Keeping hens is
really cheap! The cost is time rather than money. But it is a hobby
not a chore. |
Once you have
bought the housing and fencing materials, the feed and bedding costs are
probably less than running a dog or cat. |
My run is larger
than most as I wanted to allow for flock expansion. Start with four birds
then maybe double then triple. |
Many people give
each hen an area of only 2' by 4'. About as big as a bunny hutch. A bit
cruel in my opinion. |
|
|
Fencing |
£400 (agricultural supplier
or DIY store) |
Hut |
£100 (ebay) |
Laying Pellets 20KG bag |
£5.80 |
Mixed Grain 25KG bag |
£6.20 |
The feed bags
last my 4 hens 6 weeks, whereas Humphrey probably costs me £6 per week |
Sawdust Bedding |
£1 bag (waste product) |
Shredded Paper |
Free - get it from your local
admin offices |
|
The costs are
inexpensive but the frequency of cleaning the hut out depends on how big
it is. |
I have 4 hens in
an 8-hen hut, so it needs cleaning out every day. I swap the bedding
very morning. |
When you clean
your hut you can check for any unwelcome visitors: mites, mice, etc |
Allow time for
maintenance. I use clear preservative inside and wood preservative on the
outside. |
You don't want
it to be dark for them inside the hut. |
Use a red mite
powder occasionally to control this parasite. |
|
Waste disposal |
You need a
reasonably sized compost heap, preferably two for rotation. Mine are
made with pallet walls. |
Mixing hen
droppings with shredded paper and general garden waste creates a balanced
compost. |
The paper is
alkali and the droppings are acidic. |
After a year you
get a fantastic compost for growing monster vegetables. |
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