an introduction to keeping chickens

An Introduction to Keeping Chickens

www.Food4Macc.org

Food4MaccChoice of Birds

Rhode Island Red

Light Sussex

HybridsRhodie-SussexThornber 404

Warrens, Shavers,Novo Brown

Food4MaccChoice of Birds

You Don’t Need a Cockerel

(and don’t be palmed off with one!)

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QtyAge (Weeks)

16 17 18 19 20 21 22+

0 - 4 £7.40

5 - 11 £6.40

12 - 19 £5.95 £6.05 £6.15 £6.25 £6.35

20 - 39 £5.65 £5.75 £5.85 £5.95 £6.05

40 - 99 £5.25 £5.35 £5.45 £5.55 £5.65 £5.75

100+ £4.80 £4.90 £4.90 £5.30 £5.40 £5.50 £5.60

Price of Novo Brown Point of Lay Pullets

Vaccinated/ medicated against:Marrecks

SalmonellaEDS (Egg Drop Syndrome)

IB (Infectious Bronchitis)Newcastles disease

TRT/SHS (Turkey Rhino Tracheitis/Swollen Head Syndrome)

ILT (Infectious Laryngotracheitis)IBD (Infectious Bursal Disease)/Gumboro

Coccidioses

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Other Breeds available from £10 - £30 each

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Leek Market – Poultry Sale days

Poultry Sales at 9.30 Saturday 12th October Store Cattle & Poultry. Saturday 26th October Store Cattle & Poultry.Saturday 9th November Store Cattle & Poultry.Saturday 23rd November Poultry & Caged Birds.Saturday 7th December Store Cattle & Poultry.Saturday 21st December Poultry & Caged Birds.

Food4MaccLocal Suppliers

Food4MaccCommercially available houses : Omlet Egloo from £450

Note mesh over ground to keep out predators

Food4MaccCommercially available houses :

Food4MaccCommercially available houses

Food4MaccCommercially available houses : £85 on line

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A Place to Live

This 2nd hand 7’x5’ garden shed sleeps 22

birds

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A Place to Live

This 2nd hand 7’x5’ garden shed sleeps 22

birds

20 cm of perching per bird

Feeder & Drinker

suspended off the floor

Nest Boxes

Wood shavings from local Joiner

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A Place to Live

This 2nd hand 7’x5’ garden shed sleeps 22

birds

Food4MaccThe Run

At least 1 square metre per bird

Provide some shelter from sun,

wind and rain Scratching in flower and veg beds can be

a problem

Hens love to eat your Swiss

Chard / Spinach

Food4MaccThe Run

Food4MaccThe Run

Rabbit / Chicken Netting BS4431050 x 31 x 19g 50m £41.75 1050 x 31 x 18g 50m £70.141200 x 31 x 19g 50m £55.11 1200 x 31 x 18g 50m £81.831800 x 50 x 19g 50m £80.00

Posts1.5 x 75 x 75mm (5’ x 3” x 3”) £3.531.8 x 75 x 75mm (6’ x 3” x 3”) £4.232.1 x 75 x 75mm (7’ x 3” x3”) £4.932.4 x 75 x 75mm (8’ x 3” x 3”) £5.48

3.0 x 75 x 75mm (10’ x 3” x 3”) £7.05

Prices Plus VAT, but less Retail Discount: £100 - 10% £200 - 20% £300 - 30% £400 - 40%

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The Weather

•Hens don’t like to be too hot, so provide them with some shade from the sun and keep their house well ventilated.

•They are quite tolerant of cold, but watch out for water drinkers freezing up.

•An outdoor sun shade will also protect them from rain.

•A wind break can be useful if you are in an exposed area

Food4MaccWhat if you are not there?

If you go out in the evening, before your hens have gone to roost, they

need to be shut up.

Or

If your hen run is fox proof, you can leave them to their own devices

What if you go away for a few days?

You could stock them up with food and water for a couple of days, but

really you need someone to call and check them every day

(in exchange for the eggs?)

Food4MaccFood and Drink

£6.50 £5

Health Care

£10

Regularly turn your birds up

side down and dust their

bottoms and arm pits with mite powder.

Worming powder can be added to their feed.

Food4MaccFeeding

£8 per 20kg bag

Kitchen Scraps?

There is blanket ban on feeding kitchen waste to chickens.

This is to avoid the risk of their food coming into content with

“animal proteins” which may be contaminated with for example

Salmonella.

This is true for vegetarian households too, but vegan’s are

exempted.http://www.defra.gov.uk/ahvla-en/disease-control/abp/collect-feed/ban-

kitchen-scraps-pet/

“Layers Pellets” contain a fully balanced diet that should need no

supplementation with calcium sources such as shell grit.

We scatter some loose grain on the ground to encourage

scratching, but this should be given after they have stoked up on

layers feed.

Food4MaccCleaning

Most of the droppings are produced when roosting, so they fall in a neat line.

We collect the droppings each day, and replace the whole bedding every few weeks

Food4MaccWing Clipping

If the birds fly out of your run, you can clip their wings.

Some people clip only one wing,

Some clip out alternate flight feathers,

And some clip both wings.

Food4MaccEconomics

Cost of the bird £7

Food for a year £28

Total Costs £35

Egg Sales

300 eggs = 25 dozen @ £3 per doz £75

Profit in the first year £40

Less expenses:

Equipment, Bedding, Louse Powder, ???

- and your time? 2hrs a week? ???

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Daylight: 15-16 hours a day for maximum production

Food4MaccSelling Eggs

You can avoid registering with the Defra’s Egg Marketing Inspectorate (EMI).

•If you have less than 50 hens and,

• You sell only direct to customers, and not via an intermediary.

https://www.gov.uk/eggs-trade-regulations

Price

You can see free range eggs advertised at between £2 - £3 per dozen.

Food4MaccCleaning Eggs

Egg shells are porous.

Wetting outside can allow any bacteria present on the surface to move through the

shell.

So try to remove dirt with a dry green pan scrubber first.

If you have to wet them, use warm water so that the egg contents expand pushing

outwards.

Dry them off quickly

Food4MaccStoring Eggs

Egg shells are porous.

Moisture forming on the outside can allow any bacteria present on the surface to move through the shell.

Eggs are not refrigerated by producers or retailers, to avoid the possibility of condensation forming on the shells when they

are carried home after purchase.

Eggs will keep for about 28 days at room temperature, but because home kitchens are often humid, and heat up & cool down,

we are commonly told to keep them in a fridge after purchase.

https://www.statpub.com/index.php/gab/article/94948

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This Photo-electric winch pulls the door open in the morning and lowers it at night

Bed Time

Food4MaccThings you didn’t know you needed

Food4MaccMore Information (click pictures for websites)

Keeping Chickens a Beginners Guide

website

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Tel:- 07824 860 566

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