Do you have any advice for keeping hens?

Question

we are thinking of getting a couple of hens to keep in our garden. we have a relative who keeps lots of hens but i was just wondering if anyone has any helpful tips on looking after them, and how long you can keep the eggs for before they spoil.

Answer 1

A couple of hens is a great idea :) But could we suggest that 3 or 4 are just as easy as two, and if anything happens to one you're not left with a lonely hen :)

The one bad thing about keeping hens in your garden, is that you can probably kiss goodbye to your lovely flower beds :)

Our only advice would be source your chickens from a rescue centre.

You can try the Battery Hen Welfare Trust for ex battery hens, which after a short rest will give you a plentiful supply of eggs for years to come.

If you happen to be in the North East of Scotland then contact us :) We re home ex free range layers who are now 2 years old and considered unviable. They adapt quicker to life outside ( lower mortality ) and will produce eggs for years to come.

Its also fun watching their personalities develop.

As far as the eggs are concerned, we're not quite sure, because we don't usually keep them but we do know that most supermarket eggs take up to 2 weeks to reach the shelf.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I had a chicken as a pet before and I would recommend them for anyone.  They eat bugs so you will see a decrease of bugs(like mosquitoes) if you do have some chickens running around your yard.  Chickens are able to fly,not very high, so you probably won't have any problems keeping them in your yard if your yard is big enough.  If you hand feed your chickens when they are chicks they will be very tame.  They will sit in your lap and let you pet them all over.  They will also follow you around when you are outside-so sweet.  You will need them to have a place for them to roost, somewhere warm.  They will eat grass and also buy some chicken feed at your local feed store.  

Answer 3

also plesae remember your hens would need shelter at night an din cold weather.. chickens fall predator to fox and stuff and need to be kept safe at night

Answer 4

if you have to ask anybody ask your relative