chickens

[kopend]

can anyone keep chickens in their back garden
and are there any good tips

[Illyria54]

If you live in a built up area it might be a good idea if you checked with your local council, if in rural areas it shouldn't pose too much of a problem unless you decide to get a cockerel, again if in rural areas make sure the chicken run is completely secure, one of those coups with run attached is probably a good option, make sure that you shut the coup at night, foxes soon learn where chickens are and believe me if you don't shut them up it's a mistake you only make once, chickens need perches to roost at night and nest boxes to lay their eggs in, we always feed a warm mash in the morning (especially in Winter) comprising of layers mash and cooked potato peelings, and any other cooked veg, chickens will eat most things, meat included, not salty or too spicy though (not last nights leftover curry!!), in the evening about an hour before roosting time give them a feed of good chicken corn, a chicken should go to roost with a full crop, also give them ad lib grit, we use oyster shell mostly, they also like greens as well as grass, throw the odd cabbage in or a few leaves of if you only keep a very small number of birds, plenty of soft straw to line nest boxes, clean nesting areas thoroughly once a week but obviously keep an eye on cleanliness all the time and replenish straw as and when.
Have fun if you decide to keep chickens, it's lovely to be able to collect your own eggs.

[MONTCRIEFF49]

are they free range

[TIGGERLIT]

im hoping to have a couple of chickens at the end of the year. i watched the jamie oliver programe on free range hens and that and also mentioned about battery hens being rescued. i found the website that rehomes them before they get killed and they have centres all over the place. i emailed the one near me and she was so helpful. she said that the centres do open days and they show you everything they need from the food to a good house. she said that 90% of them still lay eggs for up to 9 years. we were going to get baby ones but thought this was a better idea as you save a hen and still get eggs. if you want their website let me know

[Illyria54]

TIGGERLIT, we have rescued ex battery birds in fact most of our chicken were in cages, poor souls, when we first get them they don't come out of the chicken house for days, then the first time they really see daylight brings a tear to your eyes, when they venture on to the grass the look on their faces, they haven't a clue what it is, then they start scratching about and having dust baths, all things they should have been doing from day one it all come so naturally to them, it is criminal putting 5 birds in what amounts to a cage the size of a microwave oven.

kopend. If you get ex-battery birds you won't regret it they lay like mad almost all year around.

[MrsJ1]

We have two Bovans Goldline chickens (Thelma and Louise!). We've had them just over a year and have had an egg from each of them almost every day since then. They are amazing. They're not freerange as they are confined to a coop but have plenty of space and a football and some dvd's (hung up, they dont have a dvd player!) to keep them amused. We move them around the lawn (which they kindly mow and fertilize) during the summer and put them on bark chippings on the patio for the worst of the winter. Do check the deeds to your property before buying though. we live in an old cottage but the new house next door has a clause in their deeds that says they are not allowed to keep chickens or any livestock.

[Goofy]

I suggest you try this site
http://www.kelseyinfo.co.uk/yabb/YaBB.pl
lots of very experienced poutlry keepers on the forum, and will give you advice on housing, breeds etc.