Episode: 3
Title: Keeping chickens
Broadcast: 19th September 2015
Presenter: Kim Syrus

More and more of us are joining the growing number of homeowners keeping chickens in their backyard. Not just for their lovely eggs, but also something the kids love, too.

• When it comes to building a chicken coup, you can go as fancy or as basic as you like. What they will need though, is protection against wind, rain, heat, cold and draughts. Having an enclosure that is secure, dry and well ventilated is ideal.
• Chooks love to go for a roam and a scratch, in fact they spend about 75 percent of the day doing just that, so make sure there is plenty of space for them to forage.
• When it comes to egg laying, chickens generally like a quiet, dark place and a nesting box is ideal. Line it with straw and they’ll pop out plenty of eggs. Remember to collect them daily and change the bedding every week.
• Chicken poo provides more nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus than any other manure, just be careful not to add fresh manure to your plants, which can burn and kill them. Instead, add to your compost or let it sit and age for many months before putting on the garden.