How To Raise Friendly Chickens Chickens get a reputation for being skittish, but in reality, they’re perfectly capable of being sociable, confident, and even quite cuddly – if you raise them with a bit of care. Some will happily follow you round the garden, jump on your lap, or peck at your laces while you…
What To Feed Chickens In Summer As the summer sets in, your chickens’ feeding needs will begin to shift. The warmer weather affects how much they eat, what they need to stay healthy and how you manage their daily feed. In this guide, we’ll look at how to adjust your flock’s diet in the hotter…
How To Tell If a Chicken Is Laying Eggs Wondering how to tell if a chicken is laying eggs? Whether you’re trying to confirm your pullets have started laying or checking if an older hen is still producing, there are a few reliable ways to spot the difference. Laying hens tend to look and behave…
Converting a Shed Into a Chicken Coop Converting a shed into a chicken coop is a brilliant way to save money and give your hens a spacious home. A shed is often roomier than many commercial coops, and if you have a bit of DIY know-how, it can easily be converted to suit the needs…
Why Do Chickens Peck Each Other? Pecking is normal behaviour for chickens, but when it turns aggressive, it can leave your hens stressed, injured, or even dead. I’ve seen aggressive pecking happen in my own flock, and while it can be upsetting to witness, it’s usually something you can fix once you understand what’s causing…
Chicken Respiratory Problems: What To Watch For Coughing, sneezing, or head shaking might not sound serious, but in chickens, they’re often signs of something more troubling. Respiratory problems are one of the most common illnesses backyard keepers face, and if left untreated, they can spread quickly or even become fatal. In this guide, I’ll cover…
Feeding Chickens In Winter: What To Know And What To Change When the cold weather sets in, your chickens’ diet needs a few tweaks. With less foraging, longer nights and more energy used to stay warm, winter feeding is all about keeping hens well-fuelled, healthy and comfortable. I’ve found even small changes can make a…
Cocoon ECO 1500 Chicken Coop Review If you’re just starting out with a small backyard flock, the Cocoon ECO 1500 could be exactly what you need. Compact, cleverly designed, and available at a wallet-friendly price, this 5ft wooden coop comes with a covered run, pull-out tray and plastic eco roofs – all for under £160…
Seasonal Feeding for Chickens: Adjusting Your Hens’ Diets Chickens’ dietary needs don’t stay the same throughout the year. Changes in daylight, temperature, and natural foraging all affect how much energy your birds use and what they need from their feed. By adjusting seasonal feeding for chickens, you can help your flock stay healthy, productive and…
Avian Flu In Chickens: What You Need To Know Avian flu, more commonly known as bird flu, is a highly contagious viral disease that affects many types of birds, including domestic chickens. In recent years, outbreaks across the UK have become more frequent and severe, leading to compulsory housing orders, tighter biosecurity rules, and the…