Introduction to Laying Chickens

Words by Stacey Cosnett

Have you been thinking about getting some laying chickens, but you don’t know where to start? Setting up a backyard flock doesn’t need to be complicated so take the plunge. Enjoy our seven-step guide to get you started:

1. Start with picking out a coop. Make sure you get something large enough for the number of birds you want in your flock. Each bird will need about 0.3m2 of space and you will need one nest box per 3 chickens.

2. Think about where your birds will hang out in your garden. You may want to let your chicken’s free range around your entire garden during the day if it is well fenced, however you may prefer to block off a part of the garden just for the chickens. This can be done using chicken netting and is a good way to protect your veggie patch from feathered thieves. Farmlands offer an extensive range of chicken fencing with options for farm, pest and temporary fencing. Pop into your local Farmlands to talk through what option best suits your needs. 

3. Feeders and drinkers are the next thing on your list. A good investment is a free access feeder such as the Feed O Matic, which the chickens can open themselves. This is a great way to minimise wastage of chicken feed and keeps wild birds away. Chickens won’t overeat their food, they just take what they need. 

4. Your birds will be producing nutritious eggs for you to eat, and you must make sure they are given a balanced diet to ensure they have all the right nutrients to produce quality eggs as well as stay in optimum health. Pick a high-quality chicken feed such as NRM Peck’n’Lay or NRM Chook Tucker. A layer feed should be the largest part of the chicken’s diet, but you can offer kitchen scraps as an extra treat for some variety. 

5. Now it’s time to get your hens.  You will need at least 3 as they are social animals and prefer to live in groups. Each chicken will produce about 5-6 eggs a week so think about that when choosing your flock size. The easiest option to get started is to buy point-of-lay pullets which are hens that are due to start laying any day. You could hatch chicks from fertilised eggs or buy day old chicks to rear, however getting some that are just about old enough to start laying eggs is an easy way to get started. 

6. Picking the breed of your chickens is the fun part and you can successfully keep an eclectic mix of breeds if that tickles your fancy. Commercial breeds such as the brown shaver are phenomenal layers and go well in a backyard environment, however there are many egg-laying heritage breeds available too and while they may lay less eggs compared to the brown shaver, they can be very enjoyable to have in the flock. 

7. Once your hens arrive get them into a routine. In the morning let them out of the coop, check on their feed and water, and have a general look around to make sure everyone is ok. When the sun comes down, it’s time to start the evening routine, locking your girls safely inside the coop.