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.
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…
How To Get Chickens to Lay Eggs in the Nesting Box How to get chickens to lay eggs in the nesting box is one of the most frequently asked questions by chicken keepers. It’s a problem most of us face at some point – usually when one determined hen decides to lay her eggs in…
Complete Guide to Worming Chickens Worms are one of the most common internal parasites affecting backyard chickens, and knowing how to manage them is a key part of keeping your flock healthy. This complete guide to worming chickens explains everything you need to know — from the types of poultry worms to how they spread,…
How to Stop Chickens’ Water Freezing in Winter Finding out how to stop chickens’ water freezing in winter is a challenge all chicken keepers eventually face. On frosty mornings, it’s common to find drinkers iced over, and sometimes solid – meaning your birds are left without water when they need it most. Keeping your hens…
What to Look For When Buying a Chicken Coop and Run What to look for when buying a chicken coop and run is one of the most important questions new chicken keepers face. Get it right, and you’ll have happy, healthy hens and an easier time caring for them. Get it wrong, and you risk…
Protecting Garden Chickens From Bird Flu Cleaning Your Chicken Coop may be part of your regular routine, but during a bird flu outbreak, it’s just one of many steps you’ll need to take to protect your flock. For people keeping chickens in the back garden, news of avian influenza outbreaks can be especially worrying. Bird…