Do not expect to make a fortune out of keeping your own chickens or even to save a great deal of money on shopping bills – but you will be assured about the source of the eggs, their freshness, the foods which produced them and that the chickens have led a contented life. Eggs are one of the cleanest possible foods, the shell protecting the contents from dirt and germs.
Optimum number of chickens
Six hens will keep a family in eggs throughout the year. If you have a cock bird with them, this is about the number of hens that he can manage.
Eggs or meat?
Most backyard chicken enthusiasts keep hens solely for the eggs they produce. A list of the best egg-layers is given on page 8. Chickens that are raised for both meat and eggs are also listed on page 8.
Laying life of a hen
Pure-bred breeds can live for up to ten years (depending on the breed); this is much longer than hybrids, which often die before they reach five years of age. Most breeds start to lay eggs when 18–22 weeks old, but remember that the number of eggs decreases as a hen ages. Finally, it becomes uneconomic to keep her. Most hens will have reached the end of their economic life by the age of five.
Are chickens noisy?
Unless you have a cock bird in with your chickens (and it is not necessary to do this if all you want to do is to produce eggs), the noise level is not obtrusive. They will, however, make a fuss if alarmed and under attack. Also, some hens make a noise after laying an egg.
Can I keep just one chicken?
You can, but chickens are social creatures and need company. If you have just one chicken, it will be lonely and look to you to provide its social life! Keeping 3–6 chickens is about right to cater for their social activities.
Cock birds (roosters) are invariably noisy – but they are not essential for the production of eggs.
Rules and regulations
Keeping chickens on your land or allotment is surprisingly straightforward:
First, check with the deeds of your property to ensure that you are legally able to keep chickens.
Provided you have fewer than 50 chickens, there is no need to register them with any authority. Keeping more than 50 chickens is considered to be a commercial venture and must be registered with the authorities in your country.
Consult with your local authority to check if there is a bye-law preventing anyone in your area from keeping chickens on their own property.
Talk with your neighbours to see if they are in agreement with you keeping chickens; this is mainly a matter of getting their goodwill and to prevent disagreements arising later. Inviting them around to inspect your chickens and their housing usually settles any problems – especially if they are offered a few eggs!
CHICKEN CHECKLIST CONTINUED
Chickens are gregarious and therefore at their most contented when kept in small groups.
Chickens and household pets
Initially, cats and dogs will find chickens interesting, examining them as ‘new boys on the block’, but usually they soon lose interest. However, they need to be closely watched to check that they are not harming each other – much depends on the temperament of the dog or cat.
Chickens kept in wire-netting cages will not be at risk, but those foraging in a yard or living as free-rangers present a different problem.
Dogs: Hens that are chased and stressed by dogs will, at best, cease laying, or even be killed. If a dog kills a chicken, make it sit while you hold the dead chicken in front of it, at the same time scolding it in a harsh voice. Usually, young dogs soon learn to look and not touch, especially after receiving a peck on the nose from a dominant chicken. Occasionally, a dog will act as a protector, herding the chickens and barking to raise your attention if predators are a threat.
Cats: Initially inquisitive, they usually soon decide to respect and ignore each other. However, young chicks on their own are vulnerable unless accompanied by ‘mum’, who becomes a formidable opponent when her youngsters are under threat.
Trespassing chickens
Chickens that escape and wander into neighbouring gardens invariably cause problems. They eat plants, scratch and disturb soil and generally make a mess for which, in law, you will be responsible. If you take precautions to keep the hens securely fenced your liability could be less. Nevertheless, litigation can be expensive and time-consuming and it is better to regularly check your fencing and gates.
Incidentally, unlike geese and ducks, hens have no right of way on a road and if killed there is no obligation on the part of the motorist to pay compensation.
What about holidays?
If the holiday is a long day out, get up early to feed and water your chickens. However, if you are out all day and will not be back until late, either give them extra food or ask a neighbour to look after them. Automatic feeding and watering devices are invaluable in these circumstances.
When you are taking a holiday of several days, or longer, ensure that your chicken-sitter is a poultry enthusiast and has a basic knowledge of them and their routine. Write down details of feeding and watering (how much and when) so that there can be no mistakes.
Your own cat usually learns to live with the chickens, but neighbouring cats can be a problem.
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги,
