice to what else I need.

I have got a 2 storey 4ft hutch for them. The top level I have put 2 boxes in with straw (just in case they lay, fingers crossed!). Then they have a ramp down to bottom level which I have covered with straw and with water, feed bow and grit bowl

Not sure if they are coming with feed...They were bought as a pet for someones child but he is scared of them!!. So I bought a small bag of layers pellets and some corn just in case to tied them over the weekend.

From the bottom level I can open the door and attach a 5ft run. Hopefully they will be able to roam the garden after a while.

So here goes, all the questions...and I apologise now if they sound stupid but if you dont ask you dont know hhahah.

I have a 4ft fence around the garden with 2ft trellis on top that has plants growing so is enclosed. Will they be able to fly that high and escape into next doors? If so, if I keep them in the hutch and run for a bit and keep them happy and well fed will they not want to escape and if they did would they come back to home?

As I have said I have put straw down in the hutch...do I put shavings as I do my Piggies for their poo and something for them to scratch around in?

Is the size of the hutch and the run ok for them?

They are laying at moment and obviously may go off with the move but will they pick up again or will it be next year now.

OMG so many things I had thought of but now cant think of so Please if anyone has any advice can you pass it on to me, however small.

I just want 2 happy hens.

Heres a pic of the hutch when I set it up and yes I know the top front should be the bottom haha but being female I so dont do putting together!! so I am going to put a piece of board across the open top if they need it

Attached Images

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How are you getting on then?

Usually we use hay for the nesting boxes and straw, shavings or grass for their other areas, that way the nesting boxes have a different bedding, are softer and easier to nest in.

Hens can fly so 6foot is nothing, I would use the 5ft run for a while and settle them in so they know where home is.

The cage is rather small and looks dark but that may be the picture. It is still far better than any battery system though. Make sure they get sunlight but also have shelter so they do not get too hot.

They may stop laying and start a heavy moult, losing all their feathers to regrow new ones, sometimes a move can trigger this.

Do you have an update

Thanks for replying Cascara.

Well picked them up this afternoon instead of yesterday. They had laid this morning.
The family had had them since August and had just started to lay then. They have been used to roaming the garden and are so tame....wandering into the kitchen when I was there. Such a shame their little boy was scared of them.

The hutch is light, I think it was the pic as I took it on my phone. I was going to block the other top half too for sleeping and laying? but maybe not a good idea.

I thought about just using the run until they were used to me and their surrondings and then they can have the run of the garden. Do you think a week? or more or less.

The hutch will only be used for night time although the door will be open for them to go into if they wish and I will change the straw in their boxes to hay tomorrow as its a bit dark now and they are settled.

Is wing clipping cruel? My neighbour has mentioned about wire so they cannot perch on the fences and then hop down. I just want them safe. How does everyone else keep their hens confined to their garden?

They have come with a sack of pellets. Is there anything else they need for a staple diet?

Probably have loads of questions over the next few days hahaha!!!

You are making a good start

Wingclipping IS cruel, feather clipping isn't but it does reduce the ability of the hen to fly away from trouble. I prefer to have mine with full feathers so they can get away froma fox, dog, cat, squirrel, kid whatever. But see how you go, they sould lovely and tame, so a week should be plenty to let them get to know you But play it by ear.

Sounds like Layers pellets? They will give them a good base, then you could add a few goodies like greens so they can peck around, if they are going to bein the garden check you don't have any poisonous flowers or that they won't get told off for scratching holes and baths lol. One of my old hens used to love picked off the flower heads and dropping them on the ground, lol, didn't even eat them, I am sure she did it just for fun lol.