And while they aren’t exactly a conventional pet, they have wonderful personalities, are easy enough to take care of and are a great source of fresh eggs.
If you are thinking about getting chickens or you’ve recently brought some home, the following advice will help you take care of them properly:
Choosing a chicken coop
When choosing a chicken coop, you need to ensure there is enough space inside for your chickens to move around and at least a metre of space outside. Avoid housing any more than six hens in one coop as it can become overcrowded and they will start to fight.
Make it predator-proof
You will need to make your chicken coop predator- and rodent-proof, so block up any holes and place 30cm of chicken wire down into the ground to keep rats away.
Don’t forget about roosting poles
You will also need to put roosting poles into your hen house with nesting boxes beneath them. Keep these out of the way and dark in colour so your hens feel they are in a safe space to lay their eggs.
Feeding your chickens
Keep your chickens' feeders full, and change their water regularly as they can become dehydrated. You should feed them a diet of grains, seeds and specific laying hen pellets. Also, don’t be afraid to feed them table scraps and some household vegetables - it’s perfectly okay and they will love the treat.
What to avoid feeding them
Do avoid feeding your chickens certain foods like citrus fruits, garlic and onion as they will decrease egg production and make eggs taste like garlic onions - no one wants that for breakfast. Also refrain from giving your hens large servings of meat or raw potato skins as this can affect their health.
