So if you are planning on keeping chickens then you will need to decide on whether to buy a chicken coop or build a chicken coop. For pictures and chicken coop designs, search online and also have a look at this Building a Chicken Coop manual on the right hand side of this page. If however you prefer to save time and would like to buy a pre-fabricated chicken coop instead then I recommend having a look at www.ChickenCoopDirect.com.au which is an Australian chicken coop online store based in Sydney. Their prices a very affordable with some models costing less than the cost of materials if you were to build it yourself.

Their most popular chicken coop model is the Aston Chicken Coop which is a medium sized chicken tractor with rear wheels suitable to keeping 2-4 chickens.

The model has some great features including a slide out cleaning tray which allows you to tip out the chicken waste into your compost bin making cleaning much easier. It also has rear wheels and front carry handle which allows you to rotate the coop around your garden to protect your grass and as well as distributing the wonderful chicken fertiliser.

According to the website, The Aston Chicken Coop comes flat packed which will make it easy for you to transport it if you are thinking of picking it up from their location in Cabramatta, Sydney NSW. This should make good fun for all of the family in putting it together and then collecting the daily fresh eggs! Their website has other models as well so if you are looking to buy a chicken coop then check them out at ChickenCoopDirect.com.au.

When keeping chickens, one will eventually have to think about what to feed a chicken for maximal egg production. Feeding chickens for the purpose of making them produce more eggs requires a little research on the part of the chicken farmer.  He must know what chicken feed to give them from the time they are still small until they start to lay eggs.

When feeding the chickens, give them ample amount of protein since this is the primary nutrient they need to produce more eggs.  An all-mash diet is very rich in protein.  It is made from finely crushed grains.

Providing them with grit which help digest other food taken by the chickens is important in feeding chickens.  If you feed them scratch feed, mix it with mash.  Fat hens cannot yield more eggs so do not give them whole grain all the time as this is fattening.

Feeding chickens with food rich in calcium is also necessary as calcium will make the egg shells harder.  Oyster shells and crushed bones are calcium rich food and mash is also a good source of calcium.

You can also feed chickens with vegetable skins and leaves or other leftover food if you want to save on your expenses.

Lastly, provide them with enough supply of fresh water as this will also hasten a higher egg yield.  To defend them against diseases, only give them clean water.  Feeding chickens with the right amount of nutrients and water will ensure you of a higher egg yield.

For chicken coop building plans and other chicken coop designs, check out the Building a Chicken Coop Manual.

Raising and keeping chickens in the backyard is an easy, economical way to get fresh eggs and save money. They are fairly inexpensive to maintain and to raise, and you are guaranteed to have eggs that are chemical and hormone free.

Chickens are actually quite friendly animals and provide a great way to teach children about responsibility and how to care for living things. They also provide a source of pride for those who raise them, and give people experience in small animal farming and egg hatching. Some people raise chickens in their backyards to raise money. Eggs can be quite profitable, if there are enough of them produced and plenty of buyers who want fresh, chemical-free eggs to eat and enjoy.

Chickens are more popular to raise than both ducks and geese combined. Free range chickens have plenty of room to run and move around, and tend to produce better than chickens raised in smaller, confined spaces. If you decide to raise chickens in our backyard, be sure there will be plenty of room for them to move around, room for a chicken coop, and of course room for yourself as well.

Here are ten tips for keeping chickens in your backyard:

1.For starter chicks, check with local farms, or other chicken breeders in the locality.
2.Pine shavings work well as flooring for both small and adult chickens.
3.Play and interact with baby chicks to get them used to their surrounding and to other people.
4.When the chickens “feather out”, they should be moved to a coop.
5.Chickens like bread, vegetables, and even bugs as treats.
6.Eggs take about 21 days to hatch, and should be incubated well. Natural incubation works best.
7.Dedicate a large section of the backyard for the chickens to run.
8.Cull, or get rid of, chickens with unwanted traits, as they can cause several serious problems for the others.
9.Be sure to check for local laws in terms of how many chickens can be kept on your property.
10.Protect chickens against predators by providing them with ample shelter.

Keeping chickens is a fun and productive way to produce eggs and enjoy the freedoms of having your very own flock. Feed is fairly inexpensive, and other natural foods can be fed to them as well. Patience is very important since it does take some time for the hens to grow and produce eggs. The first few batches of eggs may not be as big as hoped, but over time their size and girth will increase. Hens need to have a good, warm, and safe environment in which to lay their eggs. If their environment is conducive to production, they can lay a great deal of eggs every week.

Chickens are friendly animals, and make great pets. They’re fun to watch, enjoyable to raise, and an excellent way to have your own fresh eggs almost every single day. Hens can lay eggs up to five years of their lives, sometimes as long as eight years, so just a few chickens will produce eggs for a long time.

Keeping chickens can be a fun and profitable hobby. Find everything you need to know about keeping chickens right under one roof. From selecting the right chickens, buying or building your own chicken house or coop, to feeding and breeding chickens, we’re here to help!

Some topics we’ll be covering in the coming weeks about keeping chickens:

• the pen, or chicken house/coop – tips on buying or building your own
• food – what and how often you should be feeding your chickens
• feeders – the different types of chicken feeders
• water – learn the best way to provide clean water
• maintenance – how to keep your chickens and chicken coop in tip top condition

Have a watch of this Youtube video about keeping chickens in your back yard:

Egg Holder

Aston:

Manor:

Windsor:

Castle Hutch

Urban Hutch:

Amazon Bird Cage: