Well the chicken breeders list we put up a little while back has proven a great success in answering the first question. Some of the suppliers have let me know they’ve had great response.

So a little plea, if you know a reputable supplier of live eggs or poultry, please tell them about the pages. It’s absolutely free and will remain so and it helps us all.

Although keeping a few hens at home is not complex, it’s still daunting if you’ve never done it before. With respect, books like the excellent ‘starting with chickens‘ and the advice in the chicken chat forum is great, but there is no substitute for some hands-on training.

So there’s a new bit on the poultry pages where people offering training can post. If they have a web site, then I’ll swap links with them and if not then I’ll put a page up for them on there. Again, no charge – absolutely. See Keeping Chickens Courses.

Finally, what to keep your chickens in?

I’m proud to say we have a new site sponsor in Taylors Garden Buildings who offer a good range of poultry houses at competitive prices. They actually state on their site that:

" We do try very hard to price all our products as best as we can and regularly check our competitors to make sure we are as competitive as possible. If you have found this product at a better price please let us know and where possible, we will match and in many cases better the price. If you choose to accept this price and subsequently make a purchase, we will also give you a voucher for £5 off any other products that will remain valid for 1 year and is transferable to your friends and relatives."

So you know the price will be right!

My personal favourite for a starter is the Boughton 902 Chicken Ark. It’s attractive, practical and will take six laying hens in comfort. Because the hens go up the ramp to roost, which a lot of hens like anyway, the area underneath makes a good little run for them until you arise a bit after dawn to let them play in the garden. I think it’s the model my sister has and that is certainly well made.

For somebody looking at more hens, up to 24 in fact, then the Lenham 505 Chicken Coop looks brilliant. The designers know their stuff. For a start it’s made to be easy to clean. Not the most pleasant task and they’ve given it some thought, removable perching and central corridor along with removable sides make this one of the easiest houses to look after

Proper ridge ventilation to keep the air fresh but draught proof, night shutters for nesting areas and even the perches are arranged to avoid the evening fight for places make this one of the best thought out houses around.

The only problem is what to do with the eggs from 24 hens!