If you have limited space, chickens can be kept in cages.
These can also be used for temporary housing whilst you build a chicken run or introduce hens into a new environment.
Free range is where the chicken has had access to the outdoors and as such their eggs tend to be more yellow reflecting the change in diet.
Free range is also seen as a more humane method of looking after chickens.
If you do choose to use a cage for your chickens, then ensure you have sufficient lighting and ventilation.
Also the cage should be large enough for the chicken to walk around and flap their wings.
Chickens like company and find being alone a distressing experience.
Ensure that your cages are big enough for at least two hens.
They will also use each other for warmth when cold.
Cages are usually made of wire mesh and are typically quite bare with just food and water available for the chickens.
Any eggs that get laid will roll down the cage for easy collection.
You can of course add roosts or nest boxes to make the cage more comfortable for the birds.
Two types of cage floors are available; wire and solid.
Wire is obviously easier to clean however there is a risk the chickens can injure their toes or legs.
Solid flooring is more comfortable for chickens but is harder to keep clean.
If you can, we recommend solid floors as a happy chicken is a productive chicken.
Chickens that have always been in a cage are likely to feel quite insecure if they are suddenly given the freedom to roam in a chicken run or the garden.
Although it is increasingly seen as inhumane, caged chickens are at least protected from predators.
Caged chickens are restrained from natural chicken behaviour.
This includes foraging around for bugs, pests and other favourite chicken treats.
Your birds will spend at least 50% of their waking time foraging around.
They like to scratch and run and this type of behaviour cannot be done in a cage.
Researchers led by Dr Fossum in Sweden found that free range chickens and those which are exposed to litter based housing systems are more susceptible to disease than those kept in cages.
This shows the importance of cleanliness and hygiene in chicken housing whether the housing is a chicken coop with runs or free range.
Whilst a caged environment makes good temporary housing for chickens on the move or sick chickens, happy, healthy and productive chickens are the ones who have an environment which simply let them get on with being chickens naturally.
These can also be used for temporary housing whilst you build a chicken run or introduce hens into a new environment.
Free range is where the chicken has had access to the outdoors and as such their eggs tend to be more yellow reflecting the change in diet.
Free range is also seen as a more humane method of looking after chickens.
If you do choose to use a cage for your chickens, then ensure you have sufficient lighting and ventilation.
Also the cage should be large enough for the chicken to walk around and flap their wings.
Chickens like company and find being alone a distressing experience.
Ensure that your cages are big enough for at least two hens.
They will also use each other for warmth when cold.
Cages are usually made of wire mesh and are typically quite bare with just food and water available for the chickens.
Any eggs that get laid will roll down the cage for easy collection.
You can of course add roosts or nest boxes to make the cage more comfortable for the birds.
Two types of cage floors are available; wire and solid.
Wire is obviously easier to clean however there is a risk the chickens can injure their toes or legs.
Solid flooring is more comfortable for chickens but is harder to keep clean.
If you can, we recommend solid floors as a happy chicken is a productive chicken.
Chickens that have always been in a cage are likely to feel quite insecure if they are suddenly given the freedom to roam in a chicken run or the garden.
Although it is increasingly seen as inhumane, caged chickens are at least protected from predators.
Caged chickens are restrained from natural chicken behaviour.
This includes foraging around for bugs, pests and other favourite chicken treats.
Your birds will spend at least 50% of their waking time foraging around.
They like to scratch and run and this type of behaviour cannot be done in a cage.
Researchers led by Dr Fossum in Sweden found that free range chickens and those which are exposed to litter based housing systems are more susceptible to disease than those kept in cages.
This shows the importance of cleanliness and hygiene in chicken housing whether the housing is a chicken coop with runs or free range.
Whilst a caged environment makes good temporary housing for chickens on the move or sick chickens, happy, healthy and productive chickens are the ones who have an environment which simply let them get on with being chickens naturally.
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