Kitchen Garden Forum

My husband has finally agreed that we can keep chickens . However, I know nothing about keeping them at all. I have many questions, so wondered if anyone could recommend a good book which might help. I need all the basic information, such as how many to what space, breeds, fox/squirrel proofing etc.

I would also like to know if they can be allowed to wander around the garden occasionally, or will they wreck the borders/lawn etc? We also have a cat, will that be a problem. How do you stop them wandering off?

Thanks.

Hi Sarah,
Katie Thear has written a great number of books on Poultry for the absolute beginner to very sophisticated books for the more professional approach.
I would suggest that you google her and take it from there. You certainly will not go far wrong as she is an internationally acclaimed author on poultry.
Sincerely,
JB.

Sarah

Great news

Do read up on chickens then try to get some point-of-lay birds in early autumn - they will have been hatched this spring, and whatever breed, should lay through the winter.

Johnboy has pointed you in the right direction - what Katie Thear says is authoritative and always based on experience. Start on her WEBSITE, where you'll find a wealth of information and inspiration.

And if there are still any questions, post them here on the forum - there are quite a few of us willing to provide answers.

Pob lwc -Best of luck

Alan

Great news Sarah

I would also see if any neighbours have chickens and if so, go and check out their setup and ask lots of questions.

I've had chickens with anything from six cats to now one cat and have never had a problem. At the moment there is another cat who lives locally who spends most days sitting on the chicken shed or squatting in the run, in the hope of seeing a rat. Rocky and the girls just ignore it.

Thanks everyone for the replies, I'm very excited about this. I will certainly follow up that lead. I do have a neighbour who keeps chickens. He is very friendly, but I don't want to bother him with my endless questions just yet, as he is quite ill with MS. I think he will be a very useful contact when I am actually ready to get the chickens though.

I'm sure I will be back on here soon with more questions!

I have chickens too - and they will eventually eat most of your garden I Have mine in a large secure run, most of which is paved so that I can keep it scraped clean. They do have an area to dustbathe in.

Most breeds come in bantam size (small) or large fowl size (bigger) and so will lay smaller or larger eggs (funny that ) If you go for bantam sized hens then you will get smaller eggs but the hens will be easier for you to handle and also you will be able to have twice as many.
Large fowl will lay large eggs just right for dipping your soldiers in, but will be a bit bulkier for a newbie to handle.

When you first get your chickens keep them penned in for a few days so that they get to know where 'home' is.

All things to consider.

I have cats too, and they are scared of my chickens.

Also some breeds of hens are more docile than others.
Marans, rhode island reds, light sussex, etc. are all more docile than the mediteranean breeds such as leghorns and minorcas. The hybrid breeds will lay their socks off for a couple of years and then fizzle out.
A good website is www.pekinbantams.co.uk. Also - www.poultryclub.org.

Everyone has their favourite breeds and most chicken folk can talk all day about hens (me included). It's such a fascinating subject and watching chooks interact can be one of the funniest sights you can imagine. (oh dear, I think I need to get out more!).

Hi,
I just got my chickens on Saturday from a fur & feather auction-what fun that was I could easily have come home with 100s but just got 6 in total-3 Amber Link and 3 ISA reds. The Ambers are point of lay and the ISAs are just in lay. By 11am Sunday morning they had settled in to their new home and 3 lovely eggs were in the nest box.

Good luck a lot will be trial and error, but theres nothing like that first egg collection.
regards
BP

Congratulations. Hope all goes well. But be careful; we started with three hens and three ducks, and now have about sixty combined.

You are now eating the best eggs in the world (just like us).

Most probably your chickens will eat your borders !

Get your Hens, you will learn as you go along and mostly it's common sense. Places like this are good for answering specific questions