Poultry & Livestock for Sale in the UK

Point-of-lay hybrid hens usually cost £15–£30 each, rescue ex-commercial hens a few pounds, pure breeds and bantams £20–£60, and ducks and geese £20–£150 depending on breed. Housing, a secure run and feed are the bigger long-term costs.

Yes. In Great Britain all bird keepers must register their birds with APHA, however few they keep. Registration means you receive disease alerts and housing orders during an avian influenza outbreak.

At least three. Hens are flock birds and a single bird kept alone will be stressed and vulnerable. Three to six hybrid hens suit a typical garden and will produce plenty of eggs for a household.

A good hybrid layer produces around 250–300 eggs in her first year, tailing off each year afterwards. Pure breeds generally lay less but live and lay for longer, and all hens slow or stop while moulting and in deep winter.

No. Hens lay perfectly well without one — a cockerel is only needed if you want fertile eggs for hatching. Many local authorities and neighbours object to the noise, so check before keeping one.

Use a solid house locked at dusk, weld-mesh rather than chicken wire, and either a dug-in skirt or a full walk-in run. During an avian influenza housing order you must keep birds under cover and follow the biosecurity rules issued by Defra.

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