cage would take up.That’s the kind of space a hen run will take up in your garden or allotment,” says Parkinson.
How to keep chickens - according to a hen expert By Hannah Stephenson, PA
“You could get away with 20 square metres for three birds who are going to lay (eggs) over the spring and summer months.” Chicken runs currently need to be covered with netting or clear plastic sheeting to protect them from wild bird droppings, and make them bio-secure to guard against bird flu. “Consider converting a fruit cage, which will ensure that your hens are bio-secure against bird flu because they are under a netted top, and it keeps wild birds away from the feed.You just need to enforce the sides with a thicker wire that a fox isn’t going to be able to chew through,” he advises. Ideally, place the run/coop near plants and try to place it in a sheltered spot in the sun, as hens don’t like to be exposed to wind or rain either, Parkinson suggests.
While many children grow up with a cat or a dog, Arthur Parkinson grew up with chickens.
As a child growing up in an ex-mining town in Nottinghamshire, kids in the playground called him ‘Chicken Boy’ – and now, his eponymous memoir explores how keeping hens has been his sanctuary.
It also delves into what others might want to know if they’re keen to keep chickens of their own.
The most important thing is to do your homework, the writer, gardener and hen-keeper advises.
“I was obsessed with hens from being little and went to the library, just as you would if you were starting a new garden from scratch. ” Here, Parkinson offers advice for beginners who want to keep chickens in their garden (owners and potential owners should be aware of the ‘flockdown’ restrictions currently in place because of bird flu).
They are companions
“They’re not just going to sit there and lay you an egg every day, they’ve got personalities. A lot of people that get chickens are just thinking about eggs, but the eggs are secondary,” he adds.
Parkinson says chickens will bond with their owners, that they recognise voices and can see in full colour.
You need space
“Ideally, each hen needs 10 square metres. A pair of birds will need a fairly substantial run. Imagine the space a fruit
“My girls hate it if I’ve got a woolly hat on, because they don’t recognise me,” he says.“Hens have strong personalities.You
42 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker