Want to get some chickens....!

[Crusher]

now my allotment has established itself, I want to get some chickens (for egg producing only). Any tips you can give me on starting up would be greatfully appreciated....

[OliveOil]

For egg producing you HAVE to get Hybrids - I have a Bluebelle, Speckledy and a Black Rock - usually 3 eggs a day, rarely 1 egg a day... My mum has purebreeds 6 - usually gets 2 eggs a day!

Use a shed as a henhouse - dont go to the expense of a purpose made one - they are too small and far too expensive (i speak from experience)

Good web forums are pekinbantam.com and practicalpoultry.co.uk

To work out how much they will cost you to feed - each hen will eat approx 1kg per week! Bag of feed costs £5-6

You will need a good secure run - my chooks are in the back garden at the moment... soon to go down the lotty. They will have 10m x 5m - First 1m of fencing will be chicken wire with a further 1m of scaffolding mesh to stop any pesky foxes climbing over. I'm also digging  a foot or two into the ground and starting the fencing from there.