By popular demand Chicken School are offering an addition to its services of 1-2-1 and consultancy / advisory and are also offering group courses (maximum 6 people). This course is not suitable for children under the age of 14, children are fully catered for on the unique
1-2-1 course.

This one day course has been specifically designed for the back garden keeper, to help you successfully get up and running. The aim of this course is to show you how easy and enjoyable keeping chickens in your back garden can be, if done correctly; with hands-on advice and practical tips. It will help you select the right breed to suit you and your expectations of chicken keeping, looking at important features to identify the right coop and keeping your hens’ healthy.

The course is fun and gives you an opportunity to met like minded people.

The course covers:

• Benefits and Rewards of Keeping Chickens and savings that can be made by owning your own hens.

• Their Welfare Requirements Discuss chickens basic needs.

• Breeds An overview of the various breeds; you will carry out an exercise to help you understand what your own expectations are from a chicken to help determine the most fundamental part of chicken keeping which is the right breeds to suit you.

• Housing outline various housing available and discuss the pros and cons of different houses; to help you make the right purchase. Guidelines of space required, nest boxes, perches etc. Tips for making your hens comfortable, safe and how to make it low maintenance.

• Handling how to handle and hold your hens correctly, with practical handling on live hens, inspecting health.

• Feeding present the various feeds available giving their advantages and disadvantages; along with other essential requirements to their diet. Tips on rodent distraction.

• Predators consider who they are, danger times and ways to protect your hens.

• Training demonstration and discussion of the importance of training your hens and how to train them.

• Your First Eggs discuss when she will come into lay, how long it takes to produce an egg, the amount of eggs a breed can lay.

• Health observe and discuss signs of health or sickness, preventative methods to keep them healthy and the supplements / medication available.

• Parasites identification and signs of various external and internal parasites, treatment and actions to keep them at bay.

• The Moult when and why does it occur, care and maintenance.

• Broodiness identifying a broody hen, the problems and discuss ways of dealing with her.

Times of course 10:30 to 15:00hrs.
The course will be held outside (weather permitting) or indoors, lunch and refreshments will be provided free of charge.
Cost £45 per person. A Non refundable deposit of £20 is required.
We reserve the right to cancel the course but will provide as much notice as possible (deposits will be returned if we do so).

To book a course, please use our contact page.

COURSE DATES:

14th September 2008

28th September 2008

12th October 2008