Frequently Asked Questions
What are you selling?
We sell brown hy-line chickens from 10 weeks old to laying which is around 18 weeks.
Do they come in different colours?
Any colour you like so long as its brown! We only have the brown hy-line.
How much does a chicken cost?
As prices are subject to change, please email or call us for latest prices
What shall I bring to collect the chickens?
A cat cage is a great and safe way to transport pullets otherwise a suitable sturdy box with holes in the sides also are fine. Keep them in a ventilated area while travelling especially in the summer. If you don't have a cat cage or sturdy box please phone ahead so we can ensure we have a suitable box.
Any tips for transporting chickens?
Go straight home, don't stop on the way and leave the birds in a hot car. They can overheat easily.
Are the birds vaccinated? Do they need any vaccinating after purchase?
Yes, they are vaccinated before we sell them for AE POXINE (avian encephalomyelitis) and MEGAN VAC (salmonella). And no, normally there is no need for any more vaccinating unless there is a national outbreak of a poultry disease.
Minor irritants to watch for:
Mites: regularly clean their housing to avoid mites and frequently check the birds themselves.
Worms: a natural de-worming method is a garlic clove in the water, when worms are suspected.
How many eggs a day does a chicken lay?
Normally an 'egg a day'
How long do they lay for?
The hens will lay for approximately 3 years, the best quality eggs are in the first 2 years.
Do they stop laying at any point in the year?
When the hens moult they often temporarily stop laying (often in Autumn) but our customers tell us our birds often miss the first moult and lay straight through the first year.
What kind of environment/housing do chickens need?
Introduce your new chickens to their new house by confining them inside for 24 hours with food and water, so they accept it as their new home.You will need to have your chicken-house set up before you bring any chickens home. This should be set up on well-drained land that will not flood. There are a lot of different options; you can research at the library or on the internet. They will need a lockable door or a pop-hole which is essential to keep out any predators. Good ventilation is very important to provide fresh air, but you would also need to prevent draughts. The nesting boxes should be filled with either wood shavings (non-treated) or straw. The floor of the chicken house should drain freely and be kept clean and dry and there must always be dry areas for roosting. The floor should also be covered with wood-shavings for ease of cleaning and for the birds to scratch and forage in. Ideally the house should be cleaned daily but a thorough clean should be done once a week. The house will also need to have roosting perches. These should be raised off the ground enough to protect them from predators or rodents but low enough so they are readily accessible without the risk of injury to the birds.
Hens need a warm house and a nesting box where they feel comfortable to lay their eggs. This is usually in a corner of a raised nesting box with hay or straw in it. This needs regular cleaning to avoid mites which can easily breed in the boxes, if this occurs spraying with a suitable spray should be carried out including checking all the hens to see if they have been affected. A suitable area with grass for them to peck and dust-bathe is also a must for them.
Feed and Water?
The pullets should have free access at all times to water and a suitable laying feed, a higher protein level [17% is an acceptable level] will ensure a happy hen and lovely brown eggs daily! You can also give them scraps (not recommended are green potatoes & rhubarb which is poisonous to them). They especially like silver beet plants, pumpkin, and other veggies they can peck on.
Enemies of chickens?
Beware of dogs (especially the neighbours) as they tend to want to socialise with them, with disastrous results, also keep pens away from drains as stoats can also be a menace to them.
Closing them in their pens at night is also recommended for their safety!
What happens if the pullets don’t lay?
Give the pullets a chance to settle in to their new home, sometimes they take a few weeks to start laying again after being transported. If they still aren't laying after a few weeks give us a call.
Is it okay to only have one chicken?
No, its better to have 2 or more chickens as they are naturally communal animals and they love company. The brown hy-line is a quiet bird, not flighty, that is why they make great pets.
Any other questions just ask - phone us or use the Contact Us page to send an email.
For more information on caring for chickens see the SPCA website
We sell brown hy-line chickens from 10 weeks old to laying which is around 18 weeks.
Do they come in different colours?
Any colour you like so long as its brown! We only have the brown hy-line.
How much does a chicken cost?
As prices are subject to change, please email or call us for latest prices
What shall I bring to collect the chickens?
A cat cage is a great and safe way to transport pullets otherwise a suitable sturdy box with holes in the sides also are fine. Keep them in a ventilated area while travelling especially in the summer. If you don't have a cat cage or sturdy box please phone ahead so we can ensure we have a suitable box.
Any tips for transporting chickens?
Go straight home, don't stop on the way and leave the birds in a hot car. They can overheat easily.
Are the birds vaccinated? Do they need any vaccinating after purchase?
Yes, they are vaccinated before we sell them for AE POXINE (avian encephalomyelitis) and MEGAN VAC (salmonella). And no, normally there is no need for any more vaccinating unless there is a national outbreak of a poultry disease.
Minor irritants to watch for:
Mites: regularly clean their housing to avoid mites and frequently check the birds themselves.
Worms: a natural de-worming method is a garlic clove in the water, when worms are suspected.
How many eggs a day does a chicken lay?
Normally an 'egg a day'
How long do they lay for?
The hens will lay for approximately 3 years, the best quality eggs are in the first 2 years.
Do they stop laying at any point in the year?
When the hens moult they often temporarily stop laying (often in Autumn) but our customers tell us our birds often miss the first moult and lay straight through the first year.
What kind of environment/housing do chickens need?
Introduce your new chickens to their new house by confining them inside for 24 hours with food and water, so they accept it as their new home.You will need to have your chicken-house set up before you bring any chickens home. This should be set up on well-drained land that will not flood. There are a lot of different options; you can research at the library or on the internet. They will need a lockable door or a pop-hole which is essential to keep out any predators. Good ventilation is very important to provide fresh air, but you would also need to prevent draughts. The nesting boxes should be filled with either wood shavings (non-treated) or straw. The floor of the chicken house should drain freely and be kept clean and dry and there must always be dry areas for roosting. The floor should also be covered with wood-shavings for ease of cleaning and for the birds to scratch and forage in. Ideally the house should be cleaned daily but a thorough clean should be done once a week. The house will also need to have roosting perches. These should be raised off the ground enough to protect them from predators or rodents but low enough so they are readily accessible without the risk of injury to the birds.
Hens need a warm house and a nesting box where they feel comfortable to lay their eggs. This is usually in a corner of a raised nesting box with hay or straw in it. This needs regular cleaning to avoid mites which can easily breed in the boxes, if this occurs spraying with a suitable spray should be carried out including checking all the hens to see if they have been affected. A suitable area with grass for them to peck and dust-bathe is also a must for them.
Feed and Water?
The pullets should have free access at all times to water and a suitable laying feed, a higher protein level [17% is an acceptable level] will ensure a happy hen and lovely brown eggs daily! You can also give them scraps (not recommended are green potatoes & rhubarb which is poisonous to them). They especially like silver beet plants, pumpkin, and other veggies they can peck on.
Enemies of chickens?
Beware of dogs (especially the neighbours) as they tend to want to socialise with them, with disastrous results, also keep pens away from drains as stoats can also be a menace to them.
Closing them in their pens at night is also recommended for their safety!
What happens if the pullets don’t lay?
Give the pullets a chance to settle in to their new home, sometimes they take a few weeks to start laying again after being transported. If they still aren't laying after a few weeks give us a call.
Is it okay to only have one chicken?
No, its better to have 2 or more chickens as they are naturally communal animals and they love company. The brown hy-line is a quiet bird, not flighty, that is why they make great pets.
Any other questions just ask - phone us or use the Contact Us page to send an email.
For more information on caring for chickens see the SPCA website