There are many different types of hens.The silky bantam hens are prolific layers - some even lay eggs with a pretty,pale green shell. They make quiet, quaint pets for the children.

Other hens are larger and more robust and come in a variety of colors; black,brown, white or speckled. They all eat bugs, snails and slugs - good news ifyou are trying to reduce the number of these pests!

Did you know that chooks (hens) are able to eat the Sydney funnel web spiderwithout any ill affects? How good is that? They make your yard a safer place tobe and double as a pet for the children...

Chickens can be bought as "day olds" (under a week old) or "weekolds" (over a week). You can buy them fully grown too, but they makebetter pets when bought young. Make sure you buy from a reputable breeder whocan tell what sex they are. The neighbors will not be pleased to be woken atdawn by a rooster crowing.

A young chicken will need to be kept inside where it will be warm, until it isolder. A newspaper lined cardboard carton with sawdust or straw in the bottomis fine. A day old chicken will benefit from the extra warmth of a pretendmother. To make this, push many strips of fabric through a strong piece ofcardboard and hang it so it dangles to the floor of the box. This is a good jobfor the children. Chicky will run straight into it and be perfectly content.Alternatively, you could use a new mop head.

To make a drinking trough that the chicken will not fall into or tip over, takean empty food can (tin) and hammer a hole through each side just under the rim.Fill with water and place a saucer over it. Invert the whole quickly and youwill see that water trickles out of the holes, but stops when the level risesto the rim of the saucer. It's a fascinating experiment for the children.Another tin to hold the special chicken growing mash is all you will need. Ofcourse, keep the bottom of the box clean and dry.

When the chicken is grown up, change the food to laying pellets and graduallyintroduce chopped kitchen scraps. It will eat what it wants and leave the restto be discarded with the soiled sawdust. If you have a garden, this isexcellent fertilizer.

The hen will need a warm, dry place to live outside. An old aviary is fine, butit's not much trouble to hammer in some stakes and wrap wire mesh around them.This will keep the hen safe from stray dogs while you are away. If it fliesout, cut the long wing feathers back to about half, on one wing only.
This will not hurt the hen, but will prevent it from flying.

Remember that a hen is actually a bird and it is natural for birds to roost intrees. Make a perch for your hen by poking an old broom handle through the meshof its cage under the roof, but about one metre (3 feet) from the ground. Checkon whether your hen is actually roosting. Some hens need to be taught. Dusk isthe right time to gently pick up the hen and place it on the perch. It willsoon realize what it is supposed to do.

A small drum, box or even a dog kennel filled with straw will make an idealnest for your hen to lay eggs. If you use a larger dog kennel, it can double asa nest and a night shelter too, with the simple addition of the perch. Or ifyou have a garden shed, the hen will not mind sharing with a few rakes andspades. If you live in an area where the winters are snowy, it will be best tokeep your hen in the barn or shed.

As with any hobby, take your time, enjoy and learn along the way!