CHARM OF CHICKENS
Chickens have long been a staple of our country life, for their eggs, endearing personalities and remarkble wit. When considering adding chickens to your garden, the first step is selecting the right breed. For beginners, hardy and friendly breeds like Orpingtons or Sussex are excellent choices. These breeds are known for their calm dispositions and reliable egg production.
We are also big advocates of the British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT), a charity dedicated to improving the lives of commercial laying hens in the UK. The BHWT rescues hens from commercial farms, primarily those that are no longer considered ‘productive' by the industry (usually at around 18 months old). These hens are then rehomed as pets, where they can live out their natural lives in a more humane and caring environment (and still produce incredible amounts of delicious eggs!).
A well-designed coop is essential for the health and happiness of your flock. Ensure it’s spacious, secure from predators and equipped with nesting boxes and perches. A run allows chickens to forage and exercise safely helping to keep their diet varied and nutritious. Regular cleaning and maintenance of the coop will keep your chickens healthy and reduce the risk of disease.
DELIGHT OF DUCKS
Runner ducks, with their upright posture and swift, comical gait, are the jesters/buffoons of the poultry world. These ducks are prolific foragers, feasting on slugs, insects and weeds, making them excellent garden guardians.
Unlike chickens, runner ducks don’t need a roost, but do require a secure shelter at night to protect them from predators. They will also happily be housed with chickens if your coop is large enough. Runner ducks are more water-dependent than chickens, so providing a small pond, old Belfast sink, an old bath or even a paddling pool will keep them happy and healthy. Watching them splash and play is a joy that never gets old.
Unlike Chickens - who are surprisingly intelligent - ducks are not. New poultry will take time to learn the ropes and routine of your small farm. Chickens will learn fast; ducks will need patience and firm direction!
REWARDS
The most obvious benefit of keeping chickens and runner ducks is a steady supply of fresh eggs. Chicken eggs are a wonderful staple in our house - you'll find that proper free range eggs have a much darker yolk - orange in fact, not yellow. Duck eggs, with their rich flavour and larger yolks, are a baker’s delight and are also absolutely delish as a dippy egg.
Beyond the practical rewards, the daily rituals of tending to our feathered friends, collecting eggs, and watching their antics bring us a sense of peace and satisfaction. Chickens in particular are incredibly sociable. You'll soon have a friendly chicken perching on the back of your garden chair, sunbathing as you relax and even making themselves at home inside your home if they get the chance!
There’s also the joy of sustainable living. By recycling kitchen scraps and garden weeds through your chickens and ducks, crumbling eggshells on the veg patch (slug deterrent and fertiliser), you reduce waste and contribute to a more sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle. Their manure is an excellent fertiliser, enriching your garden soil and completing the cycle of growth and nourishment.
Incorporating chickens and runner ducks into your home is more than a hobby. It really is a delightful way to connect with nature and enjoy the rhythms of rural life. Their companionship, the fresh eggs and the sheer entertainment value make them a wonderful addition to our household. Whilst watching chickens might sound like ‘watching paint dry’, it is truly one of the most mentally therapeutic activities a human can do! Familial, caring, cute and ridiculous, they make the everyday simple magical.
TOP TIPS FOR BEGINNERS
1. Plastic nesting boxes offer several advantages over wooden ones for me. Red mites are a poultry owners nightmare. Plastic is less likely to harbour red mites and easier to clean thoroughly. Plastic nesting boxes can be washed down with water and disinfectants more effectively, reaching all nooks and crannies.
2. Try to have a coop that's off the ground to protect the flock from predators.
3. Chicken wire won’t stop an animal from getting into your coop. Use hardwire mesh as well.
4. Burry an additional 2 ft of hardwire mesh at the bottom of any coop that meets the floor to prevent predators digging under (this can be laid flat, but it must extend 2ft beyond the edge of the coop).
5. Line your coop and "poop deck" with Lino - It's easily cleaned and brushed
6. Use Diatomaceous Earth powder to prevent mites. Spread it in nesting boxes and on the perch
7. Use BioDri Absorbent Powder on the poop deck. It helps with odour control and assists with drying litter
8. Dengie Fresh Bed is a chopped straw bedding with pine oil added for its natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and smells nice (better) too!
9. Creosote any wood your chickens will be in contact with. This helps prevent mites.
10. Woodchip in the chicken run to give them something to forage.
