Treats for your Free Range chickens

My brother has kept Chickens for some time now; he lives in a rural location close to Rutland Water and manages to keep his 1 male and 3 female Chickens happy in a coop in his garden.

Originally the Chicken was a pet ‘request’ from one of his children, so he went to purchase one at a local farmers market, the seller managed to convince him that one would be unhappy so home he came with 4!

The Coop was set up, a magnificent structure on two levels and during the day the Chickens have been allowed to roam around the garden, scratching and pecking whilst looking for food. The eggs are gorgeous, a rich orange yolk and a lovely velvety texture, far better than I have bought. I suppose when you make something or have a handmade gift given to you, nothing could better it.

The Chickens lay pretty regularly, sometimes 1 egg per Chicken per day. My brother allows the Chickens to roam the garden and provides additional feed in the form of a suet block, given as a treat.

Suet blocks are an ideal treat, high in protein and contain valuable oils, fats and vitamins; he hangs one in the coop and the Chickens peck at it as and when they please.

Apparently a Chickens lay rate is noticeably improved by diet, living conditions and believe it or not, happiness. Yes a happy healthy Chicken is an ideal egg laying Chicken. My brother has it off to a tee, his three ‘girls’ are producing a minimum of 13 eggs a week, plenty for a family of four (with some excess for me).

They great thing about having your own Chickens is that you know what they are eating and know how they are treated; they are truly free range, no dark cramped conditions, and no disease just happy birds.

The results, more eggs!