Articles about keeping chickens. From our beginners guide to keeping chickens to moulting, there is a wide range of information here.
Over the years I had many people come up to me asking whether I was ‘the chicken man’… After explaining that I did keep chickens, they would go on to say that they had been thinking about getting a few hens and wanted some pointers… I produced a few typed …
This article describes common worms that infect chickens, how you can reduce the worm burden, what products you can use and how often. Most of this information is common to all poultry, but I talk mostly about chickens for simplicity. A separate article has been written here specifically on Worming …
Keeping chickens is an addictive hobby and once you get a few birds, often you start thinking about others you’d like to introduce to the flock. The big problem is that few people realise the problems that potentially can occur when introducing new chickens to the flock.
Although a chicken’s needs are fairly basic, the right kit can make life much easier for the owner. Choosing from the vast variety of chicken-related accessories can be difficult, but here are ten top items to get you started.
What are the best hens for eggs – Hybrids or pure-breeds? Anne looks at the advantages and disadvantages of the two and makes some suggestions as to which are the best laying hens for the backyard chicken-keeper. Most of us start keeping chickens for their eggs – and why not? …
Chickens are fairly easy to look after, but like all animals they still need care and consideration. Follow these ten steps and you’ll soon be collecting eggs from your own happy hens!
There are some truly striking British breeds available. However, the Sussex, Dorking, and Orpington win favour with me when it comes to naming my all time favourite three “Best of British” breeds. Although all three aforementioned breeds have several standardised options, I think certain colours represent breeds at their best, …
One of the most shocking things to see as a new poultry keeper is chickens going through a moult. Most chickens shed their feathers in late Summer or early Autumn. Chickens that go into moult will slowly lose their old feathers and new feathers will grow in the place of …
Clipping the wing of a chicken can stop her from flying which is sometimes essential to keep her safely confined behind a fence, away from predators or off your garden. Before clipping a wing, you should first consider whether it is actually necessary. Heavy breeds such as Orpingtons can’t fly …
Jeremy Hobson describes the fun and pleasure these wonderful little birds have given him over the years – and suggests that you will be captivated too!
An increasing number of people are starting to keep chickens or ducks in their back gardens and ‘backyard hen keeping’ is fast becoming one of the most popular gardening ‘hobbies’ not only in this country but around the globe.
Jeremy Hobson, author of Success With Chickens, tries to uncover the truth (or otherwise) behind some long-held chicken health myths and potions. Many chicken keepers and gamekeepers of my generation will have been told of, or perhaps even seen it done, the cure for an infestation of gapeworms in young …
If you are considering expanding the size of your flock, then one of the most rewarding ways to do this is by using a cockerel to provide you with fertile eggs from your own hens so that you can incubate and hatch your own.
Should I vaccinate my flock? This is a question often faced by vets in practice and the answer is often a complex one. Firstly, let’s look at what a vaccine is. A vaccine is made up of either an inactivated form of the organism that causes the disease you are …
As rare as hens teeth” is a saying that most of us have heard at some point. Well the closest thing you can get to hens teeth is insoluble grit that chickens and other poultry use to grind down their food in their gizzard and is essential for hens to …
Losing a chicken is always a distressing time, especially if you have been nursing her, trying to get her well. But, should the worst happen, you are then faced with a dilemma. What do you do with her body?
Chickens are kept in almost every country in the World and can survive in some very cold environments with just a little care from us. A common question I hear from chicken keepers in the UK is “Can Chickens Handle the Cold Weather?” Or “Will my Chickens Survive in the …
Some plants are poisonous to chickens although fortunately they are quite savvy about what not to eat and it is very rare for a chicken to eat poisonous plants due to their bitter taste. Prevention is far easier than cure. If in doubt, keep potentially harmful plants away from your …
We all look forward to spring (I know I certainly do!) More light, more eggs and the best time for fertility and breeding but lets face it, even the local Sparrow population is laying during the spring, so your hens should be laying now (earning their keep I say), as …
Jeremy Hobson (who has lived in France for over a decade) investigates the attitude the French have towards back garden chicken keeping…and discovers that the hobby is as popular amongst ‘ex-pats’ living in France as it is in the UK There’s a feeling amongst many French – especially those living …
