Where do I get my chickens?

June has arrived and at last the weather is getting warmer! The government has relaxed Avian flu restrictions in most places for a few weeks now. This is all great news for those who like to let their chickens run free during the daytime. It is also a good time of year for those thinking about keeping chickens for the first time. Keeping chickens is a very popular pastime. In our last blog post we set out a 20 top tips to consider before getting started. Another question though is “where do I get my chickens?”.

A quick search online will soon turn up a list of plenty of places to purchase your chickens. As with anything else the advice is the same. Look at a number of alternatives, compare prices and check reviews. If you are on social media you can join groups of chicken enthusiasts where you can ask for advice and opinions.

Rescue Hens

Another alternative is to register with a chicken rescue charity, such as Chicken Rescue UK. These charities do a great job re-homing ex-commercial hens. These may be past their peak laying age but will still make rewarding pets. They will appreciate getting a new lease of life.

If you do get some rescue hens though, expect to have to provide proof that you have their accommodation set up in advance. You will also need to show that you have taken sufficient steps to protect and take care of them. You will need a coop that can be secured at night and a run that is large enough to give them space during the daytime. At the moment you can let your chickens free range but a walk in run will will help to protect them from predators. It is also pretty much inevitable that avian flu restrictions will return in the winter months unfortunately. Those restrictions will make a secure covered run essential.

Chicken Runs

The size of your coop and run will limit the number of chickens that you can keep. The size and breed of bird will be a factor. I general terms allow at least 4 square feet per bird in the coop and 8 square feet per bird in the run. Both coops and chicken runs are available in a variety of sizes.