Keeping backyard chickens has quietly become one of the most popular things people do alongside their gardens. And once you understand why, it’s hard to argue with it, fresh eggs every morning, natural pest control, free fertiliser for your beds, and genuinely entertaining company while you’re out weeding.
If you’re curious about getting started, or already have a small flock and want to do it better, this is the place for you. We cover everything from choosing your first birds to the coops, feeders, bedding, and gear that make keeping chickens straightforward and enjoyable.
What you’ll find in this category
Getting started with chickens Everything a first-time keeper needs to know before bringing birds home. How many chickens do you actually need? What breeds are best for beginners? What do you need to set up before they arrive? We answer the basics clearly, without overwhelming you.
Coop reviews & buying guides The coop is the single biggest purchase most chicken keepers make, and it’s easy to get wrong. We review starter kits, flat-pack coops, and more substantial set-ups, looking at ventilation, predator-proofing, ease of cleaning, and value for money.
Feeders, waterers & accessories Automatic feeders and waterers save time and keep feed dry and clean. We compare the popular options across different flock sizes and review the accessories that genuinely make a difference, from nesting box pads to coop doors that open and close on a timer.
Bedding & coop hygiene Hemp bedding, pine shavings, straw, and the deep litter method, there are more choices here than most people realise, and the right one depends on your setup, your climate, and how often you want to clean. We break it all down.
Feed & nutrition Starter crumble, grower pellets, layer feed, grit, calcium supplements. Getting feed right matters for egg quality, feather health, and general flock wellbeing. We look at what birds need at each life stage and which feed brands deliver it.
Egg handling & storage Egg cartons, washing practices, refrigeration, and water glassing for longer storage. The eggs are the point, after all, we cover how to handle them properly from coop to kitchen.
Quail & other small poultry Backyard quail are gaining real popularity, they’re quieter than chickens, take up less space, and produce eggs quickly. We cover quail-specific gear, housing, and care alongside the chicken content.
Why backyard chickens fit so naturally with gardening
Chickens and gardens have always gone together. Chickens scratch and eat pests, beetles, slugs, grubs, that would otherwise damage your plants. Their manure, composted properly, is some of the richest fertiliser you can add to a vegetable bed. And at the end of a day in the garden, collecting a bowl of fresh eggs feels like a bonus reward for all that time outside.
They’re also surprisingly low-maintenance once you’ve got a good setup. A well-designed coop with an automatic door, a reliable feeder and waterer, and a run with some enrichment means your birds are happy and healthy with just a daily check-in and a weekly clean.
New to backyard chickens? Start here
A few things worth knowing before you commit:
- Check your local rules first. Many areas have limits on how many chickens you can keep and whether roosters are permitted. A quick check before you buy anything saves a lot of headache.
- Start with 3–4 birds. Chickens are social and don’t do well alone, but a small flock is much easier to manage as a first-timer. You can always expand.
- The coop matters more than anything else. Cheap coops are often under-ventilated, hard to clean, and poorly predator-proofed. Spending a bit more upfront saves frustration later.
- Hens don’t need a rooster to lay eggs. This surprises a lot of people. Roosters are only needed for fertilised eggs and hatching chicks.
- Their manure is gold, but it needs composting first. Fresh chicken manure is too strong for plants. Let it age or add it to your compost heap, and it becomes one of the best soil improvers you can use.
Coming soon in this category
We’re building out thorough guides and honest product reviews across everything chicken keeping involves. First up:
- Best starter coop kits reviewed: what to look for and what to avoid
- Chicken starter kit buying guide for complete beginners
- Hemp vs pine shavings vs straw: the best bedding compared
- Best automatic coop door openers reviewed
- Duck egg cartons and quail egg cartons: what size fits which egg
- Raising chickens from eggs: incubators reviewed for home use
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