Birds of a feather

In light of the news that South Uist are employing a local 'Rent a Hen Project Officer', I thought I would write a guide to keeping chickens, on Lewis.

1. Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
There are 2 ways to begin keeping chickens - hatch some yourself, in an incubator, or order some from the Crofters.
Whilst the excitement of setting up your incubator, monitoring the temperature and humidity and waiting for 28 days to see what hatches is unmissable at some point in your life, there is also a special glee involved in picking up a cardboard box, tied with baling twine, from the back of Lewis Crofters and seeing your first hen squatting inside.
Mr. Macdonald (and yes, he is old) is also known as the Skye man. Just give him a ring and he will bring across as many hens as you need, boxed, in the back of his van.  It is the perfect start to keeping chickens.  And don't forget to talk to them all the way home, they need to get to know you too.

Chickens from the Skye man  - Lohman-Browns, an all purpose hi-bred

2. Where will they live?
Basically, anywhere.  The Skye man's chickens have lived in a huge barn all their life, and are incredibly docile. They would like a perch to sleep on, and in a few weeks will need somewhere to lay there eggs (yippee) but chickens have been kept in old cars, B&Q sheds, blackhouses, hutches and even fancy purpose made coops.  In time however, you will need to clean their home, so flat surfaces are preferable. The will make a mess everywhere, but nowhere more so than under their perch, while they are relaxing...

A nesting box made from an old drawer - they won't mind so long as its comfy

3. What will they eat?
The crofters stocks Poultry grain and Layers mash though people also like to make up their own chicken food. They will also live on scraps from the kitchen (though you should not give them meat) and whatever they can forage for outside, but if you would like to make the most of their laying potential I would suggest layers mash, mixed with water to make a chicken porridge - they love it.

4. What will they do all day?
Free range hens have a much better time that those kept in a run or cage.  But hens that come from the Skye man don't know any different so it is up to you.  Their day will generally be taken up with foraging for food, catching some warmth from the sun and preening their feathers.  They also like to have a dust bath, which gets rid of parasites and dirt, and spend a bit of time socialising and sorting out the pecking order.

5. Do I need a cockerel?
If you just want to keep hens for eating eggs you do not need to get a cockerel too. Though he would do a very good job at keeping a large group of ladies in order by keeping an eye out for any dangers and generally making himself useful to them.

6. When can I expect to get some eggs?
You buy chickens at 'Point of Lay' - this means they are 18 weeks old, and can start producing eggs.  Do not expect them to lay an egg on the first morning you have them though - they like to have time to settle in and feel comfy and safe before they start to lay for you.

7.  How long will they live?
They continue to lay eggs for about 5 years, more so at the beginning of their career, but they will live for longer than that.  Unlike other pets, if you find you do not get on with your chickens or can no longer keep them, you can always eat them.

8. What happens if they get broody?
If you would like to expand your flock and have invested in a cockerel, a broody hen is the biggest excitement of the year.   She will most likely sit tight on one of your nesting boxes and make some very different sounds if you try to lift her off.  Make a seperate broody box where she can be given some peace and quiet away from the others for 28 days and let her brood.  You can put food out for her and she will likely get off her nest once a day to have something to eat and drink and stretch her legs, but other than that she will do all the work herself and can be left to it.

The best thing about keeping chickens

There really is not a lot to keeping hens, any idiot can do it.
Welcome to a lifetime of tasting the best eggs, with the brightest yolks you will ever see and of great amusement along the way.