Pet shops don’t often sell chickens. Look at the suppliers on this site or check the classified ads in your local paper. If you buy your first brood from the same supplier and they have been reared together, they are unlikely to fight. Before you go, do your research about what types you want and how many.

When you go to buy your first chickens, prepare a cardboard box to go with you. Make some air holes in the side and line it with plenty of newspaper at the bottom.

What to look for

Most first timers buy Point of Lay (P.O.L.) hens – they will start laying soon, hopefully as soon as they have got used to their new home. Make sure you ask their age! Ask if they have been handled daily – these pullets (the name for hens under one year old) will be used to being handled and willbe easier to pick up.

A healthy chook will have bright eyes, glossy feathers and be active. They may not yet have a big red comb (the red bit on the top of their head) which goes nice and red when they come into lay. Look to see the eyes aren’t watery and their vent (the rear end where the eggs and poo come out) is clean. Their legs should be firm and smooth – if the scales are raised, it probably has scaly leg mite.

If you are rescuing ex-battery hens (a very noble thing to do) they will look very scraggly and may even have large bald patches as the hens may be moulting (a rest period from laying, when the feathers and moulted and regrow).

Bring them home in your prepared box and if it is a long drive check they are not getting too hot – panting and trying to spread their wings to cool down.

If you are nervous about getting them out of the box, open it in the run, so you don’t spend the afternoon running after them

Make sure there is plenty of feed and water available for them and sit back and watch them adjust to their surroundings.

They may need help going into the coop at night – place a torch inside and they will be drawn to it and you can then close the pop hole and retrieve your torch.

Handle them daily so they are used to being picked and they will become very food tame!