Chickens as pets
Will the chicken get on with my other pets?
Will my chicken fly?
How long will a chicken live for?
How many eggs will the chickens lay?
Can you mix and match your breeds?
Are chickens noisy?
Do chickens attract rats?
Do chickens smell?

Do I require any special knowledge?
You will be surprised how easy it is to keep a few hens in your garden. The eglu has everything you need to get started and we are always on hand to discuss your worries. You will also have access to the Omlet Forum where you can swap tips, share problems and meet like minded people. You can also have peace of mind with our money back guarantee - if you don't absolutely love the eglu or chickens, you can give them back.

Do I require a lawn to keep chickens?
Grass is the best surface to keep chickens on, however there are alternatives. If you have patio or concrete area, you could provide them with a layer of bark chippings or straw to rummage about in. Find out how to do this here.

What happens if I go away for a holiday?
The feeders and drinkers will hold enough food and drink for about two / three days so you can leave your chickens in the eglu unattended over the weekend. If you are going away for longer periods of time, you must get a friend or relative to look after the chickens for you - just like any other pet. The eglu is light and easily transportable, so if they do not live nearby you can simply take the eglu to them. They will love collecting the eggs and you might find it hard to get your eglu back.

Will we be breaking local bylaws?
You do not have to contact the council if you want to keep chickens. However, it is worth checking the deeds of your house, which can sometimes prohibit you from doing certain things in your garden - such as putting up sheds, green houses and keeping rabbits or chickens. Any by-laws and covenants are meant to protect your neighbourhood from the disturbance of cockerels crowing. As we only supply female chickens and not cockerels; the only noise you will hear is a gentle clucking as your chickens' search for worms and a satisfying cluck as an egg is laid. So we suggest you ask your neighbours if they would mind, explaining the lack of noise and perhaps a promise of a share of the eggs.

I am outside your chicken delivery area - where can I get chickens from?
If you live outside our chicken delivery area, we can send you an eglu with our list of over 70 recommended breeders. If you would like to check where there are please call 0845 450 2056.

Will the chicken get on with my other pets?
Chickens get on well with most animals including cats, dogs and rabbits. Other pets are often curious at first but soon befriend the chickens. You don't need to worry about the chickens being attacked, they can generally hold their own - a small peck on the nose normally does the trick.

Will my chicken fly?
There are very few breeds of chicken that can fly properly. A chickens flying could be described as making some large jumps. All our chickens have their wings clipped and are essentially ground dwelling animals. We will teach you how to clip their wings when we deliver your chickens.

Can you mix and match your breeds?
Yes, you can mix and match your chickens. We keep our chickens as one big happy group!

How long will a chicken live for?
Chickens live for around four to five years, depending on the breed it could be a little longer.

How many eggs will the chickens lay?
Chickens lay the most eggs in their first year. Egg levels decrease slowly every year, but the size of the egg increases. So for example Miss Pepperpot lays 300 eggs in the first year might lay 270-280 the following year and so on throughout her life. Have a look at some funny eggs from some of the older chickens.

Are chickens noisy?
You do not have to worry about noise from your chickens. We only supply female chickens and not cockerels that crow in the morning. The only noise you will hear is a gentle clucking as your chickens' search for worms and a satisfying cluck as an egg is laid.

Do chickens attract rats?
Rats are not interested in the chickens - but the food. The eglu comes with feeders specially designed to reduce feed spillage, with this in mind. The feeders are mounted on the side of the netting, so that the chickens can't knock them over or wastefully scratch the contents on to the ground. And if you don't leave large quantities of leftovers in the run for the chickens, then you shouldn't have a problem.

Do chickens smell?
The secret to having 'smell free' chickens is to have only a few and to keep they house clean. This is a simple and quick with the eglu - it has a handy dropping tray, which should be emptied once a week. The lid is also removable to give access for a really good clean once a month. You can learn how to look after your eglu here.

Ask Barbara our chicken expert If you have question that is still unanswered and would like help or advice, then we would love to hear from you. You can ask one of our chicken experts by clicking here.