Housing

Keeping a few chickens in the back garden is becoming more and more popular especially in the current climate. However, the decision should not be taken lightly as chickens need looking after 365 days per year. For this reason we’ve put together some basic information on what you might need to consider.

Rules & Regulations

There are no laws preventing you keeping chickens providing they are looked after properly and their welfare is taken seriously. However, it is advisable to check your property deeds or consult your landlord to make sure there are no covenants preventing the keeping of ‘livestock’.  The Council is aware that there may be some ‘restricted covenants’ in the Westlands area but this is down to the individual to check this out.

If you are considering keeping just a few hens then you do not need to register with anyone.  However, more than 50 chickens are considered to be a commercial venture and must be registered on the GB Poultry Register – an initiative set up by DEFRA in 2005

How many should I keep?

This will probably depend on how many eggs you want. As a rule of thumb a hen can lay between 200 and 250 eggs per year. This will vary depending on the breed of the hen as well as their health, how well they’re fed and also the time of the year. 

Chickens are generally social birds and prefer to live with other chickens.  They will also establish their own ‘pecking order’

Where can I keep them?

Chickens will happily roam out in the cold but they don’t like rain. You will need to provide a house or shelter suitable for the number of chickens you are keeping (approx 1 square foot per bird). Remember bigger breeds will need more space. 

Ideally your hens should also be allowed some outdoor space because hens love to scratch about to find seeds, insects, slugs and the like. Unfortunately they also like to eat anything green and, in doing so, they’ll uproot small plants and create dust baths.

• Some chicken sheds and runs, depending on size may require planning permission. 
• Ideally locate any sheds away from your own house and also your neighbours.
• At night time, you also need to keep your hens safe from foxes and the odd brave cat

What can I feed my hens?

Commercially produced poultry feed is readily available from a number of outlets, such as agricultural merchants, pet shops and larger feed producers and wholesalers. However, feeding catering waste to any food producing animals or birds has been illegal since 2001.  For further information visit the Staffordshire County Council web site

Cleanliness

You need to keep the area clean.  Food and water left out for poultry may attract vermin such as rats and mice. Chicken houses may also provide shelter for rats and mice.

In the summer poorly kept poultry may result in unpleasant odours which can attract flies. These can become a nuisance which could result in a complaint from your neighbours

Make good use of the chicken manure by composting as this makes an excellent fertiliser

Noise issues

Hens are generally fairly quiet, however cockerels are not and their ‘crow’ can be loud and disruptive.  The Council has a duty to investigate any complaint about noise from cockerels crowing.  For information on how we investigate noise complaints follow the link

 If you have near neighbours it would be wise to avoid keeping cockerels after all, a cockerel is not required for your hens to lay eggs.

What are you going to do with any excess eggs?

If you decide to sell your eggs to friends, family, over the gate or at a market stall then there is a legal requirement for you to register as a food business with our Environmental Health – Food section.  Telephone 01782 742590 for a registration form

Bear in mind that if you are running a business, you may also require planning permission for a change of use of your property.

The welfare of your chickens

Under The Animal Welfare Act 2006 it is against the law to be cruel to an animal and you must ensure that the welfare needs of your animals are met. These include the need:

• for a suitable environment (place to live)
• for a suitable diet
• to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
• to be housed with, or apart from, other animals (if applicable)
• to be protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease

Contact DEFRA who produce welfare codes for poultry

Consider diseases

Poultry are susceptible to many diseases and need regular checks. One such disease is Avian influenza which is a highly contagious viral disease affecting the respiratory, digestive and/or nervous system of many species of birds. It is a Notifiable disease and suspect cases must be reported to the Local Authority.