Hi Micky B
(almost) totally new to chicken keeping ourselves. Did some web-based research and found the following site VERY useful:
http://keeping-chickens.me.uk/Monday 28th Oct - ordered a chicken coop on-line (assembled in dining room during the next few days) contacted British Hen Welfare Trust (
http://www.bhwt.org.uk/) to arrange collection of some ex-battery hens, ordered on-line or bought locally - feed, feed bin, grit, straw bedding and all other essential paraphernalia to get things going
Last saturday (2nd Nov) collected 4 ex-battery hens and put to bed in coop as it was dark when we got home
This Saturday, one week later and the little cuties have achieved the following: pecking order established and now all at ease with each other, night-time routine established (take themselves to bed at dusk), have free-ranged in the garden all today, getting more comfortable with human contact (ie catchable in the garden) and 14 very tasty eggs.
I'm sure it may get more complicated but so far and for novice hen-keepers it's been very straightforward. Additionally as ex-bats destined for slaughter it's been hugely satisfying watching them roam at ease and explore the garden and fascinating watching their behaviour and individual personalities start to show. There's nothing better than taking a still-warm egg from the nesting box and having for breakfast, poached on a slice of buttered toast and a little ground pepper.
You can research forever but at the end of the day these are hardy little creatures that have been providing humans with meat and eggs for millennia in all sorts of conditions. It doesn't seem difficult (so far) but it is fascinating and very rewarding.
Good luck!