Keeping Hens for beginners - Sat 26th September 2026
£86.00
Description

📅 Date: Saturday 26th September 2026
⏰ Time: 10am - 4pm
📍 Location: GROW HQ, Waterford

There is NOTHING like the flavour of your own home-reared eggs.  In this double header with Richard and Bruno you will learn how to keep our favourite feathered friends at home; and how to cook with those delicious eggs. 

Head Gardener, Richard Mee, doesn't have just one particular set of skills, he has many! He's our garden guru, but he's also egg-cellent at keeping hens, in fact, we'd argue there's no better person to learn from (we might be a tiny bit biased).  Bruno our Head of Food is passionate about cooking with eggs, and hailing from Spain he will be cooking up some eggy Spanish delights - frittatas, Spanish omelette and more - to help you get the most from your delicious home-reared eggs.

 Whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned poultry enthusiast, this course is your gateway to becoming a successful and confident chicken keeper.

Learn how to go about choosing the right birds, feeding your flock, all about housing & ranging systems and understand common poultry health problems. 

 
What You'll Learn

Choosing the Right Bird:​
Learn how to pick the perfect feathered friends for your flock. You'll delve into various breeds, their characteristics, and their age, helping you choose the ideal chickens​

Feeding your Flock:​
Proper nutrition is at the heart of chicken care. From selecting the right feed to creating balanced diets, you'll gain a deep understanding of what your chickens need to thrive​

Housing and Ranging Systems:​
Get a closer look at how to create a safe, comfortable, and functional living space for your hens. Learn about various housing options, from simple coop designs to advanced systems, allowing you to tailor your setup to your space and preferences. You'll also learn how to create a safe ranging system for your chickens, promoting their natural behaviours.​

Poultry Health and Common Problems:​
Healthy chickens are happy chickens, so it's crucial to understand poultry health and how to recognise and address common issues. Discover how to identify and treat common health problems, ensuring your hens stay in peak condition.​

Meat Production:​
If you're looking to raise chickens not only for eggs but also for meat, this course will be your go-to resource. Richard will teach you the best practices for raising meat birds.​
About Richard Mee

Richard Mee started growing at only 3 years old with his dad and since then has accumulated over 40 years of growing experience. He studied for a BSc in Horticulture at Reading University and an MSc in Organic Farming at the Scottish Agricultural College. In addition to the UK and Ireland, Richard has grown veg all over the world, including Central America and Africa.

Richard came to GIY simply to continue to do what he loves, which is growing (he might also tell you it’s because we needed him, which isn’t wrong!). Richard lives on a few acres in Carrick on Suir where he grows for his family, including his three children, and commercially in his tunnel.
Important Info

Cancellation Policy:
Bookings are non-refundable; however, they may be transferred to another course if requested at least 14 days prior to the event.

Allergies:
Please advise us of any dietary requirements and allergens when booking (email:allen@giy.ie) as we are unable to change the menu on the day.
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