Keeping Chickens for Dummies...

[Lazgaot]

I thought I'd start this thread as there doesn't seem to be a Beginner's Guide to Chicken keeping on here.

We are planning on getting some this year but don't know what to get or where from. So, I'll fire off a list of questions that are rattling round my head and hopefully we'll get some good answers going. Here goes:

1 - Where do you buy chickens from? We are looking at Bantams but will also look to get some ex Batts later. We've asked at a load of garden centers and they are clueless.

2 - Is it best to start off with chicks or older/a few months old birds?

3 - How much should they typically cost?

4 - How much space should I set aside for 3 Bantams & 3 other larger birds? I.e their run and coop individually.

5 - How much feed would they get through in a week?

That's it for now. Looking forward to your replies.

[jessmorris]

Hi Lazgaot,
I think you'll find tht there's loads of info on here! Failing that you could get a basic guide from the library or go and visit a reputable seller close to you first......you don't buy chickens from garden centres (the clue's in the name!). Norfolk is an absolute historical hotbed of poultry growing and rearing, has been for decades, there must be someone who can advise you in the county!
good luck!

[RichmondHens]

I'm in Norfolk, whereabouts are you, roughly? I can point you in the direction of a few people depending on the area you are in, and we also have a few birds for sale from time to time, though we're not allowed to advertise on here. For ex batts contact Little Hen Rescue.

As JM says really do have a good read through all the threads on here, there is tons of stuff to absorb.

To answer just some of your questions:

Start with young adult birds, not chicks. Start with three and see how you get on. Bantams eat a lot less than large fowl, and the more space you can give them for foraging the less feed they will require. Contrary to popular belief, bantams need the same sort of space as larger hens as generally they are more active. They also like to fly!

Average prices for large fowl are around £15 - £20 per bird at point of lay (18 - 24 weeks), specialist rare breeds often more. Pure breeds cost more than hybrids (commercial crossbreeds). Bantams £10 - £15 but again depends on breed.

Basically, think about what you want from your hens, do you want them purely for eggs, to look pretty, to be gentle and easily tamed (for example if you have small children who will want to handle them) - there are "horses for courses" in the hen world just like everywhere else.

[chris]

Food consumption wise, I've read a few different suggestions but averaging them out, and which then agrees with most of the sources I've read it seems to be around 125g/day/full sized hen. I have a 6KG feeder, which lasts my 3 hybrids (which here cost around £7/bird @ POL) around 3 weeks in winter and a month/5 weeks in summer. Mine are free to roam around a garden just for them though, so they'll no doubt be munching on whatever else they can find in there too

So if you assume around 1Kg/week per bird, and I guess a bit less for bantams (I think I've read that here ) you can roughly calculate your costs from that. A bag of farmgate layers pellets around me now costs £6.75 for a 20Kg sack.

In terms of where to get them from, on a well known allotment site there are links to breeders broken down by county. From there, I'd look for reviews/references on them on the various dedicated poultry forums (and here?). A couple that jump out off the top of my head are downthelane, omlet and poultry chat.

[Lazgaot]

@RichmondHens, thans for the tips, we are in Norwich itself.

@Chris, thats exactly what I was after. Thanks.

Thanks all. I'll keep you posted on my findings for anyone else in the same situation.