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.
Egg Incubation And The Right Time To Do It Hatching your own chicks can be a rewarding experience, whether you’re replenishing your flock, raising birds for specific traits or simply enjoying poultry keeping as a hobby. However, successful egg incubation depends on getting the timing, equipment and technique right. Before you begin: Only fertilised eggs…
How To Identify And Treat Red Mite Infestation In Chickens Red mite infestation is one of the most common and challenging problems faced by chicken keepers. These tiny parasites can cause serious health issues for your flock if not dealt with quickly and effectively. This guide will help you identify the signs of red mites,…
Selling Eggs in the UK: What You Need to Know Can You Sell Eggs from Your Backyard Hens? Yes, you can sell eggs in the UK without registering as an egg producer if you keep fewer than 50 birds, However, you cannot sell eggs directly to consumers without registering as a commercial producer. This includes…
Essential Chicken Keeping Supplies Keeping chickens is a rewarding experience, but it comes with responsibilities that go beyond feeding and collecting eggs. To ensure your hens stay healthy, happy and productive, there are certain essential chicken keeping supplies every owner should have on hand. From daily care items to medical treatments, this guide will walk…
Northern Fowl Mite: The Deadly Threat to Chickens The northern fowl mite (Ornithonyssus sylviarum) is one of the most dangerous external parasites that can affect backyard chickens. Although tiny, these bloodsucking mites can rapidly overwhelm a flock, leading to anaemia, poor health and, in severe cases, death. If you’re a poultry keeper in the UK,…
How Intelligent are Chickens? How intelligent are chickens? Much more than most people realise. For years, the phrase “bird brain” has unfairly painted chickens as dim-witted and clueless. But scientific research is beginning to reveal a different truth — one that shows these birds possess far more brainpower than they’re given credit for. From self-control…
Common Plants Poisonous to Chickens Free-ranging hens love to explore, scratch and peck at anything green — but not all plants are safe for them to eat. Some common garden plants are poisonous to chickens, and while many birds will instinctively avoid harmful foliage, others are less discerning or may sample a plant before realising…
How to Look After Chickens When on Holiday Planning a holiday when you keep chickens takes a little more thought than packing your suitcase. While cats and dogs can head off to the kennels, hens need specific, daily care to stay safe and healthy. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to look after…
The idea that hens need a cockerel in order to lay eggs is a widespread misconception. In reality, chickens will lay eggs quite happily without a cockerel in the flock. Whether you’re keeping hens for eggs, companionship or both, it’s entirely possible to maintain a productive, healthy flock without ever owning a male bird.
How Often Do Chickens Lay Eggs? One of the first questions new chicken keepers ask is, how often do chickens lay eggs? While many breeds are capable of laying an egg almost every day, the actual frequency depends on a number of factors, including breed, age, diet, time of year and the bird’s health. In…