Keeping chickens in Belfast

BelfastNI

Hi all,

First post here - mainly on the back of a post a found here on MSE NI from a few years ago. It was an interesting read for me so I just thought I would open up a new thread in case anyone else is considering getting a few birds for their back garden.

I recently made the suburbia of East Belfast home for a few and they have worked out great. I'd be more than happy to answer any questions that potential keepers might have as I would definitely recommend it.

Save money on eggs and there is just no comparison to the ones you buy over the counter!

saverbuyer

BelfastNI wrote: »

Hi all,

First post here - mainly on the back of a post a found here on MSE NI from a few years ago. It was an interesting read for me so I just thought I would open up a new thread in case anyone else is considering getting a few birds for their back garden.

I recently made the suburbia of East Belfast home for a few and they have worked out great. I'd be more than happy to answer any questions that potential keepers might have as I would definitely recommend it.

Save money on eggs and there is just no comparison to the ones you buy over the counter!

I would love to get a couple.


I just don't think I have the space.

Lobell

I'm about to move out of Belfast to a rural location and will have a bit of land. I was thinking of keeping a few chickens...what do I need to know? Is there a lot of work involved? How hard is it to keep them safe from foxes etc?

Old_Git

have you neighbours ,do they complain about the clucking .
Have you somewhere safe for them at night to avoid foxes .
Did you get female only birds

qwert_yuiop

Are we talking about hens or chickens ?

If it really is chickens, are you planning to do your own butchering?

thegirlsmum

i would love to keep chickens but i have a few problems: i live in a rural area and def have foxes just over the fence (and am nearly certain he is in my garden once dark comes); i have 2 dogs and i suppose most importantly i dont like eggs lol. i had persuaded the husband to get a goat but she wouldnt eat grass, only nice plants, didnt like the rain so had to have a shed and had a habit of getting loose, didn't really work out the way i had planned lol.

BatCat

Just beware that keeping chickens can encourage rats who are after the chicken feed.
Our neighbours (in East Belfast) kept chickens one summer. There was a sudden rise in the amount of dead rats my cats began providing.

Mistral001

I remember a time in the 60's when nearly everybody in the suburbs and rural areas kept ckichens. In those days it was a hangover from rationing during and after the War.


I know some people who keep them as a hobby now and I know it is not just a case of buying a few hens and roll of chicken wire. They tell me that the eggs they get do not really pay for the chicken feed, cost of accommodation etc. like they used to.

qwert_yuiop

[QUOTE=Mistral001;68836078They_tell_me_that_the_eggs_they_get_do_not_really_pay_for_the_chicken_feed,_cost_of_accommodation_etc._like_they_used_to.[/QUOTE]

Course they don't. Margins in egg production are so tiny you need thousands of hens to have a viable farm.

By the way, it's hens that lay eggs. Chickens get eaten.

tara747

Love the idea of keeping hens!

Zola.

I wouldnt have a cluckin' clue