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The things no one tells you

Chicken keeping is rewarding. It’s also work.

If you want the eggs and the “cute garden vibe” but you don’t want the mud, mites, smells, and hard decisions — stop now. This is the reality checklist.

Why this page exists: because most people quit when the fantasy collides with winter, illness, and holidays. You can avoid that if you plan like a grown-up.
Time Money Holidays Heartbreak

1) The time commitment is daily

Even if you have a great setup, chickens are not a “weekend pet”.

  • Water and a quick check: every day.
  • Cleaning: weekly minimum (more in wet weather).
  • Run management: ongoing (mud doesn’t fix itself).
Mitigation: build access into your design. If cleaning is annoying, you’ll delay it.

2) Winter is the real test

UK winter = damp, mud, and parasites. This is where lazy setups collapse.

  • Wet bedding creates ammonia and respiratory issues.
  • Mud drives foot problems and increases worm/parasite pressure.
  • Egg production drops (moult + short days).
Mitigation: roofed run, dry base, and a cleaning routine you won’t break.

3) Going on holiday is not simple

If nobody can care for them, you can’t go.

  • Automatic feeders help, but someone must still check birds and water.
  • Fox-proof locking is a routine, not a “feature”.
  • Illness can happen while you’re away.
Mitigation: find a poultry-sensible sitter before you buy birds.

4) It costs more than you think

The birds are cheap. The infrastructure isn’t.

  • Coop + run + mesh + latches is the big cost.
  • Feed is steady. Bedding and parasite control creep up.
  • Vet visits can be expensive and not every vet treats poultry.
Mitigation: build right once. Cheap fixes are a treadmill.

5) Heartbreak happens

Predators, illness, injury. Even with good care, you will lose birds.

  • Fox attacks are often one mistake at night.
  • Illness can be sudden and hard to diagnose.
  • Age catches up. Laying strains bodies.
Mitigation: accept the responsibility now: “How will we handle sickness and end-of-life decisions?” If you don’t decide, the situation will decide for you.

6) Your garden will change

Chickens scratch, dust bathe, and destroy tender plants. It’s not “if”; it’s “how fast”.

  • Fence off beds you care about.
  • Use rotation or sacrificial areas.
  • Accept that “lawn perfection” and chickens don’t coexist.
Mitigation: design your garden around chickens instead of fighting them daily.

If you still want chickens — do it properly

Coops & sizing
A coop you can clean + a run big enough to prevent drama.
Build a run
Stop relying on luck around predators.
Join the mailing list
Guides, checklists, and updates as the site grows.
Most important upgrade: space. If you can only do one thing, make the run bigger.