Want a pet that actually ‘gives back’ in eggs, manure for your compost bin, and affection?

Man has been domesticating chickens since the dawn of time. And with a hens population of more than 24 billion in 2003, (according to some sources) there are now more hens in the world than any other bird.

People have through the ages kept chickens mainly as a source of food, with both their meat and their eggs being consumed.

There has been a surge of interest in keeping chickens, caused by celebrity chefs bringing to attention the dreadful conditions of battery reared hens, increased cost at the shops and the supposed economic downturn.

The idea of having chucks in your back yard and the idea of having organic eggs from your own chucks, no longer singles you out or causes as many ‘home farm’ type remarks as it used to, of being a 21st century Tom & Barbara Good – from the 1970s sitcom television series!

In fact there’s something ‘chic’ in these days of consumer excess in coming back to a more ‘self sufficient’ lifestyle.

Many people are growing their own vegetables – either in their gardens or on allotments. Many people are getting suspicious about what the food they eat actually contains and the buy organic movement seems to be gaining ground every year – forcing stores to provide a more larger range of organic produce.

Keeping chickens seems to be just a natural progression on this cultural shift.

People seem more and more used to knowing friends and neighbours who keep poultry.

With the incentive of a ‘free free range egg as part of the bargain, you’ll probably get unlimited offerstake over your chicken keeping duties should you ever need to go on holiday.

Also when you’ve seen the difference in yolk and eaten on the completely different texture of the egg white, of one of your own back garden chickens’ eggs you’ll never go back to the supermarket egg again.

Whilst in the pan, your eggs you’ll raise your eyebrows at the difference too.

Eggs from your own chickens stay together better than eggs bought in a grocery store as they’re certain to be fresh.

There’s also the plus point that keeping chickens bring a completely new element to your back garden – movement, sound and colour. Forget adding a water feature, chicken keeping brings so much more!

Each chicken is an completely different and many can be real ‘characters’ and, if handled whilst they’re young, they can be interesting pets for children.

Chicken keeping does have it’s own disciplines though, and there will be a element of cleaning out the chicken house and obviously, letting the chickens in and out of their chicken shed at sunrise and sunset.

There’s also the ‘chore’ of checking for eggs. This should be done several times per day – just in case your chickens are afternoon ‘layers’.

Another thing you need to watch out for when keeping chickens; is ‘chicken watching’…

Many hours can be easily spent watching your chickens potter around the back garden. If you’re the sort of person who stares at mesmorising fires, you’ll find chicken watching is addictive!

Keeping chickens is a financially scaleable hobby. If money is no object, then there’s many fancy looking ready made chicken homes that can be bought from numerous chicken keeping shops.

If finance is subject to budget restraints, then a home made chicken coop can be built for virtually ‘free’, using off cuts of wood found laying around your house.

A chicken shed just needs to be large enough for the chucks to nest in at night, and large enough to stretch their wings in during the day.

Also somewhere for them to scratch during the hours of sunlight should be provided.

So whether you’re looking to build a chicken house, or buy a purpose built chicken run or are just wanting to find out more about keeping chickens as a pastime; a host of chicken keeping joy awaits.