Advice about chicken keeping

[ValerieDavis]

I really like the idea of keeping chickens but just wouldn't know where to start!

My DS has always said that he'd love to have them too (he's even come up with a couple of cute names).

Any advice, chicken keepers?

I was you a couple of years ago! The very basics ...

You need a coop (plastic or wooden but don't get one with a felt roof as they are a breeding ground for red mite). Feeder and drinker. Bedding - we se Aubiose or hemp. How many hens are you thinking of getting? Are you going to let them free-range or have them in a run? If the former, be aware that they can be destructive on your plants! If you're going to have them in a run, then it will need to be large enough to cater for the number of hens you propose keeping. Have a look on the Omlet website - they have a great section on chickens and one on runs which will give you lots of ideas and food for thought.

We have three hens and get, when they're all laying, around 18 eggs a week. Have you looked into bantam breeds versus large fowl? Something else to consider. There are gorgeous breeds available so look for something to suit your set-up.

As far as looking after them goes - 10 mins a day for food, water and cleaning coop. Another 5/10 mins to poo pick the garden or run. We do a big clean once a month (mostly!!) which involves removing and changing all bedding and spraying with poultry shield as an anti-red mite treatment.

Sorry this is so garbled - am watching the tennis and can't concentrate properly!!!

There's so much to consider with chicken keeping - I think maybe just start off with a couple, we have a fairly big garden so wouldn't want them to get lost, perhaps a run would be best.

Thanks so much for your response! Ha ha, I've been so distracted by the tennis too - shame about Murray, would have been a smashing end to a smashing tournament!