Keeping Chickens

Keeping chickens is fun! They will keep you amused with their antics, rid your garden of many pests and provide you with fresh eggs!
The chickens I have at the moment - Bluebell, Daisy and Marigold, I got as three week old chicks as I wanted to get them used to being handled. This makes for an easier life if you need to catch them in a hurry or if you need to do wing clipping. Luckily I have a willing helper which makes regular handling much easier! It does mean a longer wait for eggs than if I had bought Point of Lay hens.

Keeping a few chickens in the garden has become more popular in recent years and is a great way to get your own fresh eggs! It is wonderful to be able to step outside and pick up fresh eggs for breakfast and good to see the chickens roaming free in the garden. You won't need a cockerel to get fresh eggs, so there is no need to worry about annoying the neighbours!

Getting started

Most people face no obstacles to begin chicken keeping, however you will need to check the deeds of your property to be sure of this. It is a good idea also to check with your local Council, as some have passed by-laws preventing the keeping of certain livestock in some areas. As long as you have less than 50 chickens there is no need to register them with any authority. When you have completed these checks you then need to decide how many chickens you wish to keep and look for suitable housing.

Chicken coops

Chicken houses or coops come in many shapes and sizes and it is a good idea to do some research before your purchase to ensure that you get the best option for both your space and your chickens. In town gardens it is often best to go for a small, easily moveable house for three or four chickens. This can be kept on your lawn and simply moved to a new spot each week to prevent excessive wear. If you want to have a permanent run you can clear an area and put down bark chippings. These can be easily raked up and replaced when they become soiled. Most chicken houses come with an attached run. This is essential for protection from foxes. Although chickens can be allowed to roam freely in the garden when you are around, they need protection while you are not there. Around dusk my chickens take themselves off to bed inside their house and all I have to do is close the door to keep them safe. I line the nesting box inside the chicken house with wood shavings as I find it easier to deal with than straw or sawdust when cleaning out. I do a full clean out every week and the soiled shavings and droppings go straight into the compost bin. They combine with the other garden waste to make great compost.

Chickens for Sale

There are many different breeds of chicken to consider when you are ready to choose. Many people choose to get ex battery hens. These have outlived their usefulness to the commercial egg producers but, if given some TLC and a good home with quality food, can go on to produce many more eggs. If you want to buy Point of Lay pullets or younger chicks a simple internet search will put you in touch with local breeders who may have several different breeds to choose from. If buying younger chicks you must have a covered run to keep them in until they are big enough to see off the local cats and crows! If you want more exotic breeds you may wish to go to a poultry sale - again an internet search will put you in touch with one near you.

Feeding

Chicks should be fed Chick crumbs until about 8 weeks, when they can go on to Growers pellets until around 18 weeks. Layers Pellets should then be given as the chickens will be almost ready to lay the first eggs and these contain all the nutrients they need! Grit is also necessary as chickens don't have teeth. This grit is used in their gizzards to grind up the food. Calcium in the form of oyster shell grit is commonly given to help with the production of eggs. They can also be given treats of mixed grain and vegetable choppings. I have found that my chickens love spinach and it makes for really orange yolks!

General Care

If your chicken is in good health her comb will be firm, her eyes bright and she will be active. If this is not the case you will need to investigate what may be causing a problem. There are many good books which will help to establish the ailment and you can find a selection here. Unless your garden fences are over 6 feet high you must take steps to ensure your chickens will not fly out of your garden and go off to visit the neighbours!. You can do this by wing clipping, which involves trimming the primary feathers on one wing. This will keep your chickens at home as it unbalances them and makes take off very difficult. You will need to repeat this after your chicken moults - about once a year. A good book on chicken keeping will tell you how to do this, but if you are not confident your vet will advise.