I Want Some Chickens In My Garden....

[AbelMagwitch]

I want some chickens in my garden. I am not sure about the birds and the bees. If you leave a cock with the hens, do you not eat their eggs, lest they be fertilized? What does "Broody mean"? If the cock has been with hens, will they not lay again until the cock is taken out?

[Ken4155]

If you take the cock out early enough, he eggs will not be fertilised:-J

[calmck]

Take the eggs out each day. Until the hen sits on a clutch and becomes "broody" no chicks

[Ken4155]

If the h-h-hens are the ones who s-s-stagger along Blackpool p-p-prom of a summers evening, they have a-a-alredy been w-w-w-well and truly f-f-f-fertilised.

[barry1010]

You don't need a cockerel, the hens will still lay eggs. There are plenty of online guides and books for those thinking of keeping hens

[barry1010]

Easy to follow guide here. https://www.chickencoopsdirect.com/free-guide/keeping-chickens-guide-part1.htm

[Barmaid]

If you have neighbours, I would be inclined not to bother with the cock. They can be very noisy.

You will need a hen house. You will need to let them out at first light and shut them up at dusk.

If you have a beautiful garden, consider a fenced off area for them because they will trash it.

[Paigntonian]

Hate to dampen your excitement but we had a similar plan. Rats somehow broke through their cage and ate their legs. It was horrific and dreadful to try to explain to the kids.

[schippiegalette]

You do not need a cockerel for the hens to produce eggs. Hen food is expensive now, as is the wood to buy or male a hen house. I honestly think you would be better off buying free range eggs locally. I say this from experience of having hens and we once worked out they were costing about £4 a dozen to produce. I now pay £2 a dozen from a local farmer.

[jourdain2]

As others have said, hens will lay anyway. If you get one that becomes broody, she wants to hatch chicks. You'll need to keep an eye on her - a friend's bantam starved herself to death sitting on a hidden clutch, easiest to let her hatch a couple and keep, give away, sell or eat.

I bought 'sexed' chicks, but one turned into a very handsome cockerel. I hung on to him and didn't think twice about not eating the eggs, just collected them every day. A neighbour fed and collected when I was away.
If you let them out 'free range' in your garden - you won't have many plants left. So either protect plants or limit the range of the hens.
Warning, if you fancy bantams - they fly and will escape, so you will need to clip one wing's feathers regularly. It doesn't hurt them.

[campbellking]

Also if you are going to get some make sure you fox proof the run

[jourdain2]

I forgot that bit, campbellking. Yes, fox-proof enclosure essential.

[Togo]

Just don't let them cross the road to a neighbours garden, or you will spend the rest of your life asking ... Why?