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 backpedaled to the 50's and 60's where it was the norm and now things have continued how they used to get. It seems many families have resumed poultry keeping for the opportunity to have their own fresh eggs.

There are many places where you will find chickens 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 community in smaller numbers but at a greater price.

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

The most effective place to buy chickens is from the premises who reared them initially, here you will have the ability to see the conditions of the poultry and what type of life they have sued until "Point of Lay".

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

When browsing through the poultry rearing farm would rank seeing if it is a mess or is kept tidy, a messy farm will usually mean the stock will not be kept at their best.

You might want 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 best 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 through 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 may 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 has to be relinquished small levels to the bird to go into its gizzard which then uses the grit to grind down the food a which aids digestion. Pebbles and oyster shell usually come mixed together and could be bought from most general store.

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

Chicken maintaining is easy, and they are the well-nigh productive pet possible disposing up to 320 eggs in their first year.

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