Is it wise to keep chickens in my garden?
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I'm considering keeping chickens in my garden. What are your views on this from a gardener's perspective?
Let’s start by being completely honest: a plantsman’s garden and chickens don’t go hand in hand. Although the thought of having a fleet of feathered friends running about the borders seems like a romantic idea, the truth is that they will cause some damage.
However, if you’re keen to share your garden with a few girls then information about the different breeds is the key. Fall for the wrong breed and your garden may never look the same again. Re-homing those that don’t suit your purpose is hard and you’ll find it nearly impossible to even give away feisty cockerels.
You’d be wise to buy a few to start with and see how you get on. Most gardeners will opt for hens that are classified as large birds as these provide the most useful eggs for the kitchen. If you’re more interested in the look of the bird or have a very small garden then bantams take some beating.
These birds are cheap to keep and have great personalities. If a steady supply of eggs is required the various hybrid birds are breed for the purpose. Warrens, Black Rock or Speckledy are a few examples of the more commercial breeds but they can thrive in garden environments and are much cheaper to buy.
Most hens come into lay from four to five months old but in winter months it can take longer. When a hen is about five or six years old the egg laying cycle is very much less and will almost cease. At this point you may need to consider replacing them.
Having chickens in the garden brings another dimension to your outdoor space and brings many advantages to the gardener. They are entertainers, pest controllers, soil improvers, egg providers and great friends. You’ll soon have them feeding out of the palm of your hand and attempting to pop in through the back door.
Tamsin Westhorpe - Editor, The English Garden magazine
