With a growing number of Brits (one million at the last count) aspiring to embrace the Good Life and keep their own hens, ChickenGuard has conducted research to highlight the true cost of establishing a small flock.
The award-winning automatic chicken coop door opener maker reveals that the approximate initial outlay for keeping chickens (based on a flock of four) is more than £1,000 (£1057.40).
Ben Braithwaite, founder of ChickenGuard, said: “It’s a fact that chickens are a fantastic pet choice. They don’t take up too much room, they produce their own tasty eggs, they are fantastic with children and they each has a unique personality, which can be mildly mesmerising.
“The welfare of chickens is of utmost importance to us so the purpose of our research was to reveal the true cost of owning chickens, as it can mount up. That said, in comparison to other pets such as the four-legged friend, which cost £2,000 a year or more, chickens are a much more reasonable outlay.”
RARE BREEDS
Those tempted by owning chickens can expect to pay £15-£20 for each of their hens, although rare breeds can be considerably more. The next item on the shopping list is a coop.
The ‘girls’ will also need some space to exercise so allow another £65 for a chicken run. Add to that bedding at £20, plus another £80 for nest boxes, £54 on a heatlamp to keep them cosy and £77 on lighting, grit (£36), feed and supplements (£97) and something to dispense them from alongside fresh water (£80) plus a decent pair of wellies (£45), the cost of being a responsible owner soon rises.
After the initial outlay, chicken owners will also need to bear in mind ongoing costs for food and grit, as well as healthcare needs such as red mite spray (£34) to keep their hens on top form. And for those planning to welcome their feathered friends into their home, there are chicken nappies (£22) to keep mess to a minimum!
AUTOMATED
Having shelled out on everything needed to keep the hens happily laying, the last thing wanted for them is to fall fowl of a sneaky fox. That’s precisely why ChickenGuard founder Ben created the first automated chicken coop door opener 10 years ago.
“Today, ChickenGuard offers a variety of automatic chicken coop door openers and doors to benefit chicken owners across the world,” he said.
ChickenGuard has worked closely with customers, taking their feedback on board and incorporating it into various iterations of the product range.
All ChickenGuard units are made in the UK, at the company’s headquarters in Cambridge.
