Keeping Chickens?

Question

My sister wants to raise chickens for the eggs- big egg fan- but wants to know :
1. What is the best way to keep chickens eg hutch, chicken run,size,roof etc
2. How can she get chickens? Farmers market, farmy friends etc
3. Does she need a special liceanse (UK) to keep them ifshe doesn't sell the left over eggs?

Answer 1

1. I have always kept my chickens in a coop and run.

2. Breeders, such as those who advertise in Country Smallholding and Practical Poultry magazines. You can also find them through the Poultry Club of Great Britain and breed clubs. Also the Battery Hen Welfare Trusts (rehomes ex-battery hens), and city farms. It is also possible to buy through auctions and markets, but I wouldn't do that given that your friend is inexperienced and doesn't know the warning signs of a potentially sick bird.

3. No you don't need a special license in the UK, unless you have over 50 and then you must register with DEFRA. Even without informing DEFRA, you are still perfectly within your rights to sell or give away extra eggs.



Some good links:

http://www.allaboutchickens.tk

http://www.backyardchickens.com

http://www.feathersite.com

Answer 2

If you have chickens, there are several considerations. What is best depends on your situation.

If you have plenty of land and live on a dirt road, free range is great. But, chickens wander, so this requires space and little traffic, and neighbors who are understanding.



A run is great, but if it's too small it'll stink and encourage disease.



For a small chicken lot, you'll need to do a little work. Pour a concrete platform (it doesn't have to be perfect or beautiful) at one end of the pen area. It should be four foot deep and one foot wide per chicken, plus another three foot for a roost shed(for up to six chickens).



On this concrete, you'll be putting nesters and a roost shed. One nester per chicken, one foot wide, two feet long and a foot or two high is fine. Make sure to put a board across the bottom to keep the nest material and eggs IN. You can use shipping crates turned on their side for nesters, but make sure the nester has a solid roof to keep out rain.



In each nester, put a nice bed of mulch. Mulch makes it easier to find the eggs, it stays cleaner and nicer smelling than straw, and it's easy to clean out. Cedar mulch even keeps out bugs.



Put in a nice shed with some perches (An old ladder works great for perching, so a shed with a ladder leaning on a wall really works great).



The yard itself can either be free range, or it can be fenced. If it's fenced, then you should figure on using more space than recommended, because chickens can stink, and they fight if they feel confined. I'd recommend ten square feet per chicken, and make sure it's an eight foot fence to keep any from hopping over (some can fly a bit).



Chickens can be bought from hatcheries, farm markets, or you can go to a local farm that says "Eggs for sale" and ask if they'd be willing to sell a chicken or two and if not, where did they get theirs.



And, keeping chickens doesn't require a license so long as you aren't within city limits, at least in the U.S.. I don't know for sure about the UK.

Answer 3

u dont need a liscence unless u want to sell them the coop should be about as big as a garden shed and each chicken should have their own little box DO NOT HAVE MORE THAT 1 ROOSTER 2 ROOSTERS WOULD LITERALY PECK EACH OTHER TO DEATH hens size depend on the breed P.S. if u think an egg is fertle shine a flash lite under it in a dark room if u see a baby eathier incubate it or dispose of it P.S.S. u dont need a rooster unless u want baby chickens hens lay fertle and unfertle eggs they should lay 1 every 1 or 2 days happy farming

Answer 4

I've had chickens for a while and they don't require anything special. Chickens like it best in a roomy environment so they can get away from each other if they quarrel. I advise you to stay away from building a chicken yard from chicken wire. Chicken wire rusts quickly and is not very durable. She can get her chickens in many places. She can even order them on-line. She does not need any special license to keep chickens.

Answer 5

I do't know where YOU can find them but if you do get them be sure to keep them safe. I don't know if this would be a problem for you but something dug a hole into our chicken coop and ate all of the chickens so be careful.

Answer 6

my friend has chickens she keeps them in a little hut with a wire roof. you dont need a liseance. she got them from the internet but you can get them from farms or friends.