Chicken Info

[Eco-Chic]

I may have confuddled my question a little, I probably should have asked whether pure breeds or crossed (pure) breeds would have the best life expectancy, or if there is no discernable difference?

I assumed hybrid battery hens wouldn't have a long life expectancy because they'd be all tuckered out through over laying.

[Hilary B]

Are pure breeds or hybrids likely to live the longest?

Farmyard mongrels are likely to be longest lived, then 'purebreds' (varies, depending on breed and just how 'pedigree' they are) then commercial-type laying hybrids. Some 'high quality' purebreds may be so in-bred that they don't survive as well as a hybrid, bred for commercial purposes but kept on a 'backyard' basis.

[Eco-Chic]

Farmyard Mongrels

I heard a snippet on R4 a couple of nights ago that backyard chicken keeping in USA has become so popular that chickens have become known as the 'It' bird and several states have had to repeal laws forbidding keeping of chooks.

Also heard or read that (due to DEFRA requirement to register flocks of 50+) there are only 10 registered chicken keepers in the whole of London

[Dashy]

I searched everywhere recently trying to rescue batt hens but could only find websites for the UK. We have a couple of chook rental places here so in the end I rented a coop, 2 hens and all the straw, food etc for 1 month to see if I could look after the chickens properly in suburbia. Ended up buying 2 coops and 7 hens (max I can have without a permit) after 1 week and they are free ranging with my excited lab watching on. I found being able to rent great to test out what I was after from the chooks and what they needed from me!

[RedThorn]

heard about that from my folks... Inghams chooks or something like that If I remember correctly. Thought it was a brilliant idea! Unfortunately, they do not do that here.

Here we're allowed up to 49, there after you have to be Defra registered....

[MaureenHall]

Might be an idea to start though! Just think, you could rent out your chooks, have them fed and cared for for a week, and be paid too Could even go away on holiday - but leave someone at the end of the phone in case of problems of course

[RichmondHens]

It's a good idea to register though even if you keep less than 50. Then you get notified of any disease outbreaks in your area so you can take appropriate action to protect your own birds. Defra are encouraging smaller keepers to register voluntarily and I think it's a good idea.

[RedThorn]

hmm thanks for that RH will have a think on it

[Suechooks]

It's a good idea to register though even if you keep less than 50. Then you get notified of any disease outbreaks in your area so you can take appropriate action to protect your own birds. Defra are encouraging smaller keepers to register voluntarily and I think it's a good idea.

Had heard about that on the web site. I wondered how much it would restrict the smaller keepers? I gather there are lots of rules and regulations to trip over too?
Do they do inspections?

[Eco-Chic]

We have a couple of chook rental places here so in the end I rented a coop, 2 hens and all the straw, food etc for 1 month to see if I could look after the chickens properly in suburbia.

I found being able to rent great to test out what I was after from the chooks and what they needed from me!

What a marvellous idea. Must save a lot of heartache and guilt if one finds they don't like being slave to chooks.

Good luck with your seven. I have 3 and am looking out for another coop to get more.

[Eco-Chic]

Might be an idea to start though! Just think, you could rent out your chooks, have them fed and cared for for a week, and be paid too Could even go away on holiday - but leave someone at the end of the phone in case of problems of course

There's a woman in Potters Bar who will board up to 7 or 8 chooks for £35 pwk plus cuddles if required.

[Eco-Chic]

It's a good idea to register though even if you keep less than 50. Then you get notified of any disease outbreaks in your area so you can take appropriate action to protect your own birds. Defra are encouraging smaller keepers to register voluntarily and I think it's a good idea.

I'm not an anarchist but the thought of voluntarily registering with a Ministry snoop makes my skin crawl. I don't think I will register unless I hit the magic 50.

[Dashy]

I think it's a great idea too. There's only 1 place here and a separate business in Sydney doing it at the moment. The coops are sturdy and locally made so money's going back into the community. I believe it's a hit in kindergartens and schools. The lady I bought from loves her chooks so the business is a bonus for her. If you have the time and local carpentry skills it's worth a go!

[Dashy]

Also Eco chic, have you had many eggs yet? I've had 3, thinking they might just be settling in still...

[RichmondHens]

It's not so they can "snoop" around. It's just so they have a record of approximate numbers of birds being kept in various places. If avian flu hits your area, you would want to be notified, wouldn't you? I keep upwards of 60 chickens, and certainly wouldn't want my flocks decimated by Joe Bloggs down the road with a few infected chickens that no-one knew about. I would be mighty p*****d off I can tell you if I had to cull all my birds because of that guy.

They have not inspected me, and I suspect they won't unless there is a disease threat in the area. And they are welcome to, I have nothing to hide.