Keeping chickens
Knowing what a diverse following there is on here can I ask if anyone keeps or has kept chickens. We are thinking of doing this - starting with 3 or 4 to begin with as a trial and going from there if these prove to be successful. They won't have free range of the garden but be kept in part of the veg patch which is too shady for crops to grow productively. Apart from grain what else can we feed them on?
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It was a wonderful experience and a great eye opener. I would really recommend that you find a similar course near where you live and test the waters before you commit to anything.
That said, here is a brief description of what you will need to keep your chickens well fed.
https://keeping-chickens.me.uk/getting-started/chicken-feed/
I've had clients in the past with chickens and I loved them following me round the garden.
We've got foxes live on our land and they keep the rabbits who live here in check, so I don't want rid of them or move them on . As I can't have the chucks "free range" then there's not point.
No idea if there's an equivalent on the CI but there's some info on the website under 'care and advice' that may help you make up your mind.
But the thing is that you have to look after them all day, every day. They need feeding and fresh water every day. They need putting to bed, locking up, and letting out every day. They need clean bedding and they need their house to be kept clean. They need medical care (yes, they do).
Think of keeping a couple of dogs with no dog sitter. That is about it.
We are retired so have the time to care for them each day so I'm busy researching hen houses so they can be safe at night as well as easy to clean and care for. We'd have to get cat and dog sitters in if we go away and they'll do hens too so no huge costs. Eggs will be a bonus and can be shared with neighbours or patch friends.