Pleasing 4 Pets

There is a growing trend in the UK to keep farm animals, particularly hens and chickens but owners should be aware that these animals have fundamental requirements in order to maintain a satisfactory quality of life.

Primarily, chickens must always have access to clean, fresh water, and prefer to drink from familiar receptacles, so once you have established a drinker, you should continue to use it for as long as is possible. Remember that young chicks may hop into an oversized feeder and drown.

Chicks as young as a day old will start to peck at small pellets. Within days of being born most will have the ability to recognise small grains of food and as they grow chickens love nothing more than rummaging and foraging for fodder on the ground, such as seeds and roots. These offer a good supply of carbohydrates and essential proteins and minerals.

Once a female bird advanced to adulthood, she will start to lay eggs. It is a good idea to provide her with calcium supplements to complement her natural diet. She should be encouraged to lay her eggs on specially elected nest box, which is lined with dry wood shavings or straw, where she will be warm and secure. She may also prefer to lay in quiet isolation away from other birds.

The majority of chickens will choose to roost in an elevated position at dusk. This helps to protect them from any predatory attack. Your chicken shelter should be warm and dry and be equipped with elevated perches around 4cm in width with smooth rounded edges, which will allow the birds a good comfortable grip. Make sure that to your chickens’ shelter has lots of space with decent air circulation, plenty of straw and is cleaned out on a regular basis.