Guest 652- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 595
26 January 2011
01:1390288Bobby Royston is selling his chickens, there are 18, 10 months old and in lay, these birds lay lovely brown eggs, £5.50 each. If interested contact Bobby at his Hot Dog stall
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
26 January 2011
08:1390297Thanks Sheila - I've not thought about it before but do you need a permit to keep chickens.
I love large fresh eggs, we usually get them from Capel Farmers market.
It would certainly change our back garden - what do you do with the chicken, erm, waste ? Can it go on the garden as fertiliser ?
Roger
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
26 January 2011
10:5490316You do not need a permit to keep chickens.
Space is important, the more space for scratching and foraging the more eggs.
Treat them well and they will reward you.
Keep them in a strong chickenhouse at night, foxes are very cunning.
Chicken fertiliser is excellent for the garden but needs weathering as it is very caustic.
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
26 January 2011
13:2290331there is a town in belgium that has been giving free chickens to residents that have enough space to keep them as part of a plan to reduce waste.
the recipients are given basic advice on how to keep them and have to agree to not to eat them for at least 2 years.
incidentally there is a house in clarendon street(malvern road end) that has a sign outside offering free range eggs, i asume they keep chickens at the back.
Guest 652- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 595
26 January 2011
13:5490333you do not need a licence to keep chickens, as Kath said you need security fencing to keep foxes out, if you dig down about 18 inches and start to lay your fencing, a fox will not dig that far down to get underneath, and to stop them getting over the top, cover again with netting, the eggs that are sold in Clarendon are not kept in the garden, they are on Bobby's and his mates allotment
Sheila
Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
26 January 2011
14:0490336Selling allotment produce, I though that's not allowed
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
26 January 2011
18:2290353i am sure it is allowed, i know of 2 local restauranteurs that have allotments, gives the diners good quality fresh produce.
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
13 February 2011
12:3592483If you keep chickens, you need a (nice and friendly and docile) cockerel, one which will wait for your return, standing on the garden gate ! This one of ours was called Henry.
He was 'retired' to a home in Alkham to look after 40 hens!
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
13 February 2011
12:4992487are you sure that henry is docile kath?
looks like he could see off any postman quite easily.
Guest 661- Registered: 16 Mar 2008
- Posts: 241
13 February 2011
13:3892489You only need to keep a cockerel if you are going to breed the chickens to fertilize the eggs. you don't need one to get eggs. Your neighbours might not be too happy with nature's alarm clock going off at silly O'clock in the morning in the summer month's.
A dog is just not for christmas save some for boxing day
Guest 650- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 542
13 February 2011
16:1192514I look after the neighbours' hens from time to time, and they are gorgeous. They're so friendly, curious, and full of character, and each one has a different personality. They'll even perch on your arms - and of course it's almost impossible to dig the soil when they're about as they're right under thefork, scratching for whatever might come up. They're fascinating pets, with the bonus of eggs.
They do take a fair amount of work, and of course cost money to keep. You can end up with more eggs than you need (but friends are always appreciative!), and there are various ailments and pests they can get. But I find friendly hens a delight, and it's a real pleasure to see them wandering around the garden.
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
13 February 2011
17:3992517Yes Howard, he was VERY docile as was his father, Big Boy, who was grey speckled.
Big Boy would let our son put him on the swing when he was young,and swing him about, and he never flapped a feather, but just sat there swinging...
If you keep a cockerel he will help to keep the hens in order, keep them together and stop them from straying !!
But you have to get used to the dawn chorus !
Generally it is the bantam cockerels which are the most fierce - they will fly at you if you bend down or turn your back on them!!
I wouldn't keep a fierce cockerel for long.
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
13 February 2011
18:1692521Sigh, reminds me of childhood visits to Ireland. I used to push the chickens on a swing
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