Growing Guides How to keep chickens

Date Published:

31/01/2008

The number of types of chicken can be a little mind-boggling for beginner poultry keepers.

If you are looking purely for egg laying then cross-breeds, or hybrids, such as Isa Brown, Black Rock, White Star and Loman will lay in reasonably large quantities for most of the year. They are also good choices to start with as they are low-maintenance birds.

Pure breeds such as Barnevelder and Light Sussex have more impressive feathers and combs (and a higher price tag) but usually sacrifice performance for looks. Rhode Island Red - a common sight on farms - is the exception and can lay up to 260 eggs per year.

Finding suppliers

To locate a good supplier, try classified adverts in your local paper or poultry-keeping magazines. Alternatively you can ask your vet or a local supplier of chicken feed (pet shops are unlikely to keep them themselves).

Try to go and see the chickens yourself first, to check what condition they are in and to ask the seller any questions. Ideally buy them when they are between 16 and 20 weeks old – at this age they can still be tamed and will either have just started laying or be about to.

Now have a go at some of our egg recipes.

Share your tips for cooking with eggs or keeping chickens on taste my tips.

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