Much of the information available for those thinking of starting with hens can be too in depth, so if you want a quick, honest guide to see if hens are for you, we have put together a list of the most commonly asked questions.  

Please see the remainder of the website for more detailed information.

You can download our quick guide to starting with hens by clicking here. 

What are the advantages of keeping chickens?

 Chickens make great pets and are more productive than a rabbit or a hamster.

A healthy, outdoor hobby the whole family can be involved in.

Whilst they need daily care, they are not as time consuming as cats or dogs.

Great slug and pest clearers. 

Chickens are great stress relievers - just sitting and watching them is really relaxing. 

A supply of delicious, healthy eggs from your own chickens. 

You will know exactly what has gone into your food. 

What are the disadvantages of keeping chickens?

You have to be available to check them daily, or arrange for someone else to do so if you are away.

Be available to let them in and out every day (or buy an automatic door opener).

Be prepared to deal with any health issues/vets bills and decide what to do should they come to the end of their laying life - will you keep them as pets?

If they are free ranging they may take a fancy to your favourite plants.

Whats involved in keeping chickens?

A basic common routine would involve the following:

Early in the morning - Let out your hens, check they are all well.  Top up feeders and drinkers.

Dusk - Collect any eggs, check the hens again and close in overnight away from the fox.

Weekly - Clean out the hens house and run, wash out feeders and drinkers. Check the house for signs of red mite.

Monthly - Handle your hens to feel their weight and carefully check for signs of lice or mites. 

Twice Yearly - Worm your hens with Flubenvet mixed in with the feed.

What do chickens live in?

Chickens need a dry, comfortable but well ventilated house to sleep in at night safe from the fox.  You can either have a specially designed hen house or adapt a garden shed or outbuilding.  They will want a nice dark cosy place within their house to lay their eggs, and a perch with rounded edges for them to sleep on at night.

You have a choice of either plastic or wooden housing - both have advantages and disadvantages. 

You can either have your hens in a run or you can let them have the run of the garden and they will automatically return to their house at night. They will need an absolute minimum of 1.5 square metres per bird -  the more space for them the better. Be very cautious when a manufacturer states a house will house a certain amount of hens, check the measurements yourself and consider if there is enough space for your pets to spend their whole life in.

After the initial settling in period, hens will always return to their house to roost at dusk so you don't need to worry about catching them and putting them in.  If you go to the hen house at dusk, all your hens should have returned from the run or garden and be on their perches. 

You will need to line the base of the house with shavings or similar so that you can easily clean them out.

What do hens eat?

Their staple diet is Layers Pellets or mash.  Unlike cats or dogs, these can be left available to them at all times and they will not overfeed on them.  

Clean water available all the time is essential.  A huge amount of water goes into every egg and they drink more than you think.

The only other essential item is grit and oyster shell.  This can be put out in a small dish for the hens to help themselves to when they need it.  The grit is swallowed and stored in the hens gizzard, it is used to 'grind' their feed, and the oyster shell goes to make strong shells on your eggs.

They will also love small amounts of corn and scraps (but strictly limited to ensure they eat enough layers pellets).

A pure breed is a 'pedigree' chicken that will breed true.  They come in a huge variety of sizes and colours.

Generally hybrids will lay very well for 2 or 3 years whilst pure breeds will lay fewer eggs each year (stopping totally during the winter) but will lay for longer. 

What should I look for when choosing a chicken?

1. Firstly the surroundings should be clean and tidy and the birds should have plenty of space, clean water and feed.  

2. If you are going to mix the breeds they should ideally be living together as the added stress of introducing birds to each other is not perfect.   

3. Depending on their age the birds combs should be a healthy dark red, however,  young birds will not yet have developed and may have a small, pale comb.

4. Bright eyes with no signs of swelling surrounding them.  

5. Clean nostrils with no discharge.  Whilst respiratory infections are common in chickens, don't choose a bird showing any respiratory symptoms.

5. An alert, bright looking chicken.  Don't pick a hen who is hunched up or with her head tucked up under her wing. 

6. No lice or mites.  Check through the skin around the fluffy feathers near the  birds vent looking for any signs of lice or mites.

7. Clean vent area.  Make sure the hen doesn't have loose droppings around her rear. 

If you buy hens from us we will automatically check through all the above with you. 

How do I collect and bring the hens home?

A well ventilated cardboard box or cat/dog crate will be fine.  The hens can travel together, you don't need a box for each hen, but it is important they don't get too hot on the journey.

When you arrive home open the box and gently lift the hens into their new house.  If you are not confident to handle them and your house is big enough, just place the box inside and open it up.  The will soon come out on their own.

How often do I clean them out?

As a general guide you will need to sweep out and replace the shavings at least once a week.  If you have more hens in a smaller house this will be more often but if you have a few hens in a large shed it would be less.

There should never be a build up of droppings or any smell in the house.  If you can smell ammonia then it is already at a dangerous level for your hens.

Every few months the house will need totally emptying and disinfecting/treating for mites.

What problems might I have?

 Generally hens are very easy to look after and not prone to health problems.  If you are able to handle them regularly you are more likely to spot any problems before they become serious.  A common problem are lice and mites, we will show you when you collect your hens how to check for lice on the birds, but you need to check your hen house for red mites which live in the housing.

A healthy hen looks bright and alert, has a red comb and spends most of the day foraging for food, dust-bathing and a small time napping  An unhealthy hen usually stands hunched up with her feathers ruffled and will sleep a lot of the time.

Do you take chickens to the vets?

Vets are now becoming much more used to seeing hens, check with your local vet if they are happy to see poultry.  As a first stop there are a huge amount of web forums to cater for the many new hen keepers (see my Links page) to help you with any problems your hens might have.  

Ultimately a hen is a living creature and no less likely to feel pain or fear than your cat or dog, and if they are in any sort of pain would need to see a vet.  By taking them on you are responsible for their health and wellbeing, and before deciding to buy them need to be aware that could include vets bills.

They don't need any routine vet trips (such as vaccination boosters).

What about when I'm on holiday?

Ideally your hens should always be checked twice a day to ensure they have feed and water and are healthy and un-injured.  If you are going away overnight and have a fox-proof run they should be alright if left with a couple of feeders and drinkers.

If it will be longer than this, then you will have to arrange for someone to come in and check them daily.  Whilst it is better to keep your hens in their own home, it is not always feasible and we offer a hen 'boarding' service.  You can bring your hens to us and we will look after them whilst you are away. 

LIST OF ESSENTIALS

* Fox proof, dry house for the hens to sleep in.

* Large run or well fenced area/garden for them outside.

* Feeder and drinker.

* Shavings or bedding for the house.

* Layers pellets or mash.

* Grit and oyster shell. 

There is more in depth help on the following pages, but all our hens come with a lifetime of free advice so please feel free to email me for help.

Copyright:  Newland Poultry 2007 - 2012