Questions

Frequently Asked Questions & Articles

These articles were written either in direct response to questions we’re often asked or inspired by those questions.

Chicken QuestionsWhilst we’re happy to try and answer your questions with an article on the site, before contacting us please use the search box to see if we’ve already covered it in an article.

And don’t forget our comprehensive guide for keeping chickens and other poultry at home – Backgarden Chickens & Other Poultry

About Perches or Roosting Bars for Chickens

About Perches or Roosting Bars for Chickens

This article discusses perches or roosting bars for chickens. The words perch and roost are basically interchangeable here, meaning the same thing. In the UK we tend to use perch but in American English the word roost is more popular. What is a perch...
Can chickens see colour & can chickens see in the dark?

Can chickens see colour & can chickens see in the dark?

By strange coincidence I had two emails asking about chicken's vision on the same day. The first simply wanted to know if chickens see colour or have a black and white world. The second writer asked if chickens can see at night in the dark. Jurassic...
Do I need a licence or to register if I keep poultry?

Do I need a licence or to register if I keep poultry?

If you're looking at just keeping a few hens in the back garden then legally you do not need a licence or to register them. You may, however, find you are not allowed to keep poultry in the deeds of the property. This is rare and tends to be written...
Hens Egg Eating - My hens are eating their eggs!

Hens Egg Eating - My hens are eating their eggs!

'My hens are eating their eggs! How do I stop it?' is another of those questions we are often asked. Hens egg eating is one of the less pleasant things our feathered ladies can get up to at times and once established, egg-eating can be very difficult t...
How many eggs will I get from a hen?

How many eggs will I get from a hen?

How many eggs will I get from a hen? Is a question many prospective poultry keepers ask. It's a good simple question but unfortunately the answer isn't simple or clear-cut. It will depend on a number of factors. Different breeds of hen will...
How Much Space do Hens Need

How Much Space do Hens Need

'How much space do hens need?' is one of the questions we're asked again and again. Prospective poultry keepers, sensibly, want to be sure they have enough room to keep their hens before they get them. It's surprising how little space you...
Keeping Chickens in the Garden

Keeping Chickens in the Garden

This article looks at the benefits and drawbacks of keeping chickens in the garden. Most home poultry keepers like to allow their birds freedom to roam around the garden but they worry about the effects. What good will chickens do in my garden? Chickens...
Keeping Your Chickens Happy & Contented

Keeping Your Chickens Happy & Contented

It may surprise you to find that chickens can be unhappy but they can. Just as the dog has something of the wolf in his background, so the hen has her life in the jungle in her background. Chickens in the Wild Her behaviour is profoundly influenced...
My hens have stopped laying eggs, why?

My hens have stopped laying eggs, why?

There are a number reasons why hens stop laying eggs. In this article we cover the most probable ones and how to get them laying again, where possible. The Season - Lighting for Laying Hens To everything there is a season. Hens are living creatures,...
The Ins and Outs Of Nest Boxes

The Ins and Outs Of Nest Boxes

What is a Nest Box? Chickens in the wild will, like other birds, want to lay their eggs in a nest. They generally want somewhere secluded and safe to protect both them and their eggs. A nest box satisfies this need. It's usually around a foot square...
Why Keep Chickens? Pros & Cons of Chicken Keeping

Why Keep Chickens? Pros & Cons of Chicken Keeping

By John Harrison Before deciding whether keeping chickens is for you it is worthwhile considering the benefits of keeping chickens and the drawbacks. The main reasons for small scale poultry keeping are: Chickens as a Pet or Hobby Saving...

Backgarden Chickens & Other Poultry

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