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.
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…
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…
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,…