Chickens & Poultry

After growing your own, keeping chickens or some other is the obvious next step in food self-sufficiency. Chickens can be kept in most back gardens or yards and don’t take a great deal of space or effort to look after.

Keeping Chickens

Keeping Chickens at Home

Initially you can start by getting a few hens for the eggs. If you’ve not had a home-produced egg from chickens allowed some space to roam in the garden you’re in for a treat. The easiest way is buy some young hens ready to start laying – point of lay hens.

The next step is raising poultry for the table. That’s actually a big step since you’re going to have to face the reality of where the meat you eat comes from.

Chickens aren’t the only poultry suitable for keeping at home. Ducks are nearly as good egg layers as chickens and if you’re really tight for space you can keep quail in a small area.

The articles below should help you get started and answer your questions. If you are looking to get poultry check out our list of breeders here.

Articles On Keeping Chickens & Other Poultry

7 Important Things You Need To Take Care Of Chickens

7 Important Things You Need To Take Care Of Chickens

Within this article, you will find some of our best tips to take care of your new chickens and keep them healthy and happy.
Chickens Illness & Problems

Chickens Illness & Problems

A series on the common illness and ailments that poultry can suffer. Hens tend to be fairly robust but when they do get ill they can go down very quickly.
Low Cost Hens - Finding Cheap Hens and Housing for them

Low Cost Hens - Finding Cheap Hens and Housing for them

Finding cheap hens and housing can involve shopping about, checking local poultry breeders and making your own coop or adapting existing garden buildings.
Starting Keeping Hens - A Basic Guide

Starting Keeping Hens - A Basic Guide

When starting keeping hens there are a few basics to consider, housing , space, and breeds just to start. We cover the main points you need to know to start
Chickens in Winter - The Garden

Chickens in Winter - The Garden

This article is part one of a 3 part series on looking after your chickens in winter. Looking at how to keep the garden safe and poultry friendly in Winter.
Back Garden Chicken Keeping - Hens at Home in the Garden

Back Garden Chicken Keeping - Hens at Home in the Garden

An introduction and discussion on back garden chicken keeping. Is it for you? What do you need to get started and what is the effect on existing pets etc?
Low Cost Hens - Feeding Frugally

Low Cost Hens - Feeding Frugally

By shopping around and only buying or making what you need you can keep low cost hens in the garden or on a smallholding, feeding frugally is vital.
Low Cost Chicken Coops - Budget Hen Houses

Low Cost Chicken Coops - Budget Hen Houses

The lowest cost way to house your hens may be to convert an existing shed or build one from scratch but check these budget low cost chicken coops first.
Keeping Chickens on a Budget - Getting & Housing Your Hens

Keeping Chickens on a Budget - Getting & Housing Your Hens

It is easy to keep chickens on a budget and then enjoy the fresh eggs and companionship in your back yard with our how-to guide.
Keeping Chickens on a Budget - Feeding, Watering & Protecting Your Hens

Keeping Chickens on a Budget - Feeding, Watering & Protecting Your Hens

Feeding, watering & protecting your hens while on a budget is simple to do with our how-to guide.
Keeping Chickens Warm in Winter

Keeping Chickens Warm in Winter

Keeping chickens warm in winter means a little extra care, but as they are naturally quite hardy it can easily be done with these hints and tips.
What to Feed Chickens in Winter

What to Feed Chickens in Winter

What to feed chickens in winter is all about keeping the body temperature up. So warming layers pellet porridge or a handful of extra corn at night.
Incubating Chickens & Ducks

Incubating Chickens & Ducks

Whether using an incubator or a broody hen, incubating chickens & ducks can be an enjoyable way to add to your flock.
Keeping Chickens for Meat - Costs & Returns - The Economics

Keeping Chickens for Meat - Costs & Returns - The Economics

A nuts and bolts discussion of the economics. Raising your own table birds for meat. Not a lot cheaper than the shops but a high welfare and better tasting
Incubating Chickens & Ducks, Hatching, Sexing & Rearing

Incubating Chickens & Ducks, Hatching, Sexing & Rearing

In this article we cover hatching your chicks, determining the sex and rearing them. Whether using a broody hen or an incubator, these tips should help you
Keeping Chickens for Meat, Table Birds Best Chicken Breeds

Keeping Chickens for Meat, Table Birds Best Chicken Breeds

Keeping chickens for meat at home is becoming increasingly popular but what breed to get? A dual purpose or a specific broiler breed? Your options explained
Keeping Chickens for Meat - Raising & Feeding Table Birds

Keeping Chickens for Meat - Raising & Feeding Table Birds

Raising table breeds and their feeding regime will vary according to the breed. Traditional breeds are slower-growing, healthier and better flavour than new

Keeping Ducks – See our Duck Articles, Start Below

Keeping Ducks

Keeping Ducks

Keeping ducks in the back garden is a lot easier than people expect as this introduction to home duck keeping explains. Enjoy the freshest rich duck eggs

Backgarden Chickens

Backgarden Chickens and Other Poultry

The Easy Read Guide to Home Poultry Keeping

Practical advice that tells you all you need to know

Also covers, ducks, geese, quail, turkeys, guinea fowl

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We've over 500 poultry breeders listed across the UK!

Chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, quail, Hatching Eggs, Day Olds, Point of Lay... - even ostriches!

List of Poultry Suppliers

Check out poultry pages on Allotment Garden

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