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"        Considering henkeeping? Get up to speed with our introductory how to keep chickens video, then follow the guidance below to keep them in fine fettle Caring for your flock   Although chickens aren&amp;#039;t time-consuming to look after, you will need to check them every morning and evening.\u00A0It takes just 20-30 minutes each day. In the morning, ideally when it&amp;#039;s light, open up the pop-hole to let them out, refresh their drinkers and top up feed, while checking they all look healthy and are moving about happily. As well as layers&amp;#039; pellets and mixed corn, you should supply your hens with oyster shell and grit (with which they grind solid food).  Supplement your hens&amp;#039; diet with vegetables or fruits from the garden\u00A0(check a chicken-keeping guide as some, including rhubarb, are poisonous) \u2013 except those with a strong flavour such as onion as it can taint the eggs \u2013 and feed them mixed corn in the afternoon for a treat (once they&amp;#039;ve had a good portion of their more nutritious layers&amp;#039; pellets). As soon after dusk as possible, shut up the pop-hole and put their food away securely so it doesn&amp;#039;t attract rodents, and collect eggs from the nesting box.  There are other jobs that will require more commitment on a weekly, monthly or quarterly basis.\u00A0Worming your hens will ensure a healthy digestive system \u2013 you can buy feed ready mixed with conventional treatment\u00A0Flubenvet. Alternatively, regular use of a herb-based kind, such as widely available Verm-X for Poultry, Ducks &amp;amp;amp; Fowl in solid or\u00A0 liquid form, is effective in treating internal parasites.  In spring and summer, the pest red mite can take up residence in poultry housing.\u00A0There are a number of products that reduce or eliminate it, however. Diatom is an all-natural kind made from ground-up fossils and, dusted over the surfaces inside, will eradicate the parasite, while Barrier Red Mite Powder contains plant oils and is suitable for use on the birds as well.  Scaly leg is also caused by a mite\u00A0that burrows under the scales of a chicken&amp;#039;s leg and raises them so it has a rough surface. When the hens are docile after dusk, immerse their legs in surgical spirit, then seal them with petroleum jelly.  All these complaints can be kept to a minimum\u00A0by good husbandry and, where possible, giving chickens access to fresh ground. Don&amp;#039;t be alarmed if your hens begin to lose their feathers and go off lay \u2013 it is likely that they are starting their annual moult, during which their entire plumage is replaced. It usually takes three to four weeks and requires a large amount of energy, so there is often a decline in general appearance.  As well as keeping on top of pest control, check the perimeter fence\u00A0on a regular basis for holes through which predators could enter. Keep housing well-maintained, as draughts and leaks can be detrimental to health, but ensure there is good ventilation in the house at roof level to prevent respiratory ailments.  For more information on how to keep chickens, see our\u00A0Keeping Chickens\u00A0section, full of top tips from experts, how-to videos and free-to-download information. Watch more How to keep pigsHow to plant an apple treeHow to make lemon curd "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.countryliving.co.uk/wildlife/farming/videos/a411/how-to-keep-chickens/>