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 turned back to the 50's and 60's where it was the norm and now things have come back to how they used to become. It seems many families have revisited poultry keeping for the opportunity to have their own fresh eggs.

There are many places where you will find chickens offer for sale; 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 originated from, if they can not give you a sensible answer then you should look elsewhere.

The most ideal 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 variety of life they have had up until "Point of Lay".

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

When intending to the poultry rearing farm would cost seeing if it is a mess or is kept tidy, a messy farm will usually mean the stock will not be been steadfast their best.

You must know how old the hens are; chickens are usually purchased prior to 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 effective chickens to buy are free-range reared. Free range reared chickens will have been allowed outside the building at the youngest age as early as they are fully feathered and no more 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 possibly 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 relinquished small levels to the bird to get involved with its gizzard which then uses the grit to grind down the food a which aids digestion. Grit and oyster shell usually come mixed together and approximately bought from most general store.

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

Chicken keeping is easy, and they are the majority productive pet possible disposing up to 320 eggs in their first year.

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