Keep chickens
Have fun and learn about animals when you…
Cats, dogs, hamsters, fish and rabbits are some pets and animals you may have at home, or know someone who does. Keeping chickens at home is also becoming more popular. Having a small flock of these friendly feathered creatures in your garden can be great fun and reward you with tasty eggs most days.
Most people who keep chickens have hens, which are female chickens that lay eggs. A young male is a cockerel and an older male is a rooster. You need to have space in your garden to keep chickens in a secure building called a coop. The size of the coop will depend on how many chickens you have. The birds will sleep, feed and lay eggs in it. The coop also protects them from foxes so always close the door securely at night. Try to position the coop so that it is protected from the wind and the Sun.
If your garden does not have high fences
(chickens can’t fly very well but some can reach nearly two metres off the ground) then you will also need an enclosed area attached to the coop, called a run, for them to exercise. Letting chickens exercise during the day keeps them happy and healthy. Chickens need to be fed, given fresh water and checked each day. They eat a mix of chicken feed or pellets, which can be bought from farm shops or pet food shops, plus corn. It is illegal to feed chickens with human food waste unless your family is vegan (doesn’t eat food that comes from animals). Adding grit to a chicken’s food helps it to digest its food and to lay eggs that have hard shells. Chicken poo must be cleaned out frequently to keep the birds in good health. How many eggs you get depends on a few things, such as the breed of hen you have, their age and the time of the year. A hen will not lay an egg every day, but if you have space for three or four birds then you should get a fresh supply each day.