Your complete guide to keeping chickens in the UK. Learn about daily care, housing, diet, egg-laying, protecting from predators, raising chicks, how to successfully sell eggs and much more.
Why Are My Hens Laying Soft-Shelled Eggs? It’s a bit of a shock the first time it happens. You reach into the nest box and instead of a normal egg, you find something soft and a bit rubbery, or worse, nothing but a burst mess. If your hens are laying soft-shelled eggs, it’s a sign…
How Old Are Chickens When They Start Laying Eggs? One of the most exciting moments as a chicken keeper is collecting your very first home-laid egg. But when exactly should you expect that to happen? If you’ve just brought home a group of young hens, you might be wondering how old chickens are when they…
How To Make Homemade Treats For Chickens Looking for safe, fun treats for chickens that do not break DEFRA rules? This guide shows you how to create nutritious hen treats at home, keep things legal, and avoid common pitfalls. I find a little creativity keeps birds busy, improves welfare, and even boosts egg quality. Why…
Worming Chickens Worming chickens is an essential part of keeping your flock healthy. Intestinal worms are more common than many backyard keepers realise, and if left untreated, they can cause health issues, reduced egg laying and, in some cases, serious illness. In this post, I’ll explain how to spot a worm problem in your hens,…
Best Egg Laying Chickens: Top Breeds For Reliable Egg Production Keeping hens for eggs is one of the most rewarding parts of chicken keeping. One of the very first things I learnt was how much tastier my hens’ eggs were compared to those from the supermarket. But not all chickens are equal when it comes…
Automatic Chicken Coop Doors: Your Questions Answered Need to find out more about automatic chicken coop doors? You’re not alone. Keepers often have lots of queries when they are considering making the switch. In this guide, I’ll answer the most common questions people ask when deciding whether an automatic door is worth it. I’ve used…
Best Outdoor Feeder And Waterer For Chickens Getting your feeding and watering setup right is one of the most important parts of keeping chickens. The right equipment will keep your flock healthy, reduce mess and waste, and make your life a whole lot easier. In this guide, I’ll walk you through what to look for…
What Can Chickens Eat From The Kitchen? Feeding chickens leftovers from your kitchen may seem like a natural and sustainable way to cut food waste, but in the UK, the law is very clear: you must not feed any kitchen scraps to poultry. This includes fruit and vegetable peelings, cooked leftovers, and even scraps from…
How To Tell If A Chicken Is Sick Spotting illness early in your flock can make all the difference. Chickens are prey animals, so they instinctively hide signs of weakness. As a result, subtle symptoms can go unnoticed until a condition worsens. Knowing what to look for helps you intervene quickly and protect your entire…
Scaly Leg Mite In Chickens Scaly leg mite is a common parasite that affects chickens, especially older birds or those kept in less-than-ideal conditions. Left untreated, it can cause serious discomfort, deformities and even lameness. In this post, I’ll explain what scaly leg mite is, how to recognise the signs, and what to do if…