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LAY A LITTLE EGG FOR ME…. Noeline, our friend who runs Mayo Animal Welfare is up visiting and we’re wandering around the garden looking for a suitable place to keep some chickens. “The time has come when we need to be harvesting more than just vegetables” I tell her.Noeline has some fabulous free rangers herself and our lads thought they were being given chedder cheese in a bowl when we handed them some scrambled eggs made from one of the eggs. The colour was so rich and golden. If you have ever had a wholesome egg from a free range chicken, you will know that the extra work needed to produce them is well worth the effort.Noeline is a dab hand at looking after birds as she has been rescuing all types of flying animals for years. “There are certain key things to take care of first.” She begins. “Keeping chickens is one of the fastest growing hobbies in Ireland and it’s not surprising. Get yourself some good ones and they are productive, friendly pets which give you a regular supply of fresh eggs and liven up your garden with their antics.”Are they expensive to keep? I ask Noeline as she looks at the possibility of converting the shed into a chicken house. “They are relatively inexpensive to keep but they need a little attention to keep them in good condition.” Noeline continues, “you do need to look at how many birds you can keep though.”
COMPANY “A solitary hen won't be a happy bird, so you should have at least two. Four to six will supply the average family with an ample supply of fresh eggs and you could keep this many in a house approximately 1.2 by 1.8m (6 by 4ft)” SPACE “Chickens’ housing requirements are quite simple as they will spend most of their time outside, unless they’re laying eggs, sleeping or sheltering from bad weather. You can either build your own house from wood or buy a readymade one. I tell Noeline about a local supplier called Shane Houston from Chic-hens in Carndonagh, his designs have the shed raised up off of the ground so the chickens can run about underneath, which will be ideal for people with limited space. “That sounds ideal.” She agrees. INSIDE THE HOUSE “So what about inside the house?” I ask. “The basic requirements inside a chicken house are a perch to sleep on and sufficient nesting boxes - at least one per four chickens, as they will take it in turns to lay. You should also consider how easy it will be to clean and how easy it will be to move, if you make your own give yourself space to get in and out to clean.” She advises. OUTSIDE “For safety and security when you are not around you may need a run for the birds. I have a netted area that also has a secure cover of netting too.” Noeline and I are walking towards the lawn to see if there would be more suitable. “The run will need to be large enough for the hens to rummage about and flap their wings, so the larger the area the better if it going to be permanent and unable to move. Make sure the netting is dug into the ground though as foxes can tunnel under it. Clean ground is also very important – any area that the birds are running on can soon become spoiled. Ideally you could make a run and house that you can move around, a bit like a rabbit run.” Noeline suggests. “Moving them around will provide the chickens with a different outside space and keep them occupied.” Noeline projects and looks at me winking, “they like to be kept busy.” Then adds as a caution “Whatever you do, the run and the house should both be secure against vermin and predators including foxes, badgers and rats. FEEDING I would be a bit reluctant to put the run on the lawn as it would deprive the lads of football so we head off into the undergrowth to look at more areas. “Do you feed the chickens your leftovers?” I ask. “I do, within reason, I give them a balanced chicken feed, either in pellet or mash form, this contains all the minerals, calcium and protein they need but I do give them treats too.” TREATS “If you want to give your birds an occasional treat, avoid any salty, sugary or fatty foods which can play havoc with their stomach and their health overall. Stick to wheat and fresh vegetables.This also provides you with the chance to add a little cod liver oil to their diet, just mix in a very small amount with the wheat to help the birds to feather and keep them in general good health. A supply of grit is also essential as it helps hens break down and digest their food and make those lovely shells.” Noleline has found just the right spot for the birds next to the outside tap. “You should provide chickens with a constant supply of clean water, so use a poultry font drinker. Water should be changed on a daily basis and kept outside the poultry shed but under cover to avoid wild bird droppings. Drinkers which are used inside can cause damp which is a health hazard for yourself and the birds.” She advises. “By having the run near the water supply, it will never be an inconvenience to refresh the water.” GENERAL CARE “Look after them like you would any other pet.” Noeline advises. Leaving them in damp and drafty accommodation will only end with a variety of poultry-related problems. Clean the house on a regular basis and use dry, dust-free wood shavings for the bedding; try not to use straw or hay as it can quickly become damp underneath and go mouldy. And concludes “They are not water birds like ducks so need a nice dry environment.” We head back into the house. We now know where to put the run and house, all we need now are the chickens…. Poultry Houses Harrord Horticulture stock Classic Poultry Houses that are hand-made in Suffolk from selected, quality redwood shiplap boarding. The unique design features make them easy to manage and keep clean, while the very high standard of hen house construction ensures a long, trouble-free life.
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Basic Requirements
The only thing you will need to begin keeping chickens is a desire to live the ‘Good Life’ and most importantly some ordinary common sense, with these all else will follow. Without them you may ‘get some chickens as pets’ but are unprepared for the care and attention they require. Chickens, like any other animal, bring with them a duty of care which must be recognised and undertaken by the owner.
There are no hard and fast rules for hobby chicken keeping, no minimum or maximum, just remember a chickens nature and cater for it... generously!
Before embarking on chicken-keeping, consider your lifestyle and available space. Chickens WILL need attention (not a lot), shelter from the elements, space to move about, to scratch and forage, regular food and constant water. In return they will reward you with beautiful fresh eggs, dispose of most of your kitchen waste, produce nitrogen rich fertiliser for your vegetable garden, clean it up in winter and provide continuous hours of enjoyment. Your ducks will even eliminate your lawn moss problems.
Shelter
Perching HenChickens' original habitat was in trees; as adult birds they will need someplace to perch at night, walls and a roof to keep they dry when it rains, ventilation but not drafts, a nest-box to lay their eggs and protection from predators both domestic and wild. As they don’t have sweat glands, they will need shade from hot sun and an area where they can dust bathe. Ducks MUST have access to water.
As weather conditions change in winter, this need not become an issue if timely precautions are taken to safeguard your flock.
Space
You can keep chickens in a small suburban back garden or in a rural setting with several acres, your choice and the number of birds you keep will be determined by the space you have available. There are domestic fowl with all characteristics and temperaments and in all shapes, sizes and colours from bantams to large fowl. You can choose from colourful pure breeds, purebred crosses or commercial egg-laying hybrids. You can even consider waterfowl such as ducks.
Some research and planning prior to the purchase is vital in finding suitable birds to match your circumstances. Read books, smallholder/poultry keeping magazines, browse the internet, talk to experienced chicken keepers who are usually more than delighted to share their knowledge and experience. There is a rich volume of information available. It would be re-inventing the wheel to repeat it here as each person’s circumstances are different. Keeping Chickens
Let ordinary common sense rule; if your hen is taking up 12 inches of perch space, then give her a little extra to move and turn around without knocking another hen off. If your hens are fouling the ground (grass is no longer growing there) then the open space is too small. Some breeds are harder on the ground than others and will need more space.
Hens eat lots of grass so allow for slow growth in wintertime.
Employing these principles, use your own reasoning when buying birds, a standard chicken coop or building your own and when it comes to establishing how many birds you can house.
Start-up Costs
Depending on your budget, a chicken shelter can be a fancy well built chicken house for 2 – 3 hens and upwards or you can make it yourself from any suitable material you have available. Great housing can be made with some imagination using packing crates, pallets or any other material that might otherwise cause environmental or logistical difficulties in its disposal. It does not have to look ugly, some imagination, a trip to an old style hardware store, and a few euros can create amazing results. If you don’t have the materials yourself, talk to your neighbours, your relatives and friends, local retail outlets, keep an eye on www.jumbletown.ie. They will be delighted with your removal service.