Hen Keeping Starter Guide
Hen keeping is an incredibly rewarding experience and ex-commercial hens are ideal for beginners. They make great pets with their fun and inquisitive personalities, and they’ll soon become part of your family. Chickens are social creatures, which is why we recommend a minimum of three hens in a flock. Here are some basic tips to get you started.
Shopping list for your hens
- Hen house / coop
- Bedding
- Run, enclosure or pen – a minimum 1 sq metre per caged hen or 2 sq m per barn / free-range hen, but the more space you can offer them, the better!
- Daytime shelter – a roofed area, or tarpaulin / cover for instance
- Substrate for the ground / run if required
- Drinkers
- Feeders
