How to keep hens and influence people

Posted by Neil Williams

January 23, 2009

Rosie and Betty

If I asked you for a list of reasons to keep hens in your back garden you’d probably rattle off a few good’uns.

Eggs, you would rightly say. Better tasting ones at that. Reduced food miles, you might add if you’re the type. You might even guess that it’s fun, rewarding, and that hens are right up there with goldfish at the easy end of the pet care spectrum.

But you’d likely miss the fact that keeping hens = social grease. By the barrel. Fact is, the humble chicken kicks your 10 tonne penguin’s Antarctic ass when it comes to breaking the ice.

Since having my pet hens Rosie and Betty smalltalk has been a whole lot easier. They’ve helped me get to know my neighbours – the lovely people over both fences watch the hens when we’re on holiday and I take round free eggs whenever I’ve got a glut. This goes down pretty well.

I also take surplus eggs into work, where conversations in the kitchen or lift now nearly always start with “how are the hens?” I’m constantly amazed and pleased that work contacts of all removes not only remember but are genuinely keen to ask about how my two chickens are doing.

Dave asked me about them earlier this week over a Nando’s (shhh – don’t tell Rosie and Betty) and introduced me to another tweeting henkeeper. And in a direct message on Twitter the other day even Minister Tom Watson wanted to know how I find the time for such poultry pursuits.

So I thought I’d kick start my henbloggery by sharing the answers to some of these genuine FAQs (unlike the seldom asked Qs that substitute for decent copywriting on many a website I could name).

How much work is it?

Really not much. My wife or I go out twice a day – first thing in the morning to give them food and fresh water, and again in the late afternoon to collect the egg(s). They’re in a nest box joined to a fox-proof run, so we don’t tend to shut them in at night unless it’s really icy. That’s the daily routine – considerably less trouble than a dog. But you do also need to clean them out…

How often do you clean out the hen house?

Every 2-3 weeks. This is not glamorous, especially when it’s raining. But it’s satisfying to give them a clean home with dry bedding and dust to protect them from red mite and any other nasties.

How do you get them in at night?

One of the most endearing things about chickens is their habit of taking themselves off to roost as soon as it’s dusk. And when they’re in, they become really placid and calm (read: easy to handle) and cuddle up with each other for the night.

What about foxes?

Urban foxes are a problem – but not as bad as cats. I outfox them both by keeping the hens in a large run with a wire skirt (that’s the run, not me) to prevent hungry hunters digging in under, and only let them out when I’m in the garden too.

Even so, once while I was busy digging my veg plot a cat pounced from the bushes and took some feathers from Rosie’s neck before I chased it away. They’re still growing back. I should probably get her a little scarf.

How many eggs do you get a day?

With two hens, I was getting two eggs a day in the summer (they each laid one per day), and now it’s winter I get one (they’re laying on alternate days). The amount of sunlight affects egg production.

Where did you get your hens?

I got mine online (of course!) from The Hen House. I also bought a Thrippett ark from them, which turned out to be way too small so my Dad and I chopped it up and used the nest box as part of a home-made larger enclosure.

If I was starting over I would get the hens from a local city farm and buy a bigger run, not an ark. If you are less fussy than me about having only wooden stuff in your garden I’d seriously advise you to get the works (hens, Eglu and run) from Omlet.

What breed are they?

My two are a Calderanger (Rosie) and a Speckledy (Betty). They are both hybrid breeds, as opposed to pedigree, chosen for high egg production and family-friendly personalities. Great info on breeds on the Omlet site and this book.

Do you need a licence?

No, not from the local authority. But check your deeds if you own your house and rental agreement if you don’t. You only need to register them with Defra if you have more than 50 chickens.

Don’t your neighbours mind the noise?

You’re thinking of cockerels. Hens make a nice clucking sound – especially when they’ve just laid an egg they’re particularly proud of.

Don’t you need a cockerel for the eggs?

No. Hens lay eggs without a cockerel being around. The eggs you buy in supermarkets are unfertilised. You would only need a cockerel if you intend to hatch the fertilised eggs and breed chicks.

How long do chickens live?

Around 4 to 8 years depending on the breed.

What do you do with a dead hen?

Bury it or eat it. I’ll be favouring the former, not out of any vegetarian beliefs or sentimentality (I grew up on a farm and have worked in a slaughterhouse after all) but because it’s easier, and supermarket chickens are cheap.

What do they eat?

I feed them layers pellets – a special feed for laying hens. But as treats you can give them pretty much anything from your garden and kitchen scraps. They love leftover spaghetti, because it looks like worms. And the more greens you give them the yellower your egg yolks will be. But don’t, under any circumstances, give them avocado – it’s poisonous to hens. And never feed them after midnight. (Because you never know).

…more questions?

I could easily run to several thousand words on this subject but I’ll stop now. Anything else you want to know, just ask. I’ll be writing some more about the hens over the coming months and posting more photos too.

Hen house - part Thrippet, part homemade

Some useful links:

Suppliers of runs, hens and equipment: