Chicken FAQ

 

Yes. Most small backyard flocks of chickens are kept for years with no problems at all. They mostly look after themselves and provided they have their few basic needs met they will happily provide eggs and entertainment for years.

 

 

Most pure breed chickens live for between 4 and 7 years and actively lay eggs for about 5 seasons. Hybrids rarely live more than 2 or 3 and generally lay for 2 seasons.

 

 

It depends on the breed. Silkies will produce about 100 eggs per year whilst hybrids will produce as many as 340 in their 1st laying season. Barnevelders produce roughly 180 eggs per year. As hens get older they tend to produce less but bigger eggs.

 

 

No. Hens will lay eggs happily without one. They will also tend to be more friendly without a rooster around. Roosters also make considerable amounts of noise and can be aggressive.

 

 

Chickens eat most things they can stuff down their beak. Seeds, corn, maize, all sorts of greenery, insects, worms, mice and frogs. They will also consume small stones and grit to aid with their digestion. You should feed them a healthy balanced diet and fresh greens.

 

 

The average commercial hybrid will start to lay between 18 and 20 weeks. Pure breeds generally will start to lay eggs at about 22/24 weeks. Barnevelders take a little longer at 28 weeks.

 

 

Nutritionally green, brown eggs and white eggs are the same. It is a matter of personal preference as to what colour you prefer or what type of chicken you want to keep in your backyard.

There are now tens of shades of egg to choose from. A pure white to a deep olive colour and just about everything in between.

 

 

Yes. Young birds fly well and cover surprisingly large distances. Laying hens do not fly unless they have to and even then it is more of an assisted jump. One of our neighbours has Spangled Hamburgs and they fly very well. Our Barnevelders do not fly well as the wings are high up on the body. Silkies cannot fly at all as they have no quill to stiffen their feathers. It is breed dependent.

 

 

Bantams can weigh as little as a 2lb (1kg) and stand roughly 9 inches high. The Jersey Giant has been weighed at 22lb (10Kg) and is nearly 3 foot tall. The average is between 4 and 7 lb (2 / 3 Kg), standing approximately 16 to 18 inches high.

The advantage of this variety in size and shape is there is normally a bird for every situation.

 

 

Hens are normally very quiet. They can make a lot of noise but tend not to. Some cluck for a minute or two when they have laid an egg. Cockerels are very noisy and crow from first light.

 

 

It depends on how much space you have to give the hens and how many eggs you want. You should never keep one on its own as they like company and are sociable. Three is a good start and will provide about 15/18 eggs a week.

 

 

It mostly depends on the variety of chicken and the day length were you live. Here in North Yorkshire a bird like a Rhode Island Red will lay an egg a day between the middle of February and October for a total of 250 to 280 eggs per year. A Silkie on the other hand will only produce 100 relatively small eggs per year. Our Barnevelders produced an average of 173 eggs per bird throughout last year.

A hybrid like a Lohmann brown will probably lay an egg a day pretty much regardless of the time of year and as long as it can get enough food.

 

 

This is a debate that seems endless. My answer is yes . Shop bought eggs seem to have very pale yellow yolks, are watery and may be several weeks old by the time you eat them. Home produced eggs will usually have a bright orange yolk, be firm and will be eaten before it has time to get old. Chickens that are allowed to roam and graze on fresh greenery as well as wild grass, seeds and insects will be happier which I believe is important for ethically produced food.

You also get to eat eggs from other types of poultry you cannot normally buy in the shops like duck, Guinea fowl or Quails.

 

 

Day old chicks can cost as little as £1 each. 8 weeks old pullets that are off heat cost about £5 and Point of lay pullets cost about £14. You can rescue ex battery hens for free. Rare breeds cost more, sometimes considerably so. The coop and equipment is the biggest expense.

Chicken food can be expensive to buy in small quantities. You will save money by having chickens in free-ranging in your garden because they can find some of their own food. I calculate that a free range egg from my hens costs me around £0.14 per egg, including the cost of the hens. Compare this to the average £0.33 + for a free range egg in the store.

If you spend money on treats you will lose value.