Backyard chickens are one of the most rewarding additions to a garden. They provide fresh eggs, reduce food waste, improve compost, and bring real character to your outdoor space.
This hub brings together practical, UK-focused advice on feeding, housing, health, and everyday care — without overcomplicating the process.
Whether you’re keeping hens in a suburban garden or on a larger plot, start here.
If you’re new to poultry keeping, these guides cover the essentials before you bring birds home. Learn what you actually need — and what you don’t.
Introduction Keeping chickens in the UK has quietly become one of the most practical ways to reconnect with your food, reduce household waste, and move
Introduction It’s been an eventful first week here at the Backyard Farm — and thankfully, it’s all been positive. From Giblets and Apollo taking their
Introduction When I started what I now think of as Phase 2 of the Backyard Farm, I made a simple decision early on: I wanted
Introduction Building chicken nest boxes doesn’t need to be complicated, expensive, or perfectly finished to work well. In fact, most backyard and suburban chicken keepers
From an Early Diary Entry to a Backyard System This article started life as a simple progress update about backyard chickens and digging out a
Nutrition is the foundation of healthy hens and strong egg production. These guides explain what’s safe, what’s useful, and what to avoid. Balanced feeding supports immunity, digestion, and long-term health.
Introduction Can Chickens Eat Bananas? Yes, chickens can eat bananas, and they absolutely love them! These sweet, nutritious fruits make for a delicious treat that
What this article covers Boosting your chickens immune system Chickens, like humans have an immune system which is responsible for defending against infections and diseases.
Why do chickens eat their egg shells? Egg shells offer a great source of calcium and other minerals that a chicken needs to create an
What can you feed suburban chickens? What can you feed chickens? Chickens are well known for eating almost anything obviously this reputation is not unfounded.
Good housing reduces stress, illness, and behavioural problems. Clean coops, dry bedding, and secure fencing prevent most common issues.
Introduction It’s been an eventful first week here at the Backyard Farm — and thankfully, it’s all been positive. From Giblets and Apollo taking their first steps outside and seeing the sky for the very first time, to Apollo laying her first egg, life with
Introduction When I started what I now think of as Phase 2 of the Backyard Farm, I made a simple decision early on: I wanted to grow food without relying on chemical shortcuts. No pesticides. No quick fixes. Instead, I wanted a healthier, more resilient
Introduction Building chicken nest boxes doesn’t need to be complicated, expensive, or perfectly finished to work well. In fact, most backyard and suburban chicken keepers in the UK adapt existing sheds, outbuildings, or small coops rather than starting from scratch. This guide shows you how
From an Early Diary Entry to a Backyard System This article started life as a simple progress update about backyard chickens and digging out a vegetable patch. At the time, I was documenting what I’d done that day in the garden, with very little thought
Chickens are not separate from your garden — they are part of it.
They help with:
Explore related growing guides:
Fix Garden Problems Quickly and Confidently Even well‑planned gardens run into trouble. Slugs appear overnight. Weeds take over faster than expected. Lawns grow unevenly. Plants struggle. This hub brings together clear, practical solutions for common UK garden problems — without gimmicks, hype, or unnecessary chemicals.
The Grow section is about growing your own food in real UK conditions — whether that’s a back garden, an allotment, raised beds, containers, or a small patch you’re learning as you go. Rather than chasing perfect yields or complicated systems, the focus here is
Most chicken issues come down to three things:
Start with the feeding and setup guides above to build strong foundations.
Introduction Can Chickens Eat Bananas? Yes, chickens can eat bananas, and they absolutely love them! These sweet, nutritious fruits make for a delicious treat that adds variety to your flock’s diet. Bananas are rich in essential vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, magnesium,
Introduction Looking for a natural way to support your chickens’ health? Apple cider vinegar for chickens has become a popular natural supplement among backyard poultry keepers—and with good reason. This simple, affordable supplement is commonly used to: In short, it’s an easy way to support
This section is ideal if you:
Chickens don’t need to be complicated. They just need consistent care and good habits.
Start with the basics, build slowly, and enjoy the process.