How would I start keeping chickens?

[Glitterballofdreams]

I’ve been thinking of keeping chickens for a long time now, and I’ve done some research. However, some advice from experienced chicken keepers on how to start up and any tips or advice would be amazing!

What's your situation at the moment - do you have land or a backyard etc?

I live on a Croft so I got six chickens, a run and a Nestera Coop. We don't use the run now as they free range all the time over several acres and come back to their coop at night. We built a wooden shed around the coop so if it's a horrible day they have some protection but they don't seem to mind the wind and rain.

I have one of those large feeder buckets with the holes in so that lasts days
Water is just a bucket they drink out of (old sheep lick bucket!)

They sometimes lay their eggs in the hay feeder in my goat barn and they are always outside the kitchen window asking for scraps!

Overall they have a great life and I've never had any health issues I think because they have so much space and fresh things to eat.

I clean the coop once a week and use newspaper on the bottom and shavings. They have hay in the nesting boxes.

It's really quite a simple set up - I feed them well and they lay six eggs a day all year round.

Your location is important. Are you in an area prone to bird flu? If so, you will need to consider having a covered run. You also need to think about predators, electric fencing or dug in chicken wire works well. Once you have the accommodation basics thought out, you get to do the fun bit which is choose your chickens.

Most people start with a hybrid at POL. L They tend to lay year round unlike pure breeds which will stop laying through the winter months. Depending on how much space you have, you might like a smaller bantam breed.

My personal favourite was a Red Sussex, which is a large, traditional, dual purpose breed. Nice, friendly and gentle natured, they are good layers and meat birds.

As long as you get good stock and you keep on top of hygiene, you can't really go wrong.