chic:chickens

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chic:chickens [2025/12/03 18:40] – [What are the benefits of keeping chickens?] Simon Grantchic:chickens [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Chickens+This topic is part of [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. 
 +====== Chickens ======
  
  
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-## What are chickens?+===== What are chickens? =====
  
 The chicken (_Gallus gallus domesticus_) is a domestic fowl, descended from the Red jungle fowl native to south-east Asia. Possibly domesticated as much as 8,000 years ago, it is one of the commonest and most widespread agricultural animals. Chickens are primary kept for eggs and meat, they can also provide pest control and manure. The chicken (_Gallus gallus domesticus_) is a domestic fowl, descended from the Red jungle fowl native to south-east Asia. Possibly domesticated as much as 8,000 years ago, it is one of the commonest and most widespread agricultural animals. Chickens are primary kept for eggs and meat, they can also provide pest control and manure.
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 <figure> <figure>
  
-![Red Jungle fowl in Thailand](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/Red_Junglefowl_-_Thailand-e1511106692167.jpg)+![_Red Jungle fowl in Thailand_](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/Red_Junglefowl_-_Thailand-e1511106692167.jpg)
  
 <caption> <caption>
-Red Jungle fowl in Thailand +_Red Jungle fowl in Thailand_
 </caption> </caption>
  
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-## What are the benefits of keeping chickens?+===== What are the benefits of keeping chickens? =====
  
 Chickens are adaptable and easy to keep. You can keep them in your garden and have fresh, ethically and sustainably produced eggs every day. On a larger scale chickens are a common starting point for the new smallholder. They are easy to raise and with sufficient space can forage for a large part of their food intake, helping clear land while they do so. They will also eat waste food (though there are some legalities you need to be aware of, see below). Chickens are adaptable and easy to keep. You can keep them in your garden and have fresh, ethically and sustainably produced eggs every day. On a larger scale chickens are a common starting point for the new smallholder. They are easy to raise and with sufficient space can forage for a large part of their food intake, helping clear land while they do so. They will also eat waste food (though there are some legalities you need to be aware of, see below).
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 <caption> <caption>
-Chickens evolved in jungles and like to have vegetation to hide and forage in. In this pen bushes and herbs are protected by chicken wire domes at their bases to prevent them from being entirely eaten or having their roots exposed by scratching.+_Chickens evolved in jungles and like to have vegetation to hide and forage in. In this pen bushes and herbs are protected by chicken wire domes at their bases to prevent them from being entirely eaten or having their roots exposed by scratching._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-An Austrolorp rooster and hen. Astralorps are a 'dual purpose' breed kept for meat and eggs, they are considered to be particularly docile and hardy.+_An Austrolorp rooster and hen. Astralorps are a 'dual purpose' breed kept for meat and eggs, they are considered to be particularly docile and hardy._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
-### Getting started+==== Getting started ====
  
 There are plenty good resources online to get you started (see the links under resources, above, to start with). Many people keep chickens, if you can find a local chicken keeper it is worth paying them a visit and getting a feel for handling chickens. There are plenty good resources online to get you started (see the links under resources, above, to start with). Many people keep chickens, if you can find a local chicken keeper it is worth paying them a visit and getting a feel for handling chickens.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Three 'mix n' match' hybrids, the result of random crosses between breeds.+_Three 'mix n' match' hybrids, the result of random crosses between breeds._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Black rocks are a popular hybrid; docile, hardy and good layers.+_Black rocks are a popular hybrid; docile, hardy and good layers._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-### Housing+==== Housing ====
  
 Chickens need a weatherproof hen-house of roughly 30cm x 30cm per hen. The house will need dark, private nest boxes (at least one nest box per 3 birds), perches to roost on, a door for the hens, and a larger door for cleaning out. It must be secure from predators and shut up overnight. You can use straw, newspaper or shavings to line the floor of the house and nest boxes are usually lined with straw or shavings. Chickens need a weatherproof hen-house of roughly 30cm x 30cm per hen. The house will need dark, private nest boxes (at least one nest box per 3 birds), perches to roost on, a door for the hens, and a larger door for cleaning out. It must be secure from predators and shut up overnight. You can use straw, newspaper or shavings to line the floor of the house and nest boxes are usually lined with straw or shavings.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Inside a re-purposed plastic barrel chicken house. Slats allow droppings to fall to a tray where they dry out. This system only requires cleaning out once or twice a year (pic: Darius Namdaran).+_Inside a re-purposed plastic barrel chicken house. Slats allow droppings to fall to a tray where they dry out. This system only requires cleaning out once or twice a year (pic: Darius Namdaran)._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-A chicken pen with a moveable fence and a chicken house made out of a recycled garden storage box.+_A chicken pen with a moveable fence and a chicken house made out of a recycled garden storage box._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-### Feeding+==== Feeding ====
  
 You can buy mash or pellets to feed your hens from agricultural suppliers. This is commercial compound feed, made of various grains (best to use feeds that don’t contain [soya](https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/challenges/soya/)). Different feeds are available for different ages. Generally chick crumbs are given for the first 5 weeks, then grower’s mash or pellets until 18 weeks, then layer’s mash or pellets. ‘Mixed corn’ (actually a mix of wheat and corn) should only be fed in small amounts to laying hens; more can be given in the winter when hens are not laying. You can buy mash or pellets to feed your hens from agricultural suppliers. This is commercial compound feed, made of various grains (best to use feeds that don’t contain [soya](https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/challenges/soya/)). Different feeds are available for different ages. Generally chick crumbs are given for the first 5 weeks, then grower’s mash or pellets until 18 weeks, then layer’s mash or pellets. ‘Mixed corn’ (actually a mix of wheat and corn) should only be fed in small amounts to laying hens; more can be given in the winter when hens are not laying.
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 <figure> <figure>
  
-![You can buy a gravity fed drinker for your chickens or make your own, such as the one shown in the photo.](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/2017-06-08-11-08-25-e1511103603443.jpg)+![_You can buy a gravity fed drinker for your chickens or make your own, such as the one shown in the photo._](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/2017-06-08-11-08-25-e1511103603443.jpg)
  
 <caption> <caption>
-You can buy a gravity fed drinker for your chickens or make your own, such as the one shown in the photo.+_You can buy a gravity fed drinker for your chickens or make your own, such as the one shown in the photo._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-You can purchase chicken houses made from recycled plastic, these are much less prone to red mite infestations. 'Loft' houses such as this also provide a sheltered space underneath for a dust bath. A mini gutter has been attached to this house to collect drinking water for the chickens.+_You can purchase chicken houses made from recycled plastic, these are much less prone to red mite infestations. 'Loft' houses such as this also provide a sheltered space underneath for a dust bath. A mini gutter has been attached to this house to collect drinking water for the chickens._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Health+==== Health ====
  
 Chickens need a dust bath to help them control external parasites such as lice and mites. You can either provide a box full of dry soil and sand, or a covered area where they can dig their own dust bath. Either way the dust bath must be protected from the rain so your hens can use it in all weathers. Adding diatomaceous earth to the dust bath can help protect your chickens from parasites. If your chickens do suffer from lice or mites you can add lice powder to their dust bath - this is far more effective and less stressful than trying to apply it directly yourself. Chickens need a dust bath to help them control external parasites such as lice and mites. You can either provide a box full of dry soil and sand, or a covered area where they can dig their own dust bath. Either way the dust bath must be protected from the rain so your hens can use it in all weathers. Adding diatomaceous earth to the dust bath can help protect your chickens from parasites. If your chickens do suffer from lice or mites you can add lice powder to their dust bath - this is far more effective and less stressful than trying to apply it directly yourself.
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 <figure> <figure>
  
-![Eggs in an incubator observed by a small child. This 6-egg incubator was bought second hand on ebay and used to hatch eggs at home.](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/DSCN2838-e1511104183874.jpg)+![_Eggs in an incubator observed by a small child. This 6-egg incubator was bought second hand on ebay and used to hatch eggs at home._](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/DSCN2838-e1511104183874.jpg)
  
 <caption> <caption>
-Eggs in an incubator observed by a small child. This 6-egg incubator was bought second hand on ebay and used to hatch eggs at home.+_Eggs in an incubator observed by a small child. This 6-egg incubator was bought second hand on ebay and used to hatch eggs at home._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 It is generally recommended to ‘worm’ (treat for internal parasites) at least twice a year. You can control parasites to a certain extent using pasture rotation (or moving your chicken pen to a new location), picking up droppings, adding apple cider vinegar to the water, garlic to the feed and giving a ‘herbal’ wormer. These methods will not necessarily prevent or cure an infestation however. If you want to avoid chemical wormers, it is advisable that you perform a ‘faecal egg count’ regularly. You can do this yourself if you have a microscope, or you can buy a kit and send off a sample. In this way you only treat your chickens when necessary and avoid contributing to the problem of resistance to medications. It is generally recommended to ‘worm’ (treat for internal parasites) at least twice a year. You can control parasites to a certain extent using pasture rotation (or moving your chicken pen to a new location), picking up droppings, adding apple cider vinegar to the water, garlic to the feed and giving a ‘herbal’ wormer. These methods will not necessarily prevent or cure an infestation however. If you want to avoid chemical wormers, it is advisable that you perform a ‘faecal egg count’ regularly. You can do this yourself if you have a microscope, or you can buy a kit and send off a sample. In this way you only treat your chickens when necessary and avoid contributing to the problem of resistance to medications.
  
-### Meat production & slaughter+==== Meat production & slaughter ====
  
 It is legal to slaughter chickens at home for consumption by yourself and your immediate family provided it is done humanely. If this is something you want to do, it is advisable to get the help of an experienced person or to attend a course on humane slaughter. See the [Humane Slaughter Association](https://www.hsa.org.uk/) for more information. Plucking and butchering are not difficult skills to learn and there are many online articles and videos to help you with this process. It is legal to slaughter chickens at home for consumption by yourself and your immediate family provided it is done humanely. If this is something you want to do, it is advisable to get the help of an experienced person or to attend a course on humane slaughter. See the [Humane Slaughter Association](https://www.hsa.org.uk/) for more information. Plucking and butchering are not difficult skills to learn and there are many online articles and videos to help you with this process.
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 <figure> <figure>
  
-![Newly hatched Autrolorp and Barnevelder chicks.](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/184808_10150102361819340_3890155_n-e1511104856619.jpg)+![_Newly hatched Autrolorp and Barnevelder chicks._](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/184808_10150102361819340_3890155_n-e1511104856619.jpg)
  
 <caption> <caption>
-Newly hatched Autrolorp and Barnevelder chicks.+_Newly hatched Autrolorp and Barnevelder chicks._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-### Paperwork and regulations+==== Paperwork and regulations ====
  
 You have to register with DEFRA and standard regulations apply if you keep more than 50 ducks / hens or a mix of both. There are no regulations for people keeping fewer than 50 birds. You have to register with DEFRA and standard regulations apply if you keep more than 50 ducks / hens or a mix of both. There are no regulations for people keeping fewer than 50 birds.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Keeping chickens naturally in a forest garden.+_Keeping chickens naturally in a forest garden._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 +===== Forum =====
 +
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/gardening).
 +
 +===== Further resources =====
 +
 +- [British Hen Welfare Trust](https://www.bhwt.org.uk/) - from battery farms to back gardens
 +
 +- [Chicken breeds](https://www.mypetchicken.com/pages/chicken-breeds)
 +
 +- [Keeping chickens](https://keeping-chickens.me.uk/) - comprehensive guide
 +
 +- [Poultry Keeper](https://poultrykeeper.com/keeping-chickens/) - how to keep chickens
  
 +- [Poultry for sale (UK)](https://www.chickens.allotment-garden.org/poultry-suppliers/)
  
-## Further resources+- [[wp>Chicken]]
  
  
-## Specialist(s) 
  
-**Thanks to Lesley Anderson of [Permaculture Scotland](https://scotland.permaculture.org.uk/) for information.**+===== Related topics =====
  
 +- [Butchery & meat](butc:butchery)
 +- [Ducks](duck:ducks)
 +- [Geese](gees:geese)
 +- [Quail](qual:quail)
 +- [Turkeys](trky:turkeys)
 +- [Guinea fowl](guin:guinea_fowl)
 +- [Urban / small-space gardening](urbs:small-space_gardening)
 +- [Natural pest & weed control](ntpw:natural_pest_and_weed_control)
 +- [Smallholding](smho:smallholding)
 +- [Keeping livestock](livs:livestock)
 +- [Forest gardening](forg:forest_gardening)
  
 +===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
-_Date on Lowimpact:2013-11-26_ 
  
  • chic/chickens.1764787204.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2025/12/03 18:40
  • by Simon Grant