Hello top site this you all seem really helpful,pat on the back to yer. Me and a mate are just starting on our allotment and considering getting 8 ready to lay hens. Any ideas tips much appreciated.
Welcome. If you search Chickens on this site you will find a whole stack of postings about keeping them.
Hi,
There's loads of info available on the web. Two sites that I look at and seem to give sensible info are : http://www.utilitypoultry.co.uk/ (http://www.utilitypoultry.co.uk/) and http://www.clovocresborzois.com/batteryhens.html .. I maybe even got the links from here.
BTW, I don't actually know anything about poultry but I too have been considering getting some chicken.
If you do attempt this please bung some comments here so that we can get some first hand comments.
-- Alan
cheers for comments will keep you posted
Hi Northener,
I usually run 12 hens on lotty which I buy as point of lay birds.
It costs you next to nothing to feed them as I use food left over from table mashed up with layers meal till it goes crumbly..this is usualy fed on a morning.
Then a scattering of corn on an evening in their run ,not too much as corn can fatten them and reduce egg laying..then a tray of grit left for them to get when they want
If they have a run to go in they will find their own grit
Its worth the effort as I usually average about 10 eggs a day all year round from these dozen hens. and shop eggs jut are not the same as fresh ones.Also the stuff cleaned off their dropping board is great stuff for compost heap..cheers ..Jim
Hi, we've just started keeping chickens - we've got 6 at the moment. If you're looking for some advice/information, try the magazine and website called practicalpoultry, they're a friendly bunch and have answered loads of my questions about keeping chooks.
Good luck.
Linda.
Hi Northener
I feed my birds on milled pellets which can be fed either in a feed trough or scattered to encourage scratching. These contain a number of essential vitamins to promote good health and keep the hens laying a good egg for longer. They need to be given in the morning as the birds are hungry and it provides a quick energy boost. Whole wheat is best in the afternoon as it will sit in the crop and keep the birds warm overnight as a rough guide one handfull per bird. It all means good egg production. Table scraps are good too, and cheaper, especially greens but try to hold off of cooked meat products as they not only attract rats, but can cause digestive problems.Â
Although there are a good number of books on the subject, nothing beats talking to other poultry keepers, and get along to some shows if you can, most people are more than happy to talk about their hens ;)Â
Remember to keep them locked up at night or you may find the local fox will have a good meal >:(
Above all, enjoy them
Loz
it may sound daft, but the omlet (http://www.omlet.co.uk/homepage/homepage.php) website (selling chickens and runs to inner city gardeners) gives quite detailed instructions and , i think, demystifies the issue :)
shame i can't even afford an 'eglu', space-wise
Chicken would be very cool.
I am nervous about the idea on our lottie which is a mile from our house and I would feel that they were vulnerable that far from home. Is that stupid ???
Plus I am assuming they need checking twice a day - morning to let them out into the run - and eve to tuck them up for the night.
Our lease allows chicken and rabbits on the plots but no one has any. I shall check out that omlet link.
AL
sorry to throw a spanner in the works but wot on earth is a ready to lay chicken!!!??? has it has the business done to it already or something??
Ready to lay are also known as point of lay, which is an age rather than a stage. The pullets (young females) are usually 18 weeks of age and will come into lay in about 2-6 weeks, although rare breeds are later than hybrids. Typically they will cost about £7-10 per bird, more for a pure breed. It is cheaper to get day olds which have been sexed, which will normally cost around 0.50p, but of course you will have to wait for eggs.
If you want a good layer, then many of the hybrids will lay over 300 per year. Pure breeds will be much lower, although some breeders will keep a utility strain, which have been bred for maximum production.
Piggots poultry breeders and Meadowsweet poultry are two which I have used in the past.
Loz