I’m not sure if I am getting confused here - but the entire fenced area isn’t concrete, it’s grass, with the exception of the steps and tiles running down and through...
aidanhoad Sorry! I got the wrong end of the stick. The grassed area in you pic will be OK for them but we had three hens once that roamed free all day. As soon as they saw me heading for the veg patch, they'd sprint after me and devour every creepy crawly I unearthed. Good luck with them.
I think it is a good idea to put the hen house on the concrete slab to make it fox-proof. It's easy to put the hose and some disinfectant through to clean. There's plenty of grassy area for them to scratch around in, once outside in "the wilds of Scotland" !!
That's much ore clear. The hen house will be fine on the concrete and the chooks will be happy, initially with all of that grassed area to roam in and peck about. I suspect your low fences may not keep them in once they decide the grass is greener on the other @Dovefromabove
They will need a sheltered, covered area for when it rains. They don't mind showers but don't like being soaked and, as mentioned, they need a dry dust bath available every day. I was advised by @Dovefromabove to hang cabbages upside down for them to peck at - it provides entertainment, is a good use for cabbages past their best or full of caterpillars and slugs and helps them strengthen their neck muscles. My hens are all rescues and were in a sorry state but are now fit and bonny and very busy.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
@Obelixx I like that idea of hanging up odd bits of cabbages - when out on my doggie walks, I pick wild spinach for them (now it) and hang that up by the stalks. Never thought of cabbage. Good tip! @Dovefromabove Thanx.
My neighbour keeps her 4 chickens in converted old animal housing with a concrete floor, strewn with straw, but they are let out every morning and have a very large area to roam freely. However, she now has only 3 chickens as a buzzard got one, so think about how they are going to be protected when out their house. Are you going to create a sturdy cage with roof from chicken wire or similar over the grassy part? They do need protection from overhead predators, plus those on four paws can be out during the day too and will laugh at your fence as they leap over it 😊
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
We have our hen house and pen in a fenced 25m x 29m potager in which they may now roam at will - except where we've netted off crops. They put themselves to bed at dusk and we just have to close the door to keep foxes out. We know there are some about as our neighbours have warned us but they don't visit us by day - two dogs on parade.
They get let out when one of us gets up. No bovver as yet from local buzzards or other birds of prey but they have plenty of cope with more normal fare in the surrounding fields and woods. That may change once breeding gets under way but by then we'll be out in the garden and potager too and thus a deterrent.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
If there's not much shrub cover an old low table or three, or a few similar constructions to provide cover from birds of prey circling above will be useful.
And no, that fence won't keep them in ... but is there any reason why they shouldn't venture further afield? Is that your land the other side of the fence?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I was thinking more daytime danger from passing dogs, but maybe not so much of a problem if it’s remote with not many folks with dogs passing?
This neighbour has a dog that has adopted and guards ‘his’ chickens very possessively, but the buzzard still got by him and killed one. The chicken was rescued alive, due to the dog barking furiously and alerting her - she was inside having lunch - but it died a few days later, probably of shock more than it’s wing injury.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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Is this not enough grassed area?
They will need a sheltered, covered area for when it rains. They don't mind showers but don't like being soaked and, as mentioned, they need a dry dust bath available every day. I was advised by @Dovefromabove to hang cabbages upside down for them to peck at - it provides entertainment, is a good use for cabbages past their best or full of caterpillars and slugs and helps them strengthen their neck muscles. My hens are all rescues and were in a sorry state but are now fit and bonny and very busy.
They get let out when one of us gets up. No bovver as yet from local buzzards or other birds of prey but they have plenty of cope with more normal fare in the surrounding fields and woods. That may change once breeding gets under way but by then we'll be out in the garden and potager too and thus a deterrent.
If there's not much shrub cover an old low table or three, or a few similar constructions to provide cover from birds of prey circling above will be useful.
And no, that fence won't keep them in ... but is there any reason why they shouldn't venture further afield? Is that your land the other side of the fence?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
This neighbour has a dog that has adopted and guards ‘his’ chickens very possessively, but the buzzard still got by him and killed one. The chicken was rescued alive, due to the dog barking furiously and alerting her - she was inside having lunch - but it died a few days later, probably of shock more than it’s wing injury.