Orpington bantams
Brahmas
PETS
Orpington bantams
Brahmas
meat , and can lay excellent eggs , hatch and raise chicks .
It ’ s relatively inexpensive to keep chickens compared to keeping a dog . Chicks between a day and six months old can be purchased for about R20 each , or you can pay hundreds of rands for a purebred show chicken . Chickens typically start laying eggs at around six months of age .
If you have limited space , consider bantams - these chickens are smaller in size and come in various breeds . When deciding on the type of chicken to keep , remember that some breeds are noisier than others . For example , if you live in a built-up area , you ’ ll need to ensure that your rooster ’ s
crowing in the early morning hours doesn ’ t disturb your neighbors .
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR CHICKS
All you really need is a reasonably spacious backyard , a large enough chicken coop , and high-quality chicken feed . The latter is available at different prices , depending on your chickens and whether they are laying hens or purebred show chickens .
Don ’ t overfeed your chickens ; they shouldn ’ t have access to food all day long . A handful of food is sufficient per chicken ( slightly less for bantams ). They should finish their food within four or five minutes and then appear satisfied , not looking for more . Don ’ t leave food within their
58 MARKtoe ! November 2023