A Daily Rhythm That Keeps Hens Thriving

Garden hens are wonderfully hardy creatures, but they repay routine. A few minutes each morning and evening will tell you more about their health than any occasional deep clean. Let them out into a secure run, count them, check the drinker and feeder, and watch how they move. Are they bright-eyed, busy and interested in food? Are their combs a healthy red and their vents clean and dry? If something feels off, act early. Small flocks are quick to show stress, and quick to recover when problems are caught soon.

Dry, Well-Ventilated Housing

Damp is the enemy of hen health. A dry henhouse with good ventilation at high level, above the birds' heads, prevents the respiratory problems and mouldy bedding that come with stale, moist air. Site the house on a raised base or slabs, with a deep layer of dry wood shavings or straw. Avoid a draught at perch height, but never seal the house completely. Allow around 30 centimetres of perch per bird, using a rounded, 5-centimetre-wide timber batten. Nest boxes should be dark, quiet and lined with clean straw — one box for every three or four hens is ample.

Check weekly for red mite in crevices, under perches and around nest boxes. A grey, ash-like dust that smears red when crushed is a warning sign. Clean with a poultry-safe disinfectant, let everything dry thoroughly, and keep bedding fresh. In winter, resist the urge to block every gap; ventilation matters as much as warmth.

Dust Baths, Shade and Space

A dust bath is not a luxury. It is how hens control lice and mites, condition their feathers and relax. Provide a shallow tray or corner filled with dry soil, sand, wood ash and a little diatomaceous earth. Keep it under cover so it stays dry, and refresh it regularly. You will soon see hens queuing up to roll, flick and preen.

Shade is equally important, especially in a changing UK climate. Plant trees or shrubs, rig up shade cloth, or lean pallets against a fence to create cool corners. Water should be in the shade and refreshed at least twice daily in hot weather; a frozen bottle in the drinker helps on the hottest afternoons. Allow at least one square metre per bird in a confined run, and more if you can. Bored hens peck, so add perches, logs, hanging greens and a scatter of mixed corn to keep them busy.

Secure Fencing and Safe Foraging

The fox is patient, strong and most active at dawn and dusk. A secure run needs fencing at least 1.8 metres high, with wire buried 30 centimetres outwards at the base to stop digging. Electric netting can work well for movable pens, but check the charge regularly. Cover the run with netting or a solid roof if foxes or buzzards are a problem in your area. Lock the house at dusk, and never assume a high wall is enough on its own.

Free-ranging is brilliant for hens, but only under supervision. Check your boundaries for gaps, and remove toxic plants such as yew, laurel, foxglove and ragwort. Hens will scratch through fallen leaves and manure, turning it into wonderful compost. Give them a dust bath and a shady shelter in the run so they can retreat when they have had enough.

Daily Checks and Balanced Feed

Start the day with layers' pellets and fresh water. Pellets should make up the bulk of the diet, with a small afternoon scatter of mixed corn in cold weather. Offer insoluble grit and crushed oyster shell freely; grit helps digestion, while shell supports strong eggshells. Kitchen scraps can supplement, but keep them fresh and modest: leafy greens, cooked vegetables and fruit are fine. Avoid mouldy, salty, fatty or spicy food, and never give avocado, chocolate, caffeine or alcohol.

Watch for bright eyes, a red comb, clean legs and normal droppings. A hen that stands hunched, breathes noisily, has a pale comb or a dirty vent needs isolating and checking. Weigh or handle birds occasionally to spot weight loss. Clean drinkers daily, refresh bedding weekly, and check for mites, lice and scaly leg. If you suspect worms or disease, seek veterinary advice rather than guessing. Balanced feed, clean water and low stress reduce pests and illness in small flocks.

Seasonal Care and Common Pitfalls

Spring brings laying, broodies and red mite; clean nest boxes and check crevices. Summer demands shade, cool water and fly control — damp bedding and dirty vents attract flies, so keep hens clean and dry. Autumn is moulting time, when extra protein and a calm routine help new feathers come through. Winter means mud, so use bark chips or straw paths, keep drinkers ice-free, and ventilate without chilling.

The common pitfalls are overcrowding, dirty water, sudden diet changes and a lack of shade or dust baths. Avoid them and your hens will reward you with eggs, rich manure for the kitchen garden, gentle pest control and endless quiet company. A happy flock is not complicated: dry housing, a good dust bath, shade, secure fencing, daily checks and balanced feed. Get those right, and keeping garden hens becomes one of the most rewarding parts of smallholding life.