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Choosing & Stocking the Chickens by Virginia Shirt

Assuming that you have the coop prepared, the sundries in place, its time to purchase your chickens. You will need to decide what type of chickens you wish to keep and how many

Virginia Shirt is the author of The Right Way to Keep Chickens available from Amazon and all good bookstores. She has lived with chickens for over 15 years so her knowledge is based on practical experience.

The book provides a comprehensive guide to keeping chickens and is an easy read from an obvious enthusiast.

Stocking your Chicken House

Richard Cannon from Down the Lane and some of his rescued ex-battery hens in his garden

Assuming that you have the coop prepared, the sundries in place, its time to purchase your chickens. You will need to decide what type of chickens you wish to keep and how many? I do so like to encourage the purchase of ex battery hens. You will have to forgive me on this subject as I do feel that battery have such a poor existence. If you have the opportunity to save them please do, you will not regret it!

Battery hens can be sourced by word of mouth if you make it common knowledge that you are out to find some. The internet has information regarding the battery hen welfare trust. This trust will help to put you in touch with rescue chickens in your local area. A battery hen is only given one year of life and it’s not a very good year at that. Imagine the joy of giving the gift of freedom and longevity to such a chicken. Even if you only require a couple of chickens it will make a difference to the couple you choose.

How Many Chickens to Buy?

It is a matter of deciding how many eggs you will use each week. If you do your own baking you will need to consider this on top of normal egg consumption. After all you will benefit from too many eggs as opposed to not enough.

Eggs do keep well if refrigerated as soon as possible after laying (See Selling Eggs & Storing Eggs). Four to Six hens should provide enough eggs for an average family. Consider that each hen will lay 5/6 eggs per week so this will allow you to work out how many hens to purchase.

Egg Production Falls During the Moult

Do bear in mind also that you will have plenty of eggs leading up to the first moult. The moult is time taken by the chicken to rest her body and build her up again ready for the following laying season. The moult is also a time when the plumage will be replaced. Your chicken will look a little rough during this time. Do not be alarmed as once the moult is over plumage will be replaced and the chicken will return to her former glory!

However remember that after each moult the eggs produced by each chicken will reduce gradually over the years. You will recognise when your chickens are in moult and the eggs will cease for a while. The moult can take several weeks

Daylight Affects Egg Production

You must make sure that you give the chickens extra light as the winter nights draw in You will recognise when your chickens are in moult and the eggs will cease for a while. The moult can take several weeks. The chicken needs 18 hours maximum of daylight in order to stimulate the laying of eggs. Eighteen hours is the maximum day length in the summer and we need to try and mimic this in order to keep the eggs coming all year round. When the birds begin the moult you can allow less daylight hours. This will help them during the rest period. .

Articles by Virginia Shirt on Keeping Chickens at Home