Keeping chickens is fun, and fashionable.  These productive pets are now regularly found in household gardens, as well as on the farm.  They can give town dwellers an opportunity to connect with nature, and allow children to understand how eggs are produced.

Even two or three hens will supply a household with fresh eggs.  They are delightful creatures, with individual characters, and soon become part of the family.

Before bringing your chickens home to roost, check for any restrictions on keeping poultry at your property, and decide whether hens will fit into your lifestyle. 

Although chickens are relatively easy to keep, they still need checking a couple of times a day, and must always have access to fresh water and food.  It’s essential to shut them into their house at night - and let them out again in the morning.  Good hygiene is important, and the henhouse will require cleaning out weekly. 

If you are away from home, even for a night or two, somebody will have to look after the hens.  Maybe a friend or neighbour will oblige, but chickens mustn’t be left to fend for themselves.

The space available and personal choice will influence the way hens are kept.  Free-range is most natural for them, but will not be practical if there are day-time foxes around.  Chickens dig and scratch, which can damage the garden, and they may stray into adjoining plots too.  They will need to be shut into a secure hen-house at night.

A fixed run is difficult to make fox-proof, and isn’t ideal as the grass will quickly be turned into mud or dust.  Keeping chickens confined on the same ground allows disease and parasites to accumulate.

A poultry ark, combining sleeping quarters and run, is perhaps the easiest way of keeping hens in a garden.  If it is moved every day or two, the hens will have fresh grass, and the lawn won’t be ruined.  Hens kept in an ark are very dependant on their owners for their basic needs, and should be provided with a dust bath (a box of dry soil).  A few green vegetables hung up, will also be appreciated.

 When choosing a coop or ark, look for a sturdy structure that is easy to clean out, without too many nooks and crannies.  It should be large enough for the intended number of chickens, but not so spacious that they cannot keep warm in winter.  Make sure there is adequate ventilation, without draughts.  There should be enough perches for roosting, and also a nest box for them to lay all those lovely eggs.

So, which breed or type of chicken to keep?  There are a large number of hybrid and pure-breeds to choose from.  Hybrids have been developed for maximum egg production, and are usually cheaper.  Traditional breeds can be very attractive, but are unlikely to be as productive as hybrids.  If space is restricted, bantams may be preferred, although their eggs will be smaller too.  A cockerel is only required for breeding, and will probably be too noisy for a residential area.   

Before deciding, it’s worth having a look at some of the different types of hen available, and talking to breeders, who will be happy to advise.  Buying from sales isn’t a good idea for beginners.

There are many useful books available, which give information on different types of chickens, and how best to care for them.  Specialist magazines also offer features and advice, with details of suppliers.  In order to enjoy keeping hens, and give them the best chance of a happy life, a little further reading and research will prove very useful.  

By Anne Perdeaux

This content was provided by one of our users, Anne Perdeaux