Keeping Chickens
The Benefits
Keeping chickens is rewarding in so many ways. With healthy, well-fed hens come the supply of fresh delicious eggs, enriched compost for the garden, minimized kitchen scraps and the bug population is kept under control. Chooks can scratch and turn over your garden, aerate the soil and help weed under your trees. They can teach your kids about the wonderful cycles of life...broody hens, hatching eggs, fluffy chicks....what an educational experience for our next generation. Chickens make ideal pets for kids and adults alike. Their quirky personalities can be a winner with children. They teach kids about sharing, routine and responsibility.
Heritage hens free ranging in a paddock.
Pekin bantam pullets in an Egu Go Chicken Coop.
Beautiful Buff Sussex hens enjoying the freedom of the backyard.
Chickens and the Law
Each council has its own rules and regulations regarding the keeping of chickens in urban areas so check before buying. Most councils ban roosters because of the likelihood of offensive noise but they can also limit the number of hens kept. Check if your property has a covenant as this could exclude the keeping of poultry. Be a good neighbour and check before buying a coop and getting set up with chickens.
Choosing a Breed
Here in NZ the choice is either the reliable commercially bred hybrids (hyline brown or shaver brown) or the lovely rare heritage breeds of poultry. The heritage breeds are becoming very popular these days as a backyard layer offering good laying ability alongside decorative looks. If you are looking for hens with diversity in personality, plumage, egg colour and laying seasons then have a look at the beautiful heritage breeds. If you are wanting lots of eggs most of the year we recommend opting for the brown shaver ladies!
What to Get? Chicks, Pullets or Hatching Eggs
Fertile Eggs
Hatching eggs is another fun and education way to go. Hatching eggs (also called fertile eggs) are collected from the nests of breeding pens where there is a rooster running with hens. Eggs used for hatching need to be handled and stored correctly so purchasing them from a recognised breeder makes a big difference. All you will require to hatch them (it takes 21 days) is a dedicated broody hen or a reliable incubator.
Eggs in an Mini Brinsea Incubator
Day Old Chicks
Chicks will need the correct care as they grow: heat source, high protein crumble, fresh water etc. You can purchase brown shaver chicks at a day old as guaranteed pullets. Most heritage breed day old chicks are impossible to sex so are usually sold 'unsexed'. Purchasing day old chicks is a good way to go if you do not wish to spend time and money on an incubator. If purchasing day old chicks remember 3 or more make a flock!
Day old Brown Shaver chicks
Pullets
Purchasing young birds (pullets) is usually the best way to start especially if you are a newbie. All the hard work in rearing them under heat is done and all you need to do is take them home and introduce them to your hen house or chicken coop. Make sure when you take them home you take a bag of the same feed that they have been on - this will be a chick or grower feed. Tip - don't add these youngsters in with older hens.
12 week old Brown Shaver pullets
What is a Pullet?
Healthy, happy chooks can live for anything up to 6 to 10 years depending on the breed. Some have been know to live a lot longer! Pullet is the term used to describe a young female chicken from around 6 to 8 weeks old up to 12 months of age. Then she is called a hen. A young male is called a cockerel up to 12 months of age then he becomes a rooster (cock). When the chicks hatch you will get both cockerels and pullets. Once your chicks are sexed around 6 to 12 weeks the males can be given away, humanely dispatched or grown on for a roast. Most of the dual purpose heavy breeds make great table birds. So if you have the facilities and live rural fattening the cockerels to 8-10 months of age will provide your family with a good old fashioned chicken dinner – full of flavour and goodness! The remaining young pullets can then be grown on to become your next layers.
Purchasing Heritage
When looking to purchase heritage poultry it is best to purchase from a reputable breeder. The season runs from early spring (start of the breeding season) through to late autumn. Spring will be the best time to purchase chicks especially if you would like them laying late autumn. Buying pullets around 12 to 16 weeks is ideal. At this age they can settle better into their new home environment long before they get ready to lay. Birds can also be purchased at POL (point of lay) which means that they are just starting to lay eggs. In the heritage breeds these birds will be around 24 to 32 weeks of age. In the commercial hybrids POL is around 18 to 24 weeks.
Barred Plymouth Rock pullets
Curious White Leghorn pullets
What Age is Best?
When do you want your hens to start laying? This will dictate what age is the best age to buy your chickens. If you are new to keeping chickens, we recommend the best age to purchase pullets is around 10 to 14 weeks of age. This will give them time to settle in and get to know you, your routine, their new hen house and backyard before they start to lay. Purchasing younger birds has many benefits; makes for more friendly hens, allows for better bonding with young children, they come with no bad habits and best of all they will start to lay on time and have their whole laying lives ahead of them.
Also it is a good idea to talk to a breeder and see the availability is like in the breeds that interest you. Keeping chickens takes some forward planning so best to get set up with all the essentials before you bring the chooks home. Most important is the housing (chicken coop or hen house) plus you will need appropriate drinkers, feeders, shavings and,age appropriate feed.
Looking For More Information?
How to Care for Your Poultry Volume 1 & 2
These are the best reference books ( Volume 1 and Volume 2 ) you can buy on keeping chickens. We highly recommend them! All you need to know from a New Zealand perspective on feeding, housing, health, breeding, layers and meat birds. They will will answer all your questions on caring for your poultry.
Young heritage pullet
Hens in an Omlet Walk-In Chicken Run
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Light Sussex Heritage Pullet
Hens in an Omlet Walk-In Chicken Run
The Eglu Pro | Extra Large Raised Chicken Coop