Chickens for Sale - How to Look After Hens When You Get Them Home

Where to buy chickens.

Over the last few years it has become increasingly popular to have a few chickens in the garden, time has stopped to the 50's and 60's where it was the norm and now things have come back to how they used to be. It seems many families have gone back to poultry keeping for the opportunity to have their own fresh eggs.

There are many places where you will find chickens to sell; it is quite common for people to buy in hens from large pullet growers in larger numbers and to then sell them to the public in smaller numbers but at a greater price.

When buying chickens it is always important to ask the supplier where their hens wased made by, if they can not give you a sensible answer then you should look elsewhere.

The best place to buy chickens is from the premises who reared them originally, here you will manage to see the conditions of the poultry and what sort of life they have sued until "Point of Lay".

When purchasing the birds you have to check they have nice clean clear eyes, clean backside and no lice or mites.

When going to the poultry rearing farm would bring in seeing if it is a mess or is kept tidy, a messy farm will usually mean the stock will not be lasted their best.

You need to know how old the hens are; chickens are usually purchased just before they start their laying career at "Point of Lay", this will mean they are between 16-21 weeks old.

For the small poultry keeper the most beneficial chickens to buy are free-range reared. Free range reared chickens will have been allowed outside the building at the youngest age when they are fully feathered and no longer require the warmth and safety of the poultry house.

When you get the chickens home they need to be places in the coop and allowed to stay there for a few days to allow them to settle in and learn where home is.

A good layers ration such as either layers pellets or layers mash must be given so they always have access to food. Water must also have access to good clean water 24hrs a day.

Chickens also need Oyster shell and grit; this can be acquired very easily and cheaply.

The oyster shell is to give the birds a good supply of calcium for bones feathers and eggshell strength, the grit needs to be given up small levels to the bird to be absorbed in its gizzard which then uses the grit to erode the food a which aids digestion. Gravel and oyster shell usually come mixed together and can be bought from most trading post.

Lastly you will need to keep a sight on parasites and lice which can effect poultry, a meticulous dusting of a red mite and lice powder every 4-6 weeks should help.

Chicken retaining is easy, and they are the eminently productive pet possible laying up to 320 eggs in their first year.

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Chickens for Sale - How to Look After Hens When You Get Them Home