Longdown Poultry and Pets

06/06/2026

Children and poultry:

I am a great believer in starting them young, introducing children to chickens or ducks at an early age is vital and they will learn so much from them.

The responsibility of looking after
any pet must be advantageous to a child of any age, feeding poultry, collecting the eggs, ensuring that there is clean water in the drinker as well as cleaning the coop out on a regular basis, carrying out health checks,all these things add up to be a responsible poultry keeper.

I am often asked what happens if a chicken dies how do we explain that to children and grandchildren, it’s easy they learn to accept that animals do eventually do die and very often do not require any further explanation.

As chickens and ducks are so easy to look after they make ideal pets, yes they are a commitment but a very worthwhile pet.

Hope to see you soon
Farmer Bryan

30/05/2026

Why aren’t my Chickens Laying?

Eggs do not simply appear, there are some factors to consider. The most important requirement is the correct dietary needs. If your girls are not laying for any reason simply remove all tit-bits and confine them to a small area for a few days, giving them access to only Layers pellets and making sure there is a fresh water supply nearby; this should then get them back on track to laying more eggs.
If the girls have had a fright from an attack by the neighbour’s dog or the local fox, this will put them off laying for up to 6 weeks. If you add Poultry Tonic to their water this will help to return the vital vitamins and minerals back into them. One thing to bear in mind is it’s not only you who enjoys eating the eggs that your chickens have laid and if you are not quick enough picking up those eggs in the morning, there could be something else waiting to steal them. Jackdaws, magpies, rodents and even the neighbour’s dogs are all queuing up to collect that egg in the morning if they can get into the nesting area, therefore if your girls have a red comb and her tail stands upwards you would be correct to think that she is in lay, so a quick look around the garden, under the hedges, behind the dustbin – even in the outside loo – would be recommended before changing her diet.
Of course, it may be that they are now too old to produce a regular supply of eggs, if this is the case you may need a few more young girls to help fill the egg basket.
We have plenty of Warrens at point of lay available , just message us for more details.
Hope to see you soon
Farmer Bryan

22/05/2026

We have an excellent batch of Warrens available, these girls are just coming into lay, super friendly and very inquisitive ideal for novice keepers or anyone looking for a regular supply of good sized tasty eggs.
Please contact us for any further information or if you wish to view them.
We stock everything required for poultry keeping, housing, feeders, drinkers, feed,lotions, potions and bedding.

Chickens in your Garden book free of charge with any chicken purchase for the first time keeper.

Email [email protected] to arrange an appointment or call in at Longdown Activity Farm
Ashurst
SO40 7 EH

Local delivery can be arranged.

15/05/2026

Who enjoys Duck Eggs?

I personally prefer a good duck especially when it’s in an omelette, yes three or four depending on my appetite, a cake made from fresh duck eggs tend to be fluffier and tastier (I’m happy to taste any if you are in a baking mood).

An average duck egg will be 30% larger than a commercial chicken egg, the protein will certainly be higher and of a different type this is helpful if you are allergic to chicken eggs as in many cases you will be able to eat duck eggs.

The shell on a duck egg is a lot tougher enabling them to maintain their freshness longer.

If you are looking to enhance your B12 and iron levels then eating a few eggs will certainly help.

If you are into making meringues then the duck egg will improve the size.

With larger yolks and fluffier whites poached eggs on toast will be much better.

Currently our girls are laying extremely well so we have plenty of fresh duck eggs available in the farm shop at just £2.40 per half dozen, the shop is open seven days a week.

Hope to see you soon
Farmer Bryan

09/05/2026

Who else has trained their chickens to use the correct toilet facility, Henrietta found the correct room but struggled to balance on the seat!

01/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18VK145qqN/?mibextid=wwXIfr

24/04/2026

Please be prepared for the Red mite invasion once the night time temperatures maintain double
figures (10c) then the little blighters will start to breed, good housekeeping should keep them at bay but it is vital not to let the numbers build up so please, please start scrubbing the coops now with Poultry Shield - it’s no longer called that now but we have the equivalent in stock in one and five litre containers, the use of Diatom powder on the floor will certainly help to prevent the spread of them.

We have plenty of Warrens ready to go to new homes, this batch are particularly docile and will
enjoy being picked up, our next batch of coloured hybrids contains some home reared Light
Sussex currently at eighteen weeks they look very elegant, the other hybrids are a few weeks off
lay but will soon catch up once the warmer weather arrives. Please book an appointment to view/collect your girls as it become very busy at the farm during the summer months.
Hope to see you soon
Farmer Bryan

18/04/2026

Unexpected deaths:

We have recently seen a few unexplained deaths in various poultry, this is when they are perfectly healthy one day then all of a sudden they die without any obvious symptoms, yes this is normal when you have an individual who has reached a grand old age and literally falls off her perch whilst asleep, but when you have several over a period of time we need to investigate the cause of this, firstly we need to ensure that there are not any physical injuries which could be caused by a predator, rats, foxes or even minks, next is to look for any droppings to check if it’s loose and contains any blood, with both of those ruled out it is most likely that the problem could be stressed related.
Stressed related deaths are quite common with poultry and can be caused by many factors, one
of the most common being fright by foxes or badgers attempting to gain access to the coop at night, rats can cause havoc as they chase the birds even if they do not attack them, during the day birds of prey will cause a lot of unrest as it attempts to fly into the chicken enclosure.
Dogs continuously barking will also unsettle the girls rising to a heart attack, believe or not they can cope quite well to noise created by humans, playing extra loud music!

We have a good selection of point of lay chickens available if you are considering increasing your flock.

https://longdownfarm.co.uk/chickens/

Hope to see you soon
Farmer Bryan

See Farmer Bryan’s Complete Guide for Keeping Chickens for information on choosing, housing, feeding and caring for your chickens. Contact us for more information or to place an order.

10/04/2026

We now have some coloured hybrids available:

Speckled Ladies:

The hybrid version of the Maran; mottled grey colour and lays a darker brown egg (260 plus a year). These girls are smaller than the traditional Maran but still produce a good sized egg. They do not normally get involved with any in-coop squabbling.


WARRENS
The good old faithful, an excellent and reliable egg layer (300 plus a year). This particular batch are extremely quiet and will sit on your shovel as you clean them out. Perfect for new poultry keepers or for those wishing for a regular egg supply throughout the year. Ideal for interaction with children. These girls are very close to laying they may lay on the way home!


PIGGOTTS BLACK
There are only a few of these well-sought-after girls. They have stunning black feathers with white freckles under the throat. These are quite large birds and lay very strong shelled eggs (260 plus a year). These girls will challenge any dominant bird and is most likely to stand up against the Light Sussex.

RHODE ROCK
These birds simply glow in the sun - their dark green plumage is the envy of the other girls in the flock. The very hard shelled egg produced by these birds indicate that they can convert their calcium very well (280 eggs plus a year).

Bluebells:

These girls are simply stunning with their grey plumage and very often brown feathers around the neck Rhode Island Red crossed with a Maran, normally independent and keep themselves to themselves.
Very good sized eggs, very often a dark brown colour 280 eggs per year .

Please email or mail to make a booking [email protected]

Hope to see you soon
Farmer Bryan

28/03/2026

Feeding Calci worms:

We now stock “Live Calci Worms”in 500grm tubes.

This article makes very interesting reading, please contact me if you wish to discuss this further.

What UK Chicken Keepers Need to Know

If you’ve ever considered feeding Calci Worms to your chickens, chances are you paused for a moment and asked yourself a sensible question: are these actually safe? When you care about your flock, you don’t want to take risks, especially when it comes to what they eat. That hesitation is completely understandable, and it’s something we hear often from chicken keepers across the UK.

The short answer is yes — live Calci Worms are safe for chickens when they’re produced responsibly and fed correctly. But as with most things in chicken keeping, the details matter.

Chickens are natural insect eaters. Given the chance, they will spend hours scratching through soil and leaf litter in search of bugs, larvae, and grubs. Feeding live Calci Worms simply supports behaviour that already exists. What makes them particularly valuable is their nutritional profile, especially their naturally high calcium content, which supports eggshell strength and overall bone health.

In the UK, however, there is an important legal distinction that responsible keepers should be aware of. Poultry are only permitted to be fed live insects, not dried ones. This regulation exists to protect animal health and ensure feed safety standards are maintained. For chicken keepers, this means choosing suppliers who understand and respect UK legislation, rather than cutting corners.

This is one of the reasons Syntects focuses exclusively on live Calci Worms. Producing them here in the UK allows for close quality control, better freshness, and full confidence that what you’re feeding your chickens is both legal and appropriate. When live Calci Worms arrive, they’re active, nutritious, and ready to be fed — exactly as nature intended.

Safety also comes down to how Calci Worms are used. They’re best offered as a treat alongside a balanced diet, not as a replacement for regular feed. Most keepers find that a small handful a few times a week is plenty. Chickens will eagerly eat them, but moderation ensures they continue to get all the nutrients they need from their main feed as well.

Another concern some people have is whether feeding insects can cause digestive issues or aggressive behaviour. In practice, the opposite is often true. Because live Calci Worms encourage natural foraging and movement, they can help reduce boredom and stress, particularly in enclosed runs. Chickens that are mentally stimulated tend to be calmer and more content, which contributes to overall flock wellbeing.

For those new to Calci Worms, starting small is always a good idea. Syntects offers live Calci Worms in 100-count packs, which are ideal for trying them out and seeing how your flock responds. For larger flocks or experienced keepers who already know how much their chickens enjoy them, the bulk 1kg option supplied in two 500g bags offers a convenient and cost-effective way to keep treats on hand without compromising on freshness.

Ultimately, feeding Calci Worms should feel like a confident choice, not a questionable one. When sourced responsibly, fed in moderation, and supplied by people who understand chickens, they are a safe, natural, and enriching addition to your flock’s routine. At Syntects, education and care go hand in hand with every order, because keeping chickens well starts with making informed decisions.

If you’re already feeding live Calci Worms, you’re supporting your chickens in a way that aligns with their instincts. And if you’re still considering it, knowing they’re safe, legal, and responsibly produced can make that decision much easier.

Hope to see you soon
Farmer Bryan