keeping hens
for free fresh eggs
Rescuing ex-caged hens can be an extremely rewarding experience. Not only because eggs are such a nutrient dense food, but hens are well known for being the most confident of breeds. . . and make the most surprising, wonderful pets!
[ Do rescue hens still lay eggs? ]Whether battery, free range or barn raised, once a laying hen's egg production has fallen below the level considered 'commercially viable' (usually at around 72 weeks old), hens are either slaughtered for animal feed, or passed on to rescues.
However, although no longer profitable for an egg producer, you can still expect as many as four eggs a week, per bird. . . for the next two or three years!
CLICK OR TAP HERE TO CLOSE THIS INFO
All laying hens need is a safe, secure, place to feed and roost, and a healthy diet with enough protein and calcium to form healthy eggs.
what about the noise?
Despite the common misconception, hens are quiet! The noise nuisance almost always comes from Cockerels or 'Roosters'. Fortunately, you do not need a cockerel in order for your hens to lay. . . in fact, they may actually prefer not to be constantly 'bothered' by a randy rooster! Of course, any eggs laid in the absence of a rooster are going to be unfertilised, and so will never hatch.
feeding your hens
Being omnivores, chickens will eat just about anything, however; to prevent cross-species infection it has been illegal to feed kitchen scraps to your hens since the Foot & Mouth outbreak in 2001. . . even if your household is entirely vegan!
[ Bonus content: an absurdity of the law... ]It is PERFECTLY legal to pick a cauliflower from your garden, strip the outer leaves immediately and feed them to your hens. So far, so sensible. But. . . if you carry that same cauliflower into your kitchen before removing its leaves, you would be breaking the law if you then fed them to your chickens!
CLICK OR TAP HERE TO CLOSE THIS INFO
As a rule of thumb, each hen will need between 100gms and 150gms of proprietary chicken feed per day (a little more in cold weather, and a little less in summer). Specialist chicken feed is widely available on-line from around £10 for 20Kg. . . enough to keep 10 chickens well fed for three weeks.
protection from predators
foxes
Foxes are the most common predator of chickens, especially in urban settings where they have largely lost their fear of humans. . . and dogs! Whilst mainly nocturnal, foxes will hunt at all times of day, and vixens with cubs can be particularly bold as they need several kills a day to feed their young family.
the need for a coop
Foxes are every bit as agile as cats, able to jump, climb or scrabble over fences as high as 2 meters. . . (ironically, wobbly wire fences are much more of a deterrent and harder to climb than rigid fences; aviary netting is designed to keep budgies in, not foxes out!)
These voracious predators are also able dig through hard baked clay, which is why you need to protect an area for your chickens to roost at night.so chickens are not safe in your garden, even if it is enclosed
More potential predators. . .Birds of prey: It's very unusual for birds of prey to attack chickens and would only occur with the really big hawks such as Buzzards or Kites.
Badgers: In rural locations, especially since the moratorium on culling in 2022, badgers have ****
Rats and mice: All rodent pests can spread disease. Rats in particular will eat valuable feed supplies, steal eggs and gnaw at doors, wires. . . and even chicken's feet!
Both rats and mice can flatten themselves and get in through small gaps under doors.
Usually only one or the other are present and rats can be quite discreet so if there are no mice then be suspicious of rats!
CLICK OR TAP HERE TO CLOSE THIS INFO
SHORTCUT LINKS
HOME PAGE
GROWING SPACES
CULTIVATING TIPS
FREE FOOD GUIDE
BEE KIND, TO BEES!
MEET & GREET
Join our Facebook Group for more useful tips, and connect with other keen amateur gardeners, or people with a growing space to share!
CONTACT US
Responsive website donated by ipinx 2020, Copywriting by CopyFix Hosted by Krystal