IMPORTANT POINTS

·       Poultry need daily care and if you are not able to provide this you must arrange for some one with sufficient knowledge to do so in your absence.

·       Most importantly they need clean water, sufficient food and a clean, dry hen house where they can be safely shut up at night away from predators.

·       You do not need a cockerel for hens to lay eggs.

·       Hens need to be fed a balanced feed all year round, especially during their first lay or a moult. They cannot achieve their laying potential on grain or scraps alone.

·       Some poultry will be happier and healthier if you move the house and run regularly, providing them with fresh grass and a clean piece of ground.

·       Poultry care is covered by a Welfare Code of Practice and several regulations (please visit http://www.defra.gov.uk/for more details)