Beginners Guide to Keeping Chickens

Interested in owning your own chickens? Want to have eggs that have been freshly laid in the morning? Well here is your guide to doing just that. I understand how daunting it is as a novice to take the plunge, don't worry though, I will guide you through every step.

Buying your Feathered Friends

When buying your new feathered friends there are a few simple things to look out for. Firstly you want to make sure that your chosen chook is nice and healthy. Here are a few tips on what to look out for when buying your chicken. This should make choosing a chicken easier (your garden might not be big enough for all of the chickens available after all).

• The chicken should have lovely bright eyes. If the eyes are watery or crusty then there is the possibility of underlying health problems.

• The condition of any animal's coat is a good indicator of their good or bad health. The feathers should have a nice sheen to them.

• Choose a chicken which is lively rather than one which is inactive and lethargic. Yet again, these are good signs of the chicken's good health.

Home Sweet Home

Home is where the heart is and these chickens will definitely become a loved family member. Here are the essential items to get sorted before welcoming your new chicken's home.

• A chicken coop

• A Run - the minimum space is a square meter of run space for every chicken that you own. This is vital as it comes under the 2006 animal welfare act.

• Drinker

 

• Feeder

• Fake eggs ( helps the chickens to know where to lay their eggs)

• Food scoop

• Dust pan and brush (vital cleaning equipment)

House cleaning:

• They need cleaning out once a week

• They need fresh water, and the drinker needs to be sterilised once a week

• Disinfectant spray is usually needed when cleaning out the coop to prevent any infection/diseases occurring or spreading.

Dinner Time

Choosing the right food for your chicken is very important as it will affect the health of your chickens and the quality of their eggs. The three main chicken feeds are meal/mash, pellets and crumb.

Obviously we all like a treat and chickens are no exception to this rule, they absolutely love mixed corn, but remember it is just a treat. This is just a quick guide and buyers should be aware that help is widely available from specialists.