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It is common to talk about being a "dog person" or a "cat person", but what about hens? Can you be a hen person?
In fact, hens are not classed officially as pets in Britain, but they are the fourth most popular animal to have at home (in your garden).
This is different from having a big field of hens, because it is small scale, and you look after the hens closely. Some people have only three or four, and others, perhaps fifteen, in a little run.
You can buy hens from a poultry keeper, although it is also common to get hens from charities which rehome hens that have finished laying for big commercial farms. These hens have often lived indoors in big sheds, or even in cages, and when they can no longer lay enough eggs, they would normally be killed for their meat. Volunteers collect some of these hens, and take them to collection points, where they can be given a new home by somebody in their garden.
Many people treat these hens as pets. You can keep them in a little run, or let them out into the garden. The hen will gladly accept treats from you, and follow you around to see what you are doing. If the hen is in a good mood, it will let you pat it!
If you have special plants and flowers in your garden, it is important to protect them from the hens, as the hens do not know that it is wrong to scratch these up when they look for food.
What are the advantages of hens? The eggs, of course, but also the hens are inquistive and friendly animals. Unlike a dog, they will never wake you up when they want out at night, because they live in their own little house in the garden.
It is important too to make sure that the house is safe from badgers and foxes, especially in the winter, when food is short.
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