Are you ready to buy your first chickens but don't know where to start? Find out what things are worth considering before heading down the chook track and get our top tips to give you confidence in making the right choices for your first flock.
What’s involved in keeping chickens?
Chickens are generally low maintenance pets however there is some work involved to ensure they maintain good health and live a happy life.
- Chooks need to be wormed twice a year and treated for lice and mites at least three times a year.
- Depending on the size of the coop and how many chickens you keep, you will need to clean out the coop every few weeks or couple of months and make sure fresh straw or hay is replaced.
- They also require daily feeding and watering in order to make sure it’s kept fresh and clean.
Building good habits to regularly maintain the hygiene of your chickens will help to avoid any illnesses and issues down the track.
Do I have the right space to house chickens?
It’s a good idea to first consider what type of environment you have to keep chickens. If you live on a large property with neighbours further away then you’re likely to have plenty of room to keep lots of chickens and maybe even a rooster without bothering anyone. However if you’ve only got a small backyard with close neighbours then a smaller flock of 3 or 4 hens might be more manageable. At the very least, never keep less than 2 chickens as they do need feathered company.
We recommend investing in a quality coop right from the get go. A good coop will be fox proof, have good weather protection and be spacious enough for you to walk inside. If you’re unable to safely free range your birds then it's essential to ensure your coop has a large run, we suggest at least 3m x 6m depending on your flock size, so they still have access to sunlight and fresh air.
What’s the best breed for me?
For quality chickens that will last longer, we recommend ensuring you purchase Heritage breeds, which basically means purebred chickens that are bred to their breed standard. Birds bred in this way will be much sturdier and adaptable to various climates and we believe they will be better, more active foragers which strengthens immune systems. You also get the added benefit of having chooks with a much nicer appearance!
When deciding on the right breed for you, you will need to consider what your goals are first. Are you looking for backyard layers or table birds? In our opinion you can’t go past Leghorns, which provide a solid production of eggs everyday. You can read all about what makes Leghorns so great here. If you’re after a quality table bird then Sussex are a solid choice. They are a fantastic dual-purpose bird meaning they have quality meat and are great layers too.
If you’re after kid-friendly chickens then we believe Silkies are the best choice.
Their incredibly friendly natures and cute fluffy feathers are always a hit with the kids. Generally speaking most bantam size chickens, like Pekins and Cochins, are great for kids too as they’re easy to handle and friendly. Our main recommendation if you have kids is to avoid keeping a rooster as they can become aggressive around the little ones.
For chickens that catch your eye and add colour and beauty to your backyard, Sussex and Laced Wyandottes are stunning breeds and come in a large variety of colours.
Where’s the best place to buy chickens?
Buying your first chooks from an established breeder is the best way to ensure you are purchasing quality, healthy birds with pure bloodlines. It may be tempting to buy the cheap chooks from Gumtree but the reality is you run a much higher risk of ending up with sick pets that have unknown crosses in their bloodline. We would also recommend avoiding in-person chicken auctions as these auctions can be a melting pot for disease and viruses which are spread easily when so many birds are kept in one space. Online auctions are fine as long as the birds stay with the seller and aren’t exposed to a big crowd.
An established breeder will also have a range of ages available and be able to tell you how old they are and how close to laying they will be. Whilst day old chicks are cute and exciting to have, they do require extra care and will need a heat source until around 6 weeks of age. It’s worth considering if you have the time for this or if an older bird is more manageable. It's also much harder to determine the sex of birds under 6 weeks of age so you will need to have a plan for what to do if you end up with an unwanted rooster. Roosters can be hard to re-home and if you’re not confident in harvesting them for the table then this could become a real stress down the track.
To ensure the chicken breeder you’re looking to buy from is legit we would recommend asking them the following questions:
- How long have you had your flock? Ideally they should have been breeding the line for a good few years at least.
- How old are the birds you’re looking to purchase?
- Have the birds been sexed? A quality breeder should know the sex of the chicken from around 6 to 8 weeks old in most breeds.
- Have the birds been treated for lice, mites and worms?
A good breeder will have confident answers to all of the above, be able to provide advice on what breed is best suited to you and be able to supply you with plenty of information on raising and caring for chickens. We personally recommend Libby from Libby’s Heritage Chickens, who is a fantastic breeder located in the Southern Highlands and perfect for anyone looking to begin their journey of keeping chickens.
What should I do when I bring chickens home and what do I feed them?
Once your chickens are home, it's important to keep them penned for at least 2 weeks to help familiarise themselves with their new living conditions. Hens won’t lay if they don’t feel safe, so you can expect they may stop laying during this time until they get used to their surroundings.
Ensure your birds are being fed a quality feed that is appropriate for their age. Laying hens require a high protein and calcium layer/breeder to support the production of quality eggs, whereas younger birds require a feed that is nutritionally balanced to support their growth.
Day old chicks to around 8 weeks will need a starter, we suggest a coarse crumble to make it easier for them to eat. From around 8 weeks up until they begin laying, chooks would benefit from a micro pellet grower which is more suited to their beak size. Around 90% of your chicken’s diet should be made up of quality feed with the other 10% being your kitchen scraps and what they naturally forage.
We think chooks make great pets and we hope you enjoy keeping them as much as we do!