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To chicken...or chicken out?

Ally Hunt
by Lovemoney Staff Ally Hunt on 17 June 2009  |  Comments 19 comments

I'd like to keep chickens. They apparently make great pets, the kids would love them and we'd save a fortune by no longer having to buy free-range eggs. But are they worth all the extra work?

Hot topic in the Hunt household at the moment is chicken. Nope, not the sort you buy ready prepared at the supermarket, but the flapping, squawking kind that scurries around the garden and if you're lucky, lays you a few delicious eggs.

I have been keen to keep chickens for years. They apparently make great pets, they're easy to keep, eat kitchen scraps and lay lots of fantastic free-range eggs. What's not to like - especially when they can live in a trendy eglu. (although I concede that at £350+ my husband would never agree to one of these!).

We have enough space in the garden. And I think they'd be good for our two young children to help them understand where their food actually comes from (not Sainsbury's!). Plus we'd save a fair bit by not having to buy eggs (we could possibly even sell any surplus).

However there are some potential issues. For a start, how would the neighbours react? Could they be persuaded with the odd donation of fresh eggs?

I also believe chickens can't be left for too long - if we fancied a night away would we have to arrange for someone to let them out and shut them in safely at night? What would we do if we went on holiday?

A fox has also been spotted prowling around the neighbourhood, so the henhouse would need to be very secure. And how would our cat would react to some feathered friends running around his territory? (although I have heard that some chickens can hold their own against felines).

Questions, questions, hence the debate.

And it goes round in circles. Should we bite the bullet and get some chickens or would they just add a lot more work to an already chaotic household?

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Comments (19)

  • lowknapp
    Love rating 0
    lowknapp said

    Ally. I guess chickens are much the same as any animal you have, or child for that matter. they are not difficult to look after and provide endless amusement. But, like other animals (and children) they need somewhere safe to live, they need feeding and they need keeping clean. so you will have to spend time on them every day.

    you will need to feed them each day - mixed grains and manufactured vitamin rich mixtures, and provide an area where they can eat green items. grass is good, as are cabbage leaves. they also need water. if you like your garden, do not let them in the important areas as they will eventually scratch up any small plants you have carefully planted.

    they will need a safe chicken house with nesting boxes, tall enough for them to have an elevated roost. they will put themselves to bed as it gets dark (I remember an eclipse which totally confused them), but you must ensure that their hut is securely shut at night. the fox is a predator and you will have to get used to the fact that some of them will eventually be caught while your back is turned. similarly you will have to let them out in the morning. bear in mind that if you let them range far and wide, eggs can be laid anywhere. if you find a clutch. always break the eggs into a saucer before using, to check they are still fresh.

    you also need to keep their hut and/or run clean, both of muck and food, otherwise you will attract rats. not good.

    if you go away, someone will have to do this for you. if you can put up with all this, chickens are very rewarding. your neighbours should not worry too much, unless you have a cockerel too. hens are not noisy, but cockerels will start crowing at the crack of dawn. better than an alarm clock.

    best of luck.

    Report on 18 June 2009  |  Love thisLove  0 loves
  • Dave
    Love rating 52
    Dave said

    @nik - what's the URL of your blog please?

    Report on 19 June 2009  |  Love thisLove  0 loves

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