As per subject.

caveats : It is essential that the chickens can lay eggs, Not have a chrome @rse piece, and firmly believe
a caravan is the spawn of satan


Thanks. 

surprisingly I can be of little help here as I grow commercial fast growing chicken, not your average garden chuck. At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Forget chickens...Indian runner ducks are less hassle and lay LOADS!

No joke...my Mrs' Mum has just got a few for this very purpose  Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County

Blimey, CG No help, there is a first  

Adam Henson the farmer in BBC Countryfile recently bought various breeds of chickens and he went through what the various breeds were suitable for, egg laying, etc

you probably will be able to catch this on catch up tv.

a very interesting and informative episode, Adam certainly knows his stuff !!

Iain

unlike me

you will need a cockerel , as without any rumpy pumpy there will be no eggs


had some bantams as a kid , like real chickens only smaller, small eggs too. Mr fox killed them all


there are forums on the net about keeping hens in your garden At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Mr fox needs to behave, I have a Section 1, and will give hime the bad news if necessary  

Eggs we eat are unfertilised therefore no cockerell is needed so one egg per hen a day is the norm off the best. Obviously if you want to breed then buy a noisy cockerell especially if you don't like the neighbours, but don't have more than one in with the ladies.

'Leghorns' for white medium eggs but not too friendly.
' Rhode Island Reds' for brown medium eggs, cute and friendly.

+1 for above

For big eggs get big chicken.... have a look at 'Buff Cochins' if you can find some - very pretty sandy brown colour and BIG birds that lay big eggs

Rhode Islands are a good choice we have a couple of Cotswold Blacktails and a couple of Goldlines and get more than we need, getting two dozen a week from four hens and cost hardly anything to feed, a beg of pellets is about £8 and lasts for two to three months. Shop around for your hens, prices vary from £25 to£30 each down the south to £6 to £8 in Yorkshire

You could buy a box from Tesco's too

That is three weeks old at least, pale yolks, no thanks, we had to replace ours last year and had to rely on supermarket ones for ten days, not a patch on your own. :

I get mine direct from the Mother in law who gets the direct from the local farm shop, free, taste better when there free too

We have 2 Dorkings and 2 Light Sussex Cross and one other thats just brown and large and goes by the name of tank - 'nuf said. The others have names apparently - according to SWIMBO

Don't get too caught up on breeds - just get something thats reasonable on the eye (but not too small). Keep them happy, draft free and give them plenty of space and they will lay - usually dependent on weather and sunshine though

Don't listen to CG - no cockerel required for eggs - CG you do surprise me!

Just one word of warning - hope you don't like your garden too much - they don't respect it. If its green or moves they will eat it.....

All the same I wouldn't be without mine.

DR There's always a way forward!

2008 Freelander Td4 GS - Stornoway Grey - Now Gone - Sob
2011 Freelander Td4 GS 150 - Rimini Red - in its place - Better x far x 4!!