Resident vet Dr Aish tell us why chooks make ideal pets and the best ways to care for them.

There is so much to love about chooks. They are great pets, recycle scraps, create compost and give us delicious eggs. No wonder they have become such a popular pet. Here are a few tips to ensure your lovely feathered ladies produce regular, hard-shelled eggs with rich orange yolks.

Chickens need plenty of cool, freshwater. In summer their water requirements can be up to half a litre of water per chook per day. Water is required to help digestion and nutrient absorption necessary for producing eggs.

One of the best things about chooks is that they can recycle your kitchen scraps. However, scraps are not a sufficient diet for growing and laying birds. Chickens need high amounts of protein to produce their breakfast omelette. Laying hens should be fed an appropriate layer feed with high protein.

For thick shells that won’t break your chickens need a sufficient supply of calcium. Again a good layer diet may provide this or you may need to supplement with shell grit. Hens that have a low calcium diet will start to produce weak eggshells and develop brittle bones.

Chooks also need their greens to promote luscious orange yolks. Let them out to eat grass and give them a few handfuls of homegrown greens. Most greengrocers are also more than happy to supply fresh scraps for chooks. Free-ranging chickens will additionally find lots of insects and worms that are a great source of proteins and vitamins.

So feed your chooks a good diet and you will be rewarded with gorgeous free-range eggs. Happy egg collecting!