Eggs come first as chickens take on our gardens

Pet shops and garden centres now stock chicken feed while the demand for poultry is rising. Photo: Angela Hampton photos/Alamy

They are more close living evolutionary link of the planet to Tyrannosaurus rex and contribute significantly to our national diet, but now the humble chicken comes into its own in Britain as the productive animal of choice.

What began several years ago as a tendency among urban dwellers with large gardens exploded today in an entire industry, experts say. Pet shops and garden centers stock chicken feed, while poultry producers are scrambling to meet the demand for the birds. Dozens of manufacturers are churning with hen coops each shape and size - and for all budgets. Highgrove shop stocks a pale blue portable wood chicken coop of Prince Charles for ￡3,750.

This weekend South of England show in Ardingly, West Sussex, the largest annual agricultural event in the Southeast, took poultry as its theme in response to what the organisers called "an incredible resurgence in the popularity of keeping poultry.

And it is not only the chickens, but ducks, too. "" Much of it is the scandal of the horsemeat: people want to just be more connected to their food, "said Paula Seager show of."

Sylvia Brown, running the lovers of Arun Valley poultry stall, said: "there is a real rush for people to enter farming and breeding chickens." People are impatient. "I think that's because eggs - everyone wants to really a bit of autonomy, and you cannot keep a cow in your back garden."

Lou Aplin, visiting the exhibition of Rustington, West Sussex, said: "my husband bought another bike, and I said, ?well, I have chickens.?? This is what brought me here. They lay eggs, they are friendly, I do not see anything better. If people complain of the noise, I think they are stupid. I heard rather a cock than a Seagull. I really caught the virus".

Next week sees the publication of the last book in series River Cottage of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. Title of chicken eggs & is a guide step by step for beginners, written by Mark Diacono.

Poultry expert Andy Marshall written Journal of the Poultryman in practical poultry, Top sales by several British magazines devoted to the subject. "The henhouse is now somewhat an add-on essential for all gardens," he said. "More people are trying to [keep the hens] and more people would like to do." We note that many schools are starting to get involved, and there is a huge revival of interest in pure-bred.

"I think that what we have is a generation of people who are totally disconnected from the campaign. And then they have children and want to create a link to the top again.

"All this enthusiasm is wonderful, but we do not have many people who buy birds which do not have the slightest idea, and I am concerned for the welfare of all birds sold out there. Company our love a quick solution, and while chickens are very easy to take care of and eggs from pleasure, they need to be fed and cared for, so a bit of basic research before you rush and buy your chicken coop and your pools of four. Very large number of poultry clubs arose, and they offer courses in the basics. ?

Marshall was very specific about the amount of space that the poultry must: "four feet square per chicken."

With the sector of agriculture, struck by a terrible weather and high cost of food, this trend in feathers of the keeping of poultry DIY help British thrive Chicken breeds.

"With regard to industry, it is massive: you can buy eggs fertilized on eBay and cooperative credit associations in your local Garden Centre,"said Marshall.Poultry has become very large companies. ?

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