During the last couple of years, many people have become increasingly concerned with the welfare of Chickens, especially those that are kept in battery Farms for the production of eggs.
This concern has sparked interest in residents who now want to keep ex battery hens as pets, with the added bonus of getting a few eggs for their family.
If you are thinking about getting chickens, there are a few things that you should consider:
- Check your property deeds or check with your landlord – some deeds or tenancy agreements forbid the owning of such animals.
- Let your neighbours know what you are doing – people do get alarmed when they suddenly see chickens in neighbouring gardens!
- Check whether or not you will require planning permission.
- Make sure that your birds are not going to cause a nuisance to your neighbours. The usual complaints are
1. Noise – Only get hens do not get a cockerel.
2. Odour – Make sure that the chicken enclosures are kept clean.
3. Pests – Make sure that all animal food is kept in sealed containers and any excess food cleared up and disposed of. - Check the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website for their advice and information regarding Avian Flu.
However, even if you don’t want to keep chickens, you can still make a difference to their welfare. It is Rochford District Councils policy to only use free range whole eggs in any catering supplied to or by the Council. This is a policy that the Council encourages other public bodies and businesses to follow. Nowadays it is very easy for both organisations and residents to help improve the welfare of laying hens as several major supermarkets now only stock whole eggs from cage free hens. If you would like to know more about which supermarkets and manufacturers use free range eggs, you can visit the RSPCA website where you can download a guide to products containing free range eggs.
For further information on keeping chickens or higher welfare eggs please visit our website or telephone Heather Meggison on 01702 318057
