It started, as so many family stories do, with a child who simply wouldn’t let it go. Caspian had decided he wanted chickens. Not as a passing phase or a fleeting birthday idea, but with a quiet, unwavering determination that slowly reshaped the household.
“He just kept coming back to it,” his mum Emily says. “I did secretly think he might change his mind and ask for a bike instead. But he never wavered.” So he got to work. Pocket money was saved, birthday presents were redirected and small jobs around the house suddenly had a new purpose. “He asked for money instead of presents so he could put it towards a coop and chickens,” Emily says. “He didn’t quite get to the chickens themselves at that point, but he saved enough for a coop and run. It showed us how serious he was.” The family went to a local poultry farm “just to look”… and came home with four chickens.
“We went for two Silkies,” Emily laughs. “Then they mentioned they had a couple of Warrens already laying, and it suddenly felt like we might as well.” From there, things escalated quickly. At a local agricultural show, Caspian spotted a Polish bantam and spent his pocket money on the spot. “Other children had sweets and toys,” Emily says. “He came out with a chicken.” That bird became Henny Penny – and the flock officially became a family fixture.
The love for chickens didn’t stop with Caspian. His sister Romy was just 13 months old when the first hens arrived, and Emily says she was drawn to them immediately. “Since having the chickens, it’s naturally become part of Romy’s daily routine,” she explains. “She just goes out to them.”
Over time, those small visits turned into habits – feeding, checking and learning how to care for them gently. “It’s never felt forced,” Emily says. “She’s just picked it up naturally and enjoys being involved.”
For her fourth birthday, Romy got her own flock and her own Eglu Go Up. “It felt like the natural next step,” Emily says. “She already spent so much time with them.” Now the garden holds two overlapping worlds – Caspian’s original flock and Romy’s growing group, all part of the same daily rhythm.
Caspian still leads much of it, often getting to the coop before anyone else. “I’d go down to let them out and he’d already be there,” Emily says. “Just sitting with them.” And while the flock has grown, Emily insists it’s all been surprisingly simple. “Much easier than rabbits or guinea pigs,” she says. “Once you have a routine, it just becomes part of life.”
What started with one determined child has become something much bigger – a family rhythm shaped by early mornings, muddy footprints and a flock of chickens that quietly took over the garden.
If you’ve spent any time on YouTube or Instagram recently, chances are you’ve stumbled across Jude Harper – better known online as Rewilding Jude – building raised beds in the rain, repurposing old junk into something useful, or chatting to his chickens while standing ankle-deep in compost.
What started as a personal project after a huge life change has quietly grown into an online community of people craving slower living, muddy boots, fresh air and a reminder that life doesn’t have to move at full speed all the time.
After losing both his parents in 2022, Jude left behind a life that no longer felt right, packed up his things and moved to a fixer-upper in rural Scotland. No countryside experience or grand masterplan, just a gut feeling that something needed to change. Somewhere between building a wonky chicken coop, growing vegetables in reused containers and rescuing ex-commercial hens, things slowly started to click into place. “I sort of felt like I didn’t have a purpose anymore. And this has really helped with that.”
Jude didn’t exactly set out to become a chicken person.
In fact, he originally built his enormous DIY coop as a way to learn basic construction skills. “I thought, ‘It’s probably better to start with a chicken coop than a wall in the house,’ because if it’s wonky, it doesn’t really matter,” he laughs. Three months later – after battling Scottish weather, uneven ground and a steep learning curve – the coop was finally finished. “So I thought… I should probably put some chickens in it now.”
Enter Bossy, Scraggy, Prison Chicken and Hennifer Saunders – four rescued hens from the British Hen Welfare Trust who quickly became the stars of both Jude’s garden and his social media channels.
“I had no idea what good pets chickens are,” he says. “They’re such little characters, and are way more useful than my cat. The cat just brings me rodents.”
Chicken therapy is real
For Jude, chicken keeping became something much bigger than fresh eggs. Like many people taking on a renovation project, he found himself overwhelmed by stress,but the chickens changed something. “If everything’s getting a bit too much, I’ll just go and give the chickens treats and watch them jump around. They don’t really have much to worry about, and it puts things into perspective.”
There’s something about chickens that forces you to slow down. Watching them scratch through leaves, follow you around the garden or inspect absolutely everything you’re doing has a grounding effect that’s difficult to explain until you’ve experienced it yourself.
“They’re so interested in everything,” Jude says. “If I’m outside doing something, they want to be involved.”
And while the internet often romanticises “escaping to the countryside”, Jude is refreshingly honest about the reality of it all. It isn’t perfect or polished – sometimes your well runs dry, sometimes your coop goes mouldy and sometimes your chickens escape into the neighbour’s garden.
Healing through growing
Long before the chickens arrived, gardening was already helping Jude process grief. He started small – growing vegetables in containers on a tiny patio after his parents passed away.“It sounds cliché, but getting your hands in the soil really does make you feel better.” Watching things grow became a quiet form of therapy, it was a reason to get outside and a reminder that things change slowly.
“The joy I’d get from waking up and seeing what had changed overnight in the garden… it really helped.”
That connection to nature eventually snowballed into composting, growing food, building things by hand and documenting the entire process online. In many ways, it became a way for Jude to stay connected to his parents too. “I think I’ve absorbed all of their hobbies,” he says. “If my mum could see how much I’ve turned into my dad, she’d probably be rolling her eyes.”
“If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not making anything.”
One of the most refreshing things about Jude’s outlook is that he doesn’t pretend to have everything figured out and that’s exactly why his content resonates.
“There’s this idea online that if you can’t do sustainability perfectly, there’s no point trying at all,” he says. “But small things really do add up.”
For Jude, that might mean composting food scraps, reusing old materials, growing some vegetables, or simply making fewer supermarket trips. It’s not about doing everything. It’s about doing something.
“I think the skill I do have is not being afraid to be bad at something.” It’s a sentence that perfectly sums up both his online success and the reason so many people connect with his videos. Watching someone honestly muddle through, make mistakes and keep going anyway feels reassuring in a world obsessed with perfection.
Start small, start messy
So what advice would Jude give someone dreaming of a slower life, chickens, vegetable patches or simply feeling more connected to the world around them?
“Don’t try and do everything all at once.”
Jude had already been living in Scotland for over a year when he got chickens. Before that came composting, gardening and learning basic skills one step at a time. And crucially – accepting that you’ll probably be a bit rubbish at first.
“No one’s perfect the first time around. You just have to get past being bad at it.”
Jude’s advice is refreshingly simple:
Start small
Grow one thing
Build one thing
Try one thing.
Because somewhere between the compost piles, the wonky DIY projects and four rescued hens, Jude built himself a whole new life – one that’s inspired thousands of people to slow down, get outside and realise you don’t need to have everything figured out to start.
You can follow Jude’s renovation and gardening journey on both his Youtube and Instagram channels.
There’s something deeply satisfying about collecting a warm egg from the nesting box, stepping into your garden and building a meal from ingredients you grew yourself.
For Toni Farmer – sustainable agriculture professor, science-led gardening educator, and long-time chicken keeper – this isn’t a trend. It’s a return of how we used to do things.
“We need to stop thinking of chickens as the cheapest way to get eggs,” she says.“You’re not saving money. You’re investing in food security.”
Toni has a name for the way she lives: the backyard supermarket. It’s exactly what it sounds like. Out of spinach? Pick it. Need herbs? Snip them. Breakfast? The eggs are already there.
“Yesterday, I wanted spinach for dinner. We were out in the fridge, but I had it growing in the garden,” she explains. “I didn’t have to drive to the supermarket, waste petrol, or buy more than I needed.” Instead, she stepped outside, picked exactly what she needed and got on with her day. “It makes you wonder why we ever moved away from this.”
For Toni, this isn’t about perfection or self-sufficiency extremes. It’s about something simpler: eating well, wasting less and reconnecting with where food actually comes from.
It often starts with chickens
For many people, including Toni, chickens are the gateway. After reading about the horrors of the commercial egg industry, she made a snap decision. “I went to my husband and said, ‘We’re building a coop this weekend.” And that’s exactly what they did. Seventeen years later, she’s still keeping chickens – and still finds joy in the smallest moments. “There is nothing like walking into your garden and picking up warm eggs. It feels like a magic trick.” Her current flock? Named after queens from Game of Thrones.
What makes Toni’s setup so powerful isn’t just the eggs or the veggies – it’s how everything connects. Chicken bedding doesn’t go to waste – it becomes compost. That compost feeds the garden, and the garden feeds the household. “It’s a really good three step cycle,” she says. The result is less food waste, healthier soil and a system that largely sustains itself.
If the idea of growing your own food feels overwhelming, Toni’s advice is simple: “Just start.” Not with a full garden overhaul, not with perfection, but with one small bed. “Make it about 32 square feet. Grow what you usually buy – tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce.” And accept that things will go wrong. “If your plants die or bugs eat everything, you have not failed. You’re just at the beginning of your learning curve.”
If you’re not sure where to begin, Toni recommends starting with:
Peas – fast-growing, low maintenance and beginner friendly
Raspberries – expensive to buy, surprisingly easy to grow and come back every year
“Within two years, you’ll have so many raspberries you can’t believe you ever paid for them.”
One of Toni’s most refreshing ideas is the community flock.
One of the biggest barriers to keeping chickens is people thinking they won’t suit their lifestyle. Holidays. Busy schedules. Costs. Her solution? Share the load. “One household keeps the coop. Others contribute to food or costs. Everyone shares the eggs.“If I told my neighbours I was going on holiday tomorrow, I’d get 20 offers to help,” she says. “Mostly because they want the eggs.”
For Toni, this shift back to growing your own isn’t nostalgic – it’s necessary.“Climate change is coming for our food,” she says. “It’s probably time we learned these skills.”
But beyond resilience, there’s something else. Joy. The joy of stepping outside instead of driving to the store. The joy of cooking with ingredients you grew yourself. The joy of knowing exactly where your food came from. And of course, the joy of a warm egg in your hand and spending quality time with your flock.
If there’s one message Toni wants people to take away, it’s this:
“Don’t give up after your first failures, give it time and within a few years, you’ll know so much you can start teaching other people.”
Four-year-old Romy doesn’t just have chickens – she’s the ultimate mini chicken boss. She manages them, feeds them, cleans up after them and is very firm on the fact that they “poo a lot.”
For her fourth birthday, Romy received her very own Omlet Eglu Go Up chicken coop and five chicks, which she immediately accepted as her official workload. We were so excited to find out how the flock have been doing so far – and she had plenty to say!
What did you get for your 4th birthday?
“I got a coop. I’m lucky! I got the coop! And 5 chicks! It’s green and white and has a green cover to protect the chickens from the rain & a door I can open & shut so they can go in the yard!”
What did you name your chickens? What are they like?
“My new chickens are called Hetty, Plant, Sandy, Pingu and Ginger. Some are frizzles because they have sticky-out feathers. Pingu has browny-black feathers & Sandy is yellow. Their mommies are Karen & Blossom, white Polish bantams in our yard. The chicks make noise if I leave them. I think we have two roosters because they are jumpy.”
What are your daily chores to help look after the chickens?
“I feed them, fill their water and feed them happiness. I help mommy poo pick the big coop, I help clean out the brooder coop. I have a little spoon to poo pick the chick coop. They poo a lot. I have to pick out their poo so they don’t eat it.”
What do you love most about the chickens?
“Hmm… because they’re funny. I love playing around in the garden with them. They follow me because they think I’m going to dig the worms. I love my new chicks too. They are so fluffy. They will be big chickens soon I can’t wait!”
Where do the chickens live?
“The chicks live in the brooder coop to keep them warm, but they will live in my new Omlet chicken coop soon. The big chickens live in mummy’s coop, but they are Caspian’s chickens really! I just have Gloria & Pickle. They all snuggle up together.”
What do you think of their new Omlet coop?
“Good! I love it so, so, so much! It’s so cosy and it has a door you can open and shut, and a nest so they can lay eggs. My coop makes me happy because it’s like my mummy’s but a bit smaller so I can clean it myself.”
Do you have a favourite chicken and why?
“Wolfie! Wolfie is my favourite. She is a Copper Maran. I love her because she’s so naughty. She makes me so happy and she makes me laugh. She jumps on me if I sit down. I hatched her from an egg.”
Do you collect the eggs? What do you do with them?
“Yes, I do. If I have a broody hen, I have to try and get the eggs if they let me. They don’t peck me though. I sometimes give them to my teachers and my grandma and grandpa. I like scrambled eggs and bacon and eggs and egg bites. Mommy makes cakes sometimes.”
We’re looking forward to catching up with Romy again soon – we’ll be sure to share the updates.
Erica grew up on a farm in Colombia, where caring for animals was part of daily life from a very young age. One chicken in particular ended up shaping the course of her life – a meat bird she named Chiquita. Originally bought at a local market with the intention of being raised for food, she quickly became a companion for Erica. After persistent pleading, her father agreed to spare her life. Erica reflects that this experience changed her entire perspective on animals: “Chiquita ultimately taught me the important lesson that ‘livestock’ holds far more value than simply being meant for a plate.”
That bond stayed with her long after childhood. She explains that being exposed so young to the idea of chickens as “nothing more than a food source” is exactly what later made her question it. “I knew for a very long time that I wanted chickens on my own terms – as pets – once I was old enough.” She adds, “Chiquita helped shape my mindset as a child, and that deep empathy followed me into adulthood.”
After high school, Erica joined the U.S. Army. Military life meant constant relocation and living on base, which made it impossible to keep animals. Still, she says the idea of chickens never left her and remained something she carried with her quietly through those years.
It wasn’t until Erica left the military and settled in St. Louis with her husband that things finally shifted. With stability and space, she was able to turn a long held dream into reality: a home where she could keep chickens.“The dream of having chickens on my terms was finally going to become reality,” she says. That moment became the beginning of what would grow into Second-Hen’d, a non-profit dedicated to rescuing and rehoming ex-commercial egg laying hens.
As she learned more about so-called “spent” hens (hens are often disposed of after 1-2 years when they no longer produce eggs, despite being able to live up to 10 years if properly cared for) her purpose deepened further. Since founding the organisation in 2016, she describes the biggest change in her life as internal: “Waking up every single day with a feeling of purpose.” She is also open about her past struggles: “The ‘before’ was incredibly difficult. There were days I simply couldn’t get out of bed or function at all no matter what.” What changed, she says, is responsibility and connection: “Knowing these sweet souls need me to continue saving them and educating others while telling their stories is what keeps me going.”
For Erica, the most powerful part of rescue work is watching transformation unfold. “There are so many rewarding aspects of saving and re-homing ‘spent’ hens (especially the glow ups!),” she says, but what stands out most is when the personalities emerge for the first time. She describes the hens that arrive as “scared and confused empty shells” who have never experienced open space, sunlight, or freedom. What follows is a gradual unfolding of behaviour and identity: “their first scuffles as they work out the new concept of a pecking order, their first nest building, their first attempts at ‘flying,’ their first explorations – and just ‘learning how to chicken!”.
To date, Second Hen’d has saved 1065 hens. To find out more about Erica’s work, head over to the Second Hen’d website.
When asked to complete the sentence “My life is better #BecauseOfTheChicken because…”, Erica simply says:“They are why I found renewed meaning in existence.”
Over in Washington State, USA, Venise Cunningham’s chickens aren’t just part of the farm – they’re part of the bar.
It began with “a teeny, tiny chicken coop” and five Rhode Island Reds at Venise’s first house by the river, and her family’s first time trying out chickens. Twelve years on, the flock has evolved. Most recently, her seven year old son decided he wanted to hatch eggs so they borrowed an incubator, sourced fertile eggs from local farmers and tried their luck. “Humidity and temperature is kind of hard here,” she says. “But we got seven to hatch!”
Today, the chickens roam, scratch, fertilise – and the hens lay eggs that find their way into the cocktail shaker of Simple Goodness Sisters drinks business.
Venise is the grower. She cultivates the herbs, edible flowers and fruit that shape the flavours of Simple Goodness Sisters, the business she runs with her sister Belinda. Belinda is the cocktail maker. Before setting up their cocktail syrup business, the sisters worked in downtown Seattle and Bellevue for tech companies, planning large scale events. It was there they spotted the gap.
“There’s a lot of attention on farm to table,” Venise says, “but not a lot of attention goes to the glass.” So they built what she calls “a whole cocktail farm.”
The syrups anchored drinks at their restaurant and at events across the region – including the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival in Seattle (where we met the sisters who also had a booth there) where they were mixing the introductory cocktails for the afternoon speakers.
When Venise is making a blueberry lavender syrup, she’ll use 100 pounds of blueberries bought directly from a neighbouring farm. The juice is pressed and bottled. And this is where the chickens come into play. The hens aren’t a novelty – they’re integrated. Because once 100 pounds of blueberries have given up their juice, Venise is left with skins and flesh still full of value.
“All of the juice comes out of the blueberries, but you still have all the skin and the flesh,” she says. “I’m still pulling a lot of really good ingredients out of the syrup kettle.”
In their book, she and Belinda call the philosophy “whole animal bartending” – the cocktail equivalent of nose-to-tail cooking. Use everything. Waste nothing. Some fruit leftovers become shrubs. Some are dehydrated and ground into sugar rimmers. And when they’ve taken it as far as they can, the rest heads back outside.
“It goes to the farm, and it becomes chicken food… then it goes into my compost, and then it turns into compost, and then I put it in my garden bed – it never goes into the dumpster.”
That circular thinking extends beyond the bar. Watching how thoroughly the chickens scratch through pasture sparked another idea: “Can they weed for me?” Venise built a temporary structure over her raised beds so the flock could claw through weeds before planting season.“In a couple of weeks, all of my beds are weeded,” she says.
And it’s not just weeding – “they’re adding the fertiliser… it’s all really great for the soil.” For Venise, this is the heart of farming. “That’s the part of farming that I love the most – getting really creative.” The Herb Garden Sour cocktail also involves the flock – it uses the egg whites from the flock’s eggs for its foamy and bubbly texture.
Why not give The Simple Goodness Fizz cocktail a go?
20ml ounce lemon juice, or a mix of lemon and lime juice, fresh squeezed
20ml Simple Syrup
15ml (or about 1 large) egg white or aquafaba (chickpea water) as a vegan/allergen substitute
1 scoop of 3 large cubes ice
Garnish of choice
Directions: In a cocktail shaker, add all ingredients but no ice. Firmly cap the shaker and do a dry shake of all ingredients for 1 minute (it’s a work out!). Gently, so as not to kill the foam, add a big scoop of ice to the shaker and then shake vigorously for another 30 seconds. Strain the drink into a coupe or stemmed wine glass. Some foam will come through and settle to the top. Capture the extra foam that has clung to the sides of the shaker by “rinsing” the shaker with just 25ml of club soda, swirling it to catch the foam and then straining it onto the top of the drink. If done correctly, there will be a solid line of silky foam ½ inch thick at the top of the glass, and a bright, transparent liquid layer of cocktail below. Find the full recipe and more over on the Simple Goodness Sisters website.
From coop to cocktail foam, from spent berries to chicken feed to compost to soil, the system runs in a tight circle.
The farm grows the flavours. The bar shakes the drinks. The chickens keep it moving. And as Venise puts it, nothing “ever goes into the dumpster.”You can find out more about the farm, the cocktails, and the book the sisters have written ‘Drink Your Garden’ on the Simple Goodness Sisters website.
Connie didn’t just get chickens, she discovered a whole new way of life.
What started as a practical decision (fresh eggs, better compost, a more productive garden) quickly became something far more immersive. These days, her Melbourne backyard isn’t just a garden – it’s a place of routine, entertainment, community and occasionally, a carefully timed feather trim.
“I love hearing them in the background,” she says. “It makes me feel like I’m living on a farm, even though I’m in Melbourne.”
One of Connie’s favourite memories is looking after Luna, her Araucana, who needed regular trims to keep the feathers out of her eyes.“I’d wrap her in my arms and use pet grooming scissors to give her a little haircut,” she says. What started as a simple task became a quiet ritual – a moment of trust and care between keeper and chicken.
Connie’s current flock – Berry, Chickpea, Daisy, Olive, Goldie and Poppy – bring plenty of personality (and a bit of chaos) to the garden.
One of the biggest surprises for Connie? How much she loves observing the flock. “I could watch them for ages,” Connie says. “They’re like TV.” What started as a quick daily check has turned into a full blown habit – rain or shine. Whether it’s dramatic pecking order politics, post egg victory songs, or general garden chaos, there’s always something going on. “I go out there every day now,” she says. “Even when I wouldn’t normally.”
Keeping chickens hasn’t just changed Connie’s routine – it’s changed how she sees the world around her.
“Looking after chickens has taught me so much about birds in general,” she explains. “I notice wild birds more now, and I care about them more too.” It’s also shaped how she lives day to day. Weeds are fed back to the flock, eggshells are crushed for calcium and chicken waste becomes compost for the garden. What started as a hobby has become a more circular way of living.
The chickens have also brought the local community closer together. Connie started a group chat with other chicken keepers nearby to share advice, swap tips and help each other out. “People are always surprised by the different egg colours,” she says. “I love talking about breeds with them.”
It hasn’t all been easy. Connie has lost two hens this year, Luna and Zinnia, and the experience has been difficult. But it’s also deepened her understanding of what it means to care for animals. “While it has been terribly sad, it’s only because of all the joy and love I experienced raising them,” she reflects.
Thinking of getting chickens?
Connie’s advice is simple: start by seeing it for yourself. Visit local chicken keepers, learn from their setups, and invest in tools that make life easier, like automatic feeders and waterers. Always make sure your coop and run are secure. And one final tip?“Get a bigger coop than you think you need,” she says. “You’ll probably end up with more chickens than you planned – chicken maths is hard to resist.”
We asked Connie to finish the sentence… My life is better #BecauseOfTheChicken “…because of all the times they’ve made me chuckle with their funny antics.” (Photography credit: Connie Cao / @connieandluna)
It only took one message – and a very efficient brother-in-law.
Hannah is the next chicken keeper in our series “How Chickens Changed My Life.”
After spending time around her boyfriend’s parents’ chickens and visiting a café where hens wandered freely, Hannah floated the idea of getting some of her own in the family group chat. By the next day, five bantam chickens and a coop arrived on her doorstep, courtesy of her brother-in-law.
“I instantly fell in love with them.”
That moment marked the beginning of what has since become a full, thriving flock. Today, Hannah keeps eight chickens, including three chicks she hatched herself over the summer. Each has its own personality, but together they form a lively, ever-moving part of her daily routine.
Her hens – Nugget, Winnie, Eggatha and Henrietta – are, as Hannah describes them, “lovely happy girls.” Dave the rooster keeps a careful watch over the group while Nutty lives up to her name. “She literally runs around like a headless chicken.”
What started as a simple addition to the garden has quietly reshaped how Hannah spends her time.
With chickens to care for, the outdoors has become part of her everyday rhythm rather than something reserved for weekends or spare moments. “I have always been a lover of the countryside and the outdoors but now this gives me a reason to get outside, potter about and enjoy nature without feeling like I’m not doing anything productive.”
There’s a slower pace that comes with it – small, familiar tasks and daily routines that bring a sense of calm and continuity. “It has inspired me and brought me so much happiness, I didn’t realise what I was missing and now I’ve found something that brings me endless joy.”
Alongside that enjoyment has come a subtle shift in perspective. Caring for animals day to day naturally builds patience, consistency and an appreciation for things that develop over time. “The best things in life don’t happen instantly, and material things aren’t the key to happiness or a measure of success.”
As her time outdoors increased, so did her interests beyond the coop.
That time spent outdoors has had a ripple effect, gradually expanding from the coop into the wider garden and into new, hands-on ways of living.“It started with 5 chickens and as I was spending more time outside, I started pottering in the garden and fell in love with gardening, which then led me to want to start growing my own vegetables and now I even bake my own bread!”
Sharing her journey has also connected her with a wider community.
Through her online presence, Hannah has found herself part of a wider network of like-minded people, with opportunities to connect beyond her immediate surroundings. “It has opened opportunities for me, I was kindly invited to an Omlet event, and loved meeting lots of other like minded people who are also creators too!”
But among all the day-to-day moments, one stands out clearly. “My favourite chicken related memory has got to be the day my chicks hatched… It was so adorable.”
For anyone considering starting their own flock, Hannah’s advice is reassuringly simple. “You don’t need heaps of space, just a good coop and a couple of hens and you’re good to go! You can learn everything about chickens as you go.”
We asked Hannah to finish this sentence: “My life is better #BecauseOfTheChicken… “ It’s brought me a whole new meaning to life.”
Chickens are naturally curious foragers, and their diet plays a significant role in their health, happiness, and productivity. At the heart of a balanced chicken diet is a high-quality layer pellet, which provides a carefully formulated mix of grains, protein, and essential vitamins. While chickens can enjoy a variety of treats such as grapes, bananas, tomatoes, and apples, it is important to ensure these extras are given in moderation. Overindulging in treats can disrupt the nutritional balance they need. Additionally, chickens require grit in their diet to help them digest food properly, supporting their overall well-being.
What to feed chickens?
Feeding chickens starts with understanding their basic nutritional needs. The primary food for laying hens should be layer pellets, which are designed to meet the daily requirements for protein, vitamins, and minerals. These nutrients are crucial for maintaining energy, supporting immune function, and ensuring consistent egg production. If you’re interested in making your own chicken feed, we have some advice on our guide to help you with this.
Layer pellets and chicken feed
Layer pellets are the gold standard for laying hens. As a guideline, each chicken should receive around 120g of pellets per day. These pellets contain a balanced blend of grains, proteins, and essential nutrients, ensuring your flock gets everything they need for optimal health and egg laying. If you are interested in maximizing your hens’ egg production, you may want to read our article on 8 ways to make your chickens lay more eggs.
Generic chicken feed, which often includes a variety of grains such as corn, wheat, and barley, can also be used. These feeds provide a good source of energy and can be alternated with layer pellets. However, always ensure that the feed you choose is appropriate for the age and purpose of your chickens, as chicks, growers, and layers have different nutritional needs.
The importance of grit
Chickens do not have teeth, so they rely on grit, small stones or insoluble particles, to help grind down food in their gizzard. Without grit, chickens may struggle to digest their food properly, which can lead to digestive issues and poor nutrient absorption. Grit should be made available at all times, especially if your chickens are not free-ranging on soil where they can naturally find it.
Feeding equipment
Investing in a reliable chicken feeder is an effective way to manage your flock’s diet. A well-designed feeder, such as the Omlet No Waste Feeders, helps you easily monitor feed levels, minimises waste, and keeps food clean and dry. Choosing the right feeder can make daily care simpler and more efficient for both you and your chickens.
Can chickens eat grapes?
Grapes are a popular treat among backyard chickens, but they should only be offered in moderation. Grapes are high in sugar, which can lead to health issues if consumed in excess. Additionally, whole grapes can be a choking hazard, especially for smaller birds.
To safely feed grapes to your chickens, chop them into small pieces or crush them into a mash. This not only makes them easier to eat but also helps prevent blockages and reduces the risk of sour crop, a digestive condition that can occur when food gets stuck in the crop.
Grapes are rich in vitamins C and K, calcium, potassium, and antioxidants, making them a nutritious occasional treat. Always wash grapes thoroughly to remove any pesticides or chemicals, and never feed mouldy grapes, as these can be toxic.
Can chickens eat bananas?
Bananas, including their peels, are safe for chickens when given in moderation. Bananas are packed with nutrients such as potassium, vitamins A, B6, and C, fibre, iron, and magnesium. However, their high sugar content means they should only be an occasional treat.
You can serve bananas whole, sliced, or mashed. Hanging a whole banana in the run can provide entertainment as well as nutrition, encouraging natural pecking behaviour. For a standard chicken, a golf-ball sized serving is sufficient.
Banana peels are also edible for chickens, though some may be less interested in them. If you choose to offer peels, make sure they are clean and free from pesticides.
For distributing treats evenly among your flock, consider using a Caddi Treat Holder, which can help prevent squabbles and ensure all your chickens get a fair share.
Can chickens eat tomatoes?
Tomatoes are another treat that chickens enjoy, but some precautions are necessary. Only feed ripe, red tomatoes, and always remove the green parts, including stems and leaves. These green parts contain solanine, a compound that is toxic to poultry. Green tomatoes should also be avoided for the same reason.
Ripe tomatoes are a good source of vitamins C and K, as well as antioxidants. Wash tomatoes thoroughly to remove any dirt or pesticides, and chop them into small pieces to make them easier for chickens to eat.
If you grow tomatoes or other potentially harmful plants in your garden, use chicken fencing to keep your flock away from these areas. This helps protect both your chickens and your plants.
Can chickens eat apples?
Apples are a sweet and crunchy treat that most chickens love. However, always remove the seeds and core before feeding apples to your flock, as apple seeds contain cyanide, which is harmful to chickens. Chop apples into small, manageable pieces to aid digestion and reduce the risk of choking.
Due to their high sugar and fibre content, apples should be offered in moderation. Avoid giving chickens any rotten or mouldy fruit, as this can cause digestive upset or illness.
Can chickens eat mealworms?
Mealworms are a favourite treat for chickens, and are valued for their high protein content. Protein is essential for feather growth, particularly after a moult, and supports healthy egg production. If you are looking for guidance around supporting your chickens during moulting, you may find our article on how to help your chickens through a moult useful.
Mealworms are also high in fat, so moderation is important. Too many mealworms can lead to weight gain and other health problems. Mealworms can be used as a training tool, as chickens are highly motivated by this treat. Scattering mealworms in the run encourages natural foraging and digging behaviour, which is both mentally and physically stimulating for your flock.
Our peck toys are perfect for mealworms as they make eating fun, as well as slowing down how quickly they are dispensed which reduces mess on the ground.
Can chickens eat hay?
Hay, especially nutrient-rich types like alfalfa, can be a beneficial addition to your chickens’ diet. Hay provides fibre, minerals, and entertainment, as chickens enjoy scratching at hay bales in search of bugs and seeds. A hay bale is also a fantastic source of enrichment, giving your flock the opportunity to rip it apart, forage, and stay busy throughout the day. It can also help insulate the coop during colder months.
Hay should be offered as an occasional treat or to encourage foraging. Too much Timothy hay can lead to impacted crop, a condition where food becomes stuck and cannot pass through the digestive system. If you notice signs of impacted crop, stop offering hay and consult a poultry expert. Always ensure hay is clean and dust-free to prevent respiratory issues.
How to serve treats safely
When offering treats to your chickens, preparation is key. Always chop treats into bite-sized pieces to prevent choking and make them easier to digest. Remove any parts that could be harmful, such as apple seeds or tomato stems. Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly to remove pesticides and dirt.
Treats should never make up more than ten percent of your chickens’ overall diet. The majority of their nutrition should come from a balanced layer feed, which is formulated to meet all their dietary needs.
Monitoring your chickens’ diet
Keeping an eye on what your chickens eat is essential for their health. Too many treats can lead to obesity, reduced egg production, and other health issues. Using a smart chicken feeder can help you track how much your flock is eating and ensure they always have access to fresh, clean food.
If you notice changes in your chickens’ behaviour, appetite, or egg production, review their diet and make adjustments as needed. Sometimes, a simple change in feeding routine or treat frequency can make a big difference.
Enrichment and feeding products
Providing enrichment is just as important as nutrition. Products like theTreat Caddi, Peck Toys, and Smart Feeder not only make feeding easier but also keep your chickens entertained and engaged, as well keeping the floor clean which in turn prevents pests. These tools help distribute treats evenly, reduce food waste, and encourage natural behaviours like pecking and foraging.
For example, the Treat Caddi can be filled with fruits or vegetables and hung in the run, encouraging chooks to peck and explore. Peck Toys dispense small amounts of food as chickens interact with them, providing both mental and physical stimulation. The Smart Feeder allows you to monitor feed levels and reduce spillage, ensuring your flock always has access to the nutrition they need.
Key takeaways
Chickens need a diet consisting mainly of layer feed to get essential vitamins and minerals
Occasional treats can include grapes, bananas, tomatoes, apples, mealworms, and hay
All treats should be served in moderation to maintain a balanced diet
Chop treats into bite-sized pieces to avoid choking and aid digestion
Remove any harmful parts, such as apple seeds or tomato stems, before feeding
Grit is essential for proper digestion, especially if chickens are not free-ranging
Use feeding and enrichment products to make feeding easier and more enjoyable for your flock
Omlet and your flock
At Omlet, we understand that keeping chickens is about more than just providing food. It is about creating a happy, healthy environment where your flock can thrive. Our range of products, from smart feeders to enrichment toys, is designed to support you in caring for your chickens every step of the way.
We are passionate about sharing our knowledge and expertise, helping you make informed decisions about your flock’s diet and well-being. Whether you are a seasoned chicken keeper or just starting out, you can count on Omlet for advice, support, and innovative products that make chicken keeping a joy.
For more tips and information, explore our other articles and guides, and discover how Omlet can help you and your flock live your best lives together.
Meet Brittany, the latest chicken keeper featured in our series “How Chickens Changed My Life.” Brittany’s journey into chicken keeping began in 2020, during the early days of the pandemic. She had started a garden and, fueled by a lifelong love of animals, realised chickens were the perfect addition to her backyard homestead. Her hens – Ginny, Nora, Essie, and Millie – are named after her grandmothers, a tribute to family roots and the spirit of nurturing that runs in her family.
“Ginny and Essie are spirited, Nora is skittish, and Millie falls somewhere in between.”
Life with chickens quickly reshaped Brittany’s daily routine. Without an automatic coop door, she rises with the sun to let the flock out, a commitment that has brought unexpected rewards. “I HAVE to get up, and as a result, I’ve caught some beautiful sunrises because of them.”
One of the first milestones that truly captured Brittany’s heart was finding her very first egg. “Finding that first little sage green egg was unforgettable,” she says. The tiny egg was the culmination of patience, care and observation, and it remains one of her favourite memories from the past year.
The hens have also provided lessons in patience and mindfulness. Waiting for eggs, tending to their needs and observing their personalities has been a gentle reminder that good things take time – and that nature has its own schedule. “They’ve been a reminder that great things are worth waiting for and to just enjoy the process, no matter how it looks or how long it seems to take.”
Brittany has discovered that her chickens are more than pets, they’re a bridge to community. Sharing knowledge, stories and sometimes eggs with neighbours and friends has fostered new connections, both online and in her neighbourhood. “Being able to expose people to a world they otherwise may not have known about is one of the best parts.”
Her flock has also influenced her approach to gardening, cooking and sustainability. Between composting, growing her own food and considering the impact of her choices on the environment, Brittany has become more thoughtful and deliberate in her daily habits. “Both my chickens and my garden have made me more conscious about what I put on and into my body.”
Brittany’s advice to anyone considering their first flock is simple but profound: do your research, prioritise the health and safety of your chickens and embrace the learning process along the way.
Ultimately, Brittany sees her backyard flock as more than just a hobby – they are a source of joy, connection and self-discovery.
We asked Brittany to finish this sentence: “My life is better #BecauseOfTheChicken… “They’ve brought me closer to myself and my purpose in this world.”
Meet Rebecca, Omlet’s New Product Strategist, who proves that sometimes you don’t choose the chicken life – the chicken life chooses you. It all started fifteen years ago with a chance encounter under a bridge and a very surprised pair of labradors. From that first muddy rescue to now helping shape the future of chicken care at Omlet, see how one Rhode Island Red sparked Rebecca’s lifelong passion. The discovery took place on a country bridle path in the UK, a route Rebecca had walked hundreds of times before with her dogs. But one afternoon, leaning over the stream bridge revealed something unexpected. “Standing by the water was a bright red Rhode Island Red hen,” she remembers.“Not a duck. Not a heron. Definitely not a fish.”
Knowing the local foxes wouldn’t be far behind, a rescue mission was launched. Armed only with a pair of trusty wellingtons and childhood memories of chicken-sitting for neighbours, Rebecca scrambled down the bank. “With a chicken tucked under one arm, I climbed back up, wondering: how exactly do you transport a rescue hen?” The solution? A seating reshuffle in her small blue hatchback: dogs on the back seat, chicken in the boot and a very interesting car ride home.
That “accidental” hen was the start of a 15-year journey for Rebecca and her family. Today, the flock consists of four characterful birds: Trunchbull (named after the Matilda villain for her bossy attitude), Grayling and the Colombian Blacktail duo, Autumn and Copper.
The joy of the flock comes in small, daily wonders. “The colour of the eggs from the black chickens is green, which is quite unusual and always a delight to see,” Rebecca says. Beyond the breakfast table, the chickens have become genuine garden companions. They are famously comical, tilting their heads to “talk” and charging across the grass the moment they hear the food tin shake.
The chickens have even taken over some of the gardening chores. By digging through weedy soil, they turn it into fine, perfectly fertilised earth ready for reuse. “Nothing goes to waste,” Rebecca notes, as the hens also happily manage any leftover vegetables from their garden.
Her practical advice for newcomers? Focus on their natural behaviours. “Chickens love digging and need mental stimulation. If you don’t want them roaming your borders, a Walk In Run is essential with the addition of a Poletree to keep them entertained“. She also shares a pro-tip from her own experience: given the choice between wood chips and soil as the base of their run, her girls will pick the soil side every time.
Rebecca had no idea at the time that things would come full circle and she’d one day be working at Omlet, where chickens are at the heart of everything.
And when we asked Rebecca to finish this sentence, she said: “My life is better #BecauseOfTheChicken because… I’ve always got a fresh egg in the morning and someone to enjoy being in the garden with.”
Meet Kealy from Norfolk, the next chicken keeper in our series “How chickens changed my life.” Having grown up around chickens, Kealy always knew she’d one day have a flock of her own. When the opportunity finally arose last year, she didn’t just find a hobby – she found a source of daily laughter and a brand new community. From garden mirrors to improved soil, see how Kealy’s world has been transformed by her feathered friends.
The journey began with three mixed-breed pullets: Eggsy, Henrietta, and Penny. Each brought a distinct flair to the Norfolk garden. “Eggsy is very much the noisy neighbour of the group,” Kealy says, describing her dominant Rhode Island Red. In contrast, Henrietta remains “wonderfully chilled,” while Penny the Leghorn mix dashes about “as if she’s permanently late for something.” The family grew even further a few months later when Kealy rescued a hen named Karen and her chick, Keith, who has since claimed his title as the resident cockerel.
The most unexpected shift, however, was the emotional bond. “They really have become pets to us, not just animals in the garden,” Kealy explains. “Each one has their own personality, habits, and quirks, and it’s impossible not to get attached.”
The chickens have even turned Kealy into a budding gardener. To boost her flock’s immunity and digestion, she began growing herbs directly in their run, with some help from the experts of course: the chickens themselves have been busy fertilising and improving the ground as they go.
While Kealy was already an outdoorsy person thanks to her three Labradors, the chickens added a new layer of presence to her time outside. “We’ve found ourselves spending even more time outdoors – often just sitting and watching them go about their day,” she notes.
A standout moment of “chicken magic” occurred during a routine coop clean. Kealy had set her phone down, only to find Eggsy captivated by her own reflection in the screen. “That moment inspired me to buy them a mirror,” Kealy says. “Of course, Eggsy was the very first to check it out. She absolutely loved it.”
Beyond the coop, the flock has opened doors to a global network. Through social media, Kealy has connected with a vibrant community of fellow keepers. “It’s amazing how something so simple can connect you with so many like-minded people.”
Kealy’s practical tip for those on the fence? Don’t overthink it. “Just go for it. The benefits go far beyond fresh eggs. Chickens bring joy, calm, connection and a surprising amount of laughter.”
We asked Kealy to finish this sentence: “My life is better #BecauseOfTheChicken… it’s the quiet moments outdoors, the sense of purpose, and a little flock that has become such a big part of our world.”
We’ll be back with more ‘how chickens changed my life’ interviews soon!
Meet Vivian, the first chicken keeper in our new series “How chickens changed my life”. Vivian and her husband always dreamed about keeping chickens and at the end of 2024 timings aligned and they decided to take the leap. From getting better sleep to becoming physically healthier, see how Vivian’s life has been transformed by her chickens or as she would say “it’s nothing less than magical”.
After saying goodbye to their beloved Labrador Lucy in 2023, Vivian and her husband found healing in tending to chickens. “I’d been dreaming about keeping chickens for years,” Vivian says, and when she revisited the idea with her husband at the end of 2024, he was ready too.
Vivian explained that having chickens changed how they move through a day. “My daily routine has changed more than I expected,” Vivian notes.“I used to miss early flights because I wouldn’t hear the alarm. Now I wake with the sun to care for the flock, and I tuck them in at dusk.” The result is a fresh sense of time and better sleep.
Health followed the new rhythm. “Since bringing chickens into our lives, I have become physically much healthier,” she says, adding that chores keep her active, outdoor time increases, and herb-picking for the flock is meditative.
A moment with her favourite chicken Norah Jones deepened Vivian’s view of animals: “There was a moment with her that shifted how I perceive the world. The hen rested on my forearm, eyes closed, a quiet sign of love and trust.”
The flock built community online and offline. Vivian runs @soulbeautifulbirds alongside her fruit-growing @contadinak and connected with others who share the passion. That network helped them rescue two roosters and a hen for a forever home.
Vivian’s practical tip for newcomers: plan the basics. “We underestimated the time projects would take,” she says, “always make sure you have the foundations established before bringing chickens home.”
We asked her to finish this sentence: “My life is better #BecauseOfTheChicken…” because there is now that priceless experience of wonderment.
We’ll be back with more ‘how chickens changed my life’ interviews in the coming weeks, so watch this space.
Cleaning your chicken coop is essential for keeping your flock healthy, happy, and productive. A clean coop prevents the spread of disease, keeps pests like red mites at bay, and reduces stress on your chickens. Regular cleaning also helps protect your flock from respiratory issues and can even improve egg production. Neglecting coop hygiene can quickly lead to health problems and a drop in egg yield, so it’s important to stay on top of your cleaning routine.
Why Is It Important to Clean Your Coop?
Keeps your chickens healthy by cutting down on bacteria and disease
Stops red mites and other pesky parasites from taking over the coop
Shields your flock from respiratory issues caused by ammonia and dust
Boosts egg production by keeping your hens relaxed and happy
Prevents unnecessary stress so your chickens can thrive
How Often to Clean a Chicken Coop
Sticking to a regular cleaning routine is the secret to a happy, healthy flock, especially if you have a wooden coop. With a few simple daily, weekly, and monthly tasks, you’ll keep your coop sparkling and your chickens loving their home. For wooden coops, pay extra attention to corners and crevices where mites and moisture can hide, and check regularly for signs of rot or damage. Giving wooden surfaces a good scrub and letting them dry out fully helps prevent mould and keeps your coop sturdy for years to come.
Daily Tasks
Gather up those fresh eggs
Scoop out any droppings you spot
Give the roosting bars a quick wipe-down
Toss out any soiled bedding
Weekly Tasks
Swap in fresh bedding for the nesting boxes and coop floor
Give waterers and feeders a good clean and disinfect
Sweep out any stray feathers or leftover debris
Monthly Tasks
Take out all the bedding for a proper deep clean
Scrape off every bit of droppings and stubborn dirt
Scrub down every surface with a chicken-safe cleaner
Let the coop dry out completely before adding fresh bedding
If you have a plastic chicken coop, wipe the panels down with a towel to speed up the drying process
Cleaning Chicken Accessories
Keeping your chickens’ accessories sparkling clean is just as important as tidying up the coop itself. Give waterers and feeders a good scrub inside and out on a regular basis, this helps stop bacteria and mould from sneaking in and making your flock sick. Grab a brush to tackle any stubborn bits, and rinse everything well so no cleaning residue is left behind. Covered waterers and enclosed chicken feeders are a smart choice, since they keep dirt, droppings, and bedding from getting into your chickens’ food and water, reducing how often you need to clean them. By keeping feeding and drinking gear fresh and clean, you’ll make sure your chickens always have safe, uncontaminated food and water.
Best Way to Clean a Chicken Coop
The best way to keep your chicken coop clean is to mix a little daily spot cleaning with a weekly tidy-up and a good, deep scrub once a month. Each day, spot clean droppings in the nest box, gather up those fresh eggs, and brush off roosting bars, this keeps things easy and stops mess from piling up. Once a week, give the coop a refresh by swapping in clean bedding, emptying droppings trays, and giving waterers and feeders a thorough wash. When it’s time for your monthly deep clean, take out all the bedding, scrape off any stubborn droppings, and give every surface a scrub with your favourite chicken-safe cleaner.
Don’t forget to pay extra attention to corners, roosting bars and nesting boxes; those sneaky spots love to hide bacteria and pests. After you’ve scrubbed everything down, disinfect well and let the coop dry out completely before adding in fresh bedding. Letting it dry is super important, since leftover moisture in wooden coops can lead to mould and bacteria. If you have a plastic chicken coop, you can easily wipe down the panels with a towel to speed up the drying process. For a little extra peace of mind, sprinkle some diatomaceous earth in the bedding of your wooden coop to help keep mites and other pests away before your chickens move back in.
What to Clean a Chicken Coop With
When it comes to cleaning your wooden chicken coop, choosing the right cleaning products is important for both the health of your flock and the longevity of your coop. Natural cleaners are a popular choice, with a simple 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water being both safe and effective for most cleaning tasks. Vinegar naturally cuts through grime and helps neutralise odours without leaving behind harmful residues. For tougher jobs, especially during your monthly deep clean, you might opt for a commercial disinfectant designed specifically for animal housing, just be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and rinse thoroughly. Scrub brushes are essential for loosening dried droppings and dirt, while a hose can help rinse away debris and cleaner from surfaces. For a fresh-smelling coop, consider adding citrus peels to your cleaning solution; they not only help mask odours but can also provide a mild antibacterial effect.
Key Takeaways
Clean your chicken coop regularly to keep your flock healthy and productive.
Follow a daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning schedule for best results.
Use natural cleaners like vinegar and water for safe, effective cleaning.
Deep clean monthly and allow the coop to dry before adding new bedding.
Clean accessories regularly and use covered feeders and waterers to prevent contamination.
Omlet and Your Flock
Keeping your chicken coop clean is one of the best ways to help your flock truly thrive. With a regular cleaning routine and the right tools, you’ll give your chickens a safe, comfy home, which means happier hens and plenty of tasty eggs. A tidy coop doesn’t just keep your flock healthy and stress-free; it also makes your daily chores quicker and a whole lot more enjoyable. Plus, you’ll feel great knowing you’re giving your chickens the best life possible to roost, play, and lay. Stick with your cleaning routine, and you’ll have a lively, productive flock and a coop you can be proud of.
As part of our No Waste Series, we’re looking into how we can make small but impactful changes to waste less at home and make the most of what we already have in the kitchen and garden.
One thing we wanted to learn more about is composting, so we reached out to Michael, founder of Compost Club, who gave us some top tips for starting out in the compost world.
Composting doesn’t need to be complicated or time-consuming
The trick is using the right system for the right job. I use several composting methods side by side, and together they let me compost almost everything with very little effort. That includes garden waste, food scraps and even materials from keeping chickens and pets. Here are five composting tips to help you get started this year:
1. DON’T FORCE ONE BIN TO DO EVERYTHING
Different waste breaks down in different ways, so one compost bin rarely works for everything. I use Bokashi (more on this later) for food waste, a wormery for fruit and veg scraps, compost tumblers for mixed material and open bays for garden waste. Each system does what it’s best at and composting becomes much easier. Chicken bedding, pet-safe garden waste and high-nitrogen materials all benefit from having the right system rather than being squeezed into one bin.
Quick tip: If something keeps causing smells or flies, it probably needs a different system. In composting we say, “If you smell it, you’re losing it” and the “it” is nitrogen.
2. USE OPEN BAYS FOR BULKY GARDEN WASTE
For grass cuttings, prunings, leaves and larger volumes of material, open compost bays or circular heaps are hard to beat. They handle large volumes, allow good airflow and quietly turn garden waste into compost over time with very little intervention. They’re especially useful if you keep chickens. Used bedding, straw, wood shavings and manure are rich in nitrogen and compost brilliantly when mixed well with carbon materials and can generate heat for faster breakdown.
Quick tip: Mix materials well for better structure and aim to maintain around 50% moisture, good aeration and the right balance of greens to browns. A compost aeration tool makes turning much easier. You could introduce a hollow channel from top to bottom, like a chimney, to act as a lung for passive aeration.
3. LET WORMS HANDLE THE SMALL STUFF
Wormeries are brilliant for raw fruit and vegetable waste. They’re compact, low-maintenance and produce incredibly rich compost. They’re ideal if you generate small amounts of food waste regularly and want fast results without much effort. Avoid adding meat, dairy or pet waste to wormeries, but they’re perfect for plant-based kitchen scraps from busy households. However much you love soil, worms love it more – they have five hearts!
Quick tip: Always top food with a bedding of leaf litter and add around 10% browns to keep flies away and keep your worms happy.
4. Compost tumblers work best when they’re kept moving
Regular turning adds oxygen and speeds up decomposition. I use tumblers to mix food waste (especially Bokashi) with dry materials like wood chips. Shredded cardboard, paper or autumn leaves can work well too. This creates compost far faster than a static bin. Tumblers are also ideal for mixing in small amounts of soiled chicken bedding once it’s been balanced with plenty of carbon. I aim to mix greens and browns 50:50 by volume. In composting, “greens” refer to nitrogen-rich materials (like food scraps, fresh grass clippings and coffee grounds), while “browns” are carbon-rich materials (like dried leaves, straw, shredded cardboard and paper). A balanced mix of greens and browns helps compost break down faster and keeps your pile healthy.
Quick tip: A quick spin every day or two makes a big difference. Fill to about ¾ full, and choose a unit of at least 245 litres capacity.
5. BOKASHI – WHAT IS IT?
Bokashi is a unique composting method that involves fermenting food waste using beneficial microbes. It’s perfect for breaking down materials that traditional compost bins struggle with, like meat, dairy and cooked food. Bokashi works indoors, is mess-free and helps speed up the composting process. Once the food has fermented, you can add it to your garden or another compost system to finish breaking down.
Quick tip: Press food down firmly and keep the lid airtight to avoid smells.
CHICKEN KEEPER BONUS TIP: BOKASHI BEYOND THE BIN
Bokashi isn’t just useful for composting food waste, it can also play a helpful role for chicken keepers. Used correctly, Bokashi bran can act as a gut-supporting feed additive, helping introduce beneficial microbes into a chicken’s diet (I even feed a bit to my cat). It can also be sprinkled lightly into bedding as an odour suppressant, reducing ammonia smells and improving conditions in the coop.
When Bokashi-treated bedding and manure are added to compost, the fermented microbes help accelerate decomposition, resulting in a more balanced, biologically active compost. That means better soil structure, healthier plants and a stronger soil food web.
Quick tip: Use Bokashi sparingly with chickens. Small amounts go a long way, and it works best as part of a wider composting and soil-building system.
Composting doesn’t have to be perfect – just practical
By using a few simple systems together, you can compost more waste, including food scraps and chicken bedding, faster, with fewer problems. Start small, keep it simple and let nature do the rest. Compost made well will be far superior to anything you can buy commercially, thanks to all those living microbes that power the process. If there’s one thing the soil has taught me, it’s that diversity is resilience. Whether that’s your compost inputs and process, your plants, your animals and even our human communities.
Thanks so much to Michael Kennard, Founder of Compost Club, for these tips. We’re looking forward to trying them out ourselves and hope you do too. You can find out more about composting, as well as details about upcoming workshops and courses at compostclub.online.You can also get 15% off compost on their site with code OMLET15.
In a world that’s increasingly instant, filtered and endlessly scrollable, we wanted to slow things right down with our latest content series: Capture It.
We sent disposable cameras to a group of chicken keepers and asked them to capture the every day moments of chicken keeping. No retakes. No instant previews. Just a limited roll of film and a flock.
We checked in with a few keepers after developing their photos, to see how the experience was for them. Several keepers told us how freeing it felt using a camera with a photo limit, and not being able to see each photo immediately afterwards.
“It makes you really think about the photograph, the experience becomes more mindful.” James
Everyone captured more of the small, often-overlooked moments: feeding hens by hand, frosty mornings at the coop, or simply watching the flock chatter their way into the day.
Again and again, keepers spoke about how chickens naturally pull you away from phones and into the moment. They teach rhythm: waking with the light, bedding down at dusk. They create routine and responsibility and they bring people together – whether it’s children racing to check for eggs first thing, or family members being greeted by the flock each morning.
“All the moments with hens beat scrolling. It’s grounding. It’s real.” Gemma
“It allowed me to be more present and in the moment.” Gemma
One keeper captured spending time with an older hen in her final days which is so special, and a reminder of how important it is to savour the little moments while you can.
We hope you enjoy these snaps, and thank you so much to all the lovely chicken keepers for getting involved in the Capture It series.
What will you do this season to stay more present and grounded?
While out in Austin for House Beautiful’s 2025 Whole Home Showcase, we hosted a chicken keeping workshop for a group of chicken novices. As part of the workshop, we covered all the joys that come with chicken keeping, including the daily fresh eggs. Chef Colter Peck taught the group how to make Japanese style fluffy egg pancakes using fresh eggs from the coop.
Here’s the recipe in case you fancy giving it a go (trust us, you do.)
Japanese Pancake Recipe
For the pancake batter:
30g all-purpose flour
2g baking powder
4g cornstarch
60 grams whole milk
80 grams egg yolks
4g vanilla paste
2g (Pinch) salt
For the meringue
4 large (120 grams) egg whites
40g caster white sugar
INSTRUCTIONS
Grease a non-stick pan or electric flat top lightly with melted butter or neutral oil.
Combine all the pancake batter ingredients together in a mixing bowl, then whisk until combined and smooth.
Make the meringue in a medium separate bowl or utilise a stand mixer with the whisk attachment. Whip the egg whites on medium/high until frothy. Then add in the sugar and continue to whip until stiff peaks form, at least 10 minutes by hand, and about 6 to 8 minutes using a stand mixer.
Add a third of the meringue to the pancake batter and gently fold, using a rubber spatula, until combined. Be careful not to beat the meringue and do not use a whisk for this stage of the process.
Fold in the rest of the meringue into the batter. The final batter should be fluffy, airy, and smooth, but very soft.
Heat the pan to low to medium-low heat. Transfer the batter into a piping bag fitted with a large round tip. If a piping bag isn’t available, you can use a cookie scoop or large spoon to scoop the batter onto the pan.
Pipe three even pancakes, about 3-inches each in diameter and pipe the batter high but lower than your pan lid. Space them apart as they’ll spread when cooking. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of water onto the pan, surrounding the pancakes to steam. Cover the pan with a high top lid and cook for five to seven minutes. The pancakes are ready to flip when the bottom edges are less glossy and bottoms are slightly browned.
Remove the lid slowly and carefully but quickly flip the pancakes. Using a thin spatula is key! Drizzle the rest of the water around the pancakes and cook for another five to seven minutes until both sides are golden brown.
Remove pancakes from the pan. Plate and drizzle with fresh, local honey, or any toppings you fancy!
Let us know if you give it a go by tagging us in your pictures!
While out in Austin, Texas for the 8th annual Whole Home Showcase, we got to explore the beautiful spaces, each designed by a different creative, and each with its own independent style.
We couldn’t leave without letting our hens have a tour of their own, so we paired the different chicken breeds, and their classic traits, with the beautifully styled spaces of the home. What do you think?
White Leghorn in the Bathroom, designed by @jointhebandd
The most independent breed wasn’t following the flock to the plushier rooms, she booked herself straight into the ensuite. Always alert, she’s the kind of guest who appreciates good lighting and a bit of privacy.
Black Copper Maran in the Upper Living Room, designed by @rteriorstudio
This hen was immediately drawn to a calm, collected perch away from chaos. The cosy tones and relaxed textures made it perfect for the quieter type who prefers a chilled evening in.
Rhode Island Red in the Guest Suite, designed by @leahoconnelldesign
Obviously, we matched our boldest hen to the boldest room. Loud patterns and layered prints? Right up her alley. This confident queen strutted straight in like she owned the place – and honestly, she kind of did.
Welsummer on the Primary Deck, designed by @caitlincreerinteriors
This beautiful social space was made for the chatty chicken. With its airy seating and soft tones, it invited both conversation and comfort. Long evening of girly goss and snacks on the sofa, pending.
Welsummer on the Balcony, designed by @amberinteriors
The hen who also loves the freedom to explore called dibs on the balcony. Surrounded by leafy greens and open skies, she was in her element. Fresh air and room to roam, just how she likes it.
These hens certainly held their own at the 2025 Whole Home Showcase, but let’s be honest, nothing beats a space designed just for them. With our Eglu coops, every chicken gets their dream home: safe, stylish, and perfectly suited to all personalities.
We traded in garden wellies for cowboy boots and headed to Austin, Texas for the 8th annual Whole Home Showcase!
Whole Home is a design showcase created by House Beautiful that brings together top designers, architects, and brand partners to build and design a house from the ground up. The goal for 2025 was to reimagine what modern living can look like, blending beautiful design with smart functionality and wellness-focused ideas, and creating spaces that reflect how we truly live.
So what’s this got to do with chickens?
When Whole Home set out to create a showstopping entrance for this tri-level, treehouse-style retreat in leafy Deep Eddy, chickens were top of the wishlist. With backyard flocks firmly in the spotlight, Omlet was invited to reimagine chicken keeping as part of a modern, luxurious lifestyle. The result? A space that proves chickens aren’t just a trend. They’re a design-forward, joy-sparking, self-sufficient way of living that feels right at home in even the most elevated settings.
While out there, we got to know Jon Walker, Hearst Director of Home + Design, “It’s perfect for Austin. It’s perfect for our audience. It’s amazing the number of people that when you mention chicken keeping, they say, oh, you know, “That’s all the rage.” and “My neighbours have chickens” and every single person I’ve spoken to has some sort of similar story. And it really is an incredibly sort of timely thing to incorporate into this project because it’s all about how people are living.” said Jon.
The 3,800-square-foot house featured four bedrooms, four bathrooms, two outdoor decks, and plenty of space to gather with loved ones, all created by a fantastic team of interior designers.
From House to Home – just add chickens
“This showcase is a labour of love,” Jon added, “Omlet is a special partner because they bring something truly unique, something alive!”
At the entrance to this year’s Whole Home Showcase, visitors were greeted by the Eglu Pro chicken coop and its beautiful feathered residents (a mix of white Leghorn, Black Copper Maran, Rhode Island Red, and Welsummer) a touch that immediately brought the house to life.
“It turns the space from a show home into a real home,” Jon noted. “People light up when they see the chickens.”
The Omlet coop itself blended beautifully with the home’s mid-century inspired architecture and treetop concept. The design was both modern and practical, which perfectly aligned with Omlet’s design ethos.
“Just like great architecture, good coop design solves problems with simplicity,” Omlet Co-founder Johannes Paul explained. “We design for both the chicken and the owner.”
Chickens are here to stay
The Whole Home Showcase proved that chickens can be more than a backyard curiosity; they can be part of modern, beautiful living spaces. And for many, this collaboration is an inspiring glimpse of what home really means.
When it comes to raising happy, healthy chickens, ensuring proper chicken hydration by providing clean, fresh water is one of the most important things you can do. But with so many chicken waterer options on the market, how do you know which one is right for your flock? At Omlet, we believe that every backyard chicken keeper deserves a waterer that’s not only reliable and hygienic, but also makes life easier for you and your hens. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most popular chicken waterer types and highlight their pros and cons.
Traditional Gravity-Fed Waterers
Overview: Gravity-fed waterers are a staple in many backyard coops. These typically consist of a reservoir that sits atop a shallow tray. As chickens drink, gravity pulls more water into the tray, keeping it filled.
Pros:
Simple to use and set up
Inexpensive and widely available
Cons:
Water is exposed to dirt, bedding, and droppings, making it prone to contamination
Algae can quickly build up in the tray, especially in warm, sunny weather
Can be easily tipped over by enthusiastic hens
In winter, water in the tray freezes quickly
In summer, water in the tray warms up above optimal drinking temperature fast
Our Take: Gravity-fed drinkers are a budget-friendly option, but they require frequent cleaning, checking and refilling. For busy chicken keepers or those with larger flocks, the maintenance can become a daily chore.
Nipple Waterers
Overview: Nipple waterers deliver water through small valves that release droplets when pecked by a chicken. These are typically attached to buckets, pipes, or large reservoirs, offering a more enclosed system than open trays.
Pros:
Keeps water clean and free from debris and droppings
Reduces spillage and waste
Suitable for larger flocks with less frequent refilling
Cons:
Chickens may need time to learn how to use the nipples
Some models may drip or leak, leading to damp spots in the coop
Our Take: Nipple waterers are a step up in hygiene and efficiency, making them a popular choice for many chicken keepers. By keeping water enclosed and only dispensing it when pecked, these systems help reduce contamination and keep your flock’s water fresher for longer.
Cup Waterers
Overview: Cup waterers feature small cups that fill with water when chickens peck at a trigger or automatically refill when the water level drops as they drink. Like nipple waterers, they’re often attached to buckets or pipes.
Pros:
Water stays somewhat cleaner than in open trays
Chickens can drink easily from the cup
Less spillage compared to open drinkers
Cons:
Cups can still collect dirt, droppings and bedding
Cups with triggers can clog and break over time
Water in cups freezes in winter, and warms up in summer
Our Take: Cup waterers offer an easy drinking experience for poultry, with reduced waste from spill, but they still require regular cleaning and can be vulnerable to extreme temperatures.
DIY and Open Bowl Waterers
Overview: Some chicken keepers opt for simple bowls, buckets, or even repurposed containers as poultry drinkers.
Pros:
Extremely affordable
Easy to clean and refill
Cons:
Water gets dirty very quickly
Bowls can be tipped over or stepped in frequently
No protection from freezing or contamination
Our Take: While DIY solutions can work in a pinch, they’re not ideal for long-term use. Your flock deserves better than muddy, contaminated water.
Why the Omlet Waterer is the Best Choice for Your Flock
At Omlet, we set out to solve the common problems faced by chicken keepers everywhere. The result? The OmletInsulated Stay Clean Chicken Waterer, a game-changer for backyard flocks.
We listened to real chicken keepers and designed a waterer that tackles freezing temperatures, contaminated water, daily refreshes and bullying at the water source. Every feature is crafted with your flock’s comfort and your convenience in mind, so you can spend more time enjoying your poultry and less time worrying about their water. With the Omlet Waterer, you’re giving your hens the best in hydration, hygiene, and health.
Key Features That Set Us Apart
Insulated Design: Our insulated drinker helps stop water from freezing, ensuring your chickens have access to fresh water even in the coldest months. No more breaking ice or hauling warm water to the coop on frosty mornings.
Clean Water, Always: The Omlet Insulated Stay Clean Chicken Waterer is designed to keep water clean from debris and algae. With a fully enclosed system, you’ll spend less time scrubbing and more time enjoying your flock.
Nipples and Cups Included: We know every flock is different, so we include both nipples and cups. Whether your hens prefer pecking or sipping, you can choose which to use to suit them best.
Anti-Bully 360° Design: Our unique 360-degree layout features five founts, so multiple chickens can drink at once, without crowding or bullying. Every hen gets her fair share, even during the morning rush.
Anti-Roost Lid: Tired of chickens perching on your waterer and making a mess? Our anti-roost lid keeps your water clean and poop-free, and your hens feet on the ground.
Omlet Waterer vs. The Rest: A Quick Comparison
Omlet and Your Flock
Choosing the right waterer isn’t just about convenience – it’s about the health and happiness of your poultry. With the Omlet Insulated Waterer, you get peace of mind knowing your chickens have access to clean, fresh water year-round. Less work for you and a better life for your hens. You’ll notice your flock is more content and productive when their basic needs are met with ease. Plus, the durable construction and easy-to-clean design ensure your investment lasts season after season. Give your chickens the gift of reliable hydration and watch your coop thrive with Omlet by your side.
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