Happy & Healthy Chickens

Feed
It is very important for chicken's to have a good balanced diet and the best way to achieve this is to provide a diet based on a proprietary pellet feed. This can be fed in conjunction with grain such as corn or wheat, the consensus of opinion being to feed the pellets in the morning via a protected feeder to keep the feed dry, then the grain in the afternoon which should be scattered on the ground.
Feed at a rate which allows a little left over at the end of the day, this will assure you that every bird has had enough. Fresh greenstuff is very popular with the birds and certainly of benefit.
If you can't get your birds onto grass regularly give them some Lettuce or Cabbage. Once you're sure the birds are properly nourished a few treats will do no harm from time to time such as bread and the remains of your vegatables.

Water
Fresh, clean water must be available at all times during the day. This is best achieved by using a proprietary drinking fountain which keeps a reserve of clean water in a small trough, thus making it more difficult for the water to be fouled. If you lock your birds in at night, it is not necessary to provide water for them overnight.

Grit
Hens need grit to grind food in their crop, some will be included in good quality feed, but it's a good idea to supply some in a suitable container. Also in the food will be a source of calcium, necessary for eggshells, but many poultry keepers like to supply extra in the form of ground Oyster shell, usually mixed in with the grit.

Cleaning
The chicken house will need to be cleaned regularly, this will depend on the number of birds and the time of year, but ideally once a week. The floor of the chicken house should be covered with wood shavings. It is very important that it should be dust-free shavings as chickens have delicate respiratory systems. For the same reason clean, dry wheat straw, not hay, should be used in the nesting boxes, preferably on a layer of shavings. The floor can be lined with old newspaper first, then the shavings, droppings and anything else can simply be rolled up. Even easier if your poultry house has sliding floors. Poultry droppings make one of the best garden manures, though used fresh and direct, in quantity, can be too strong for plants so best allow them to rot down with the old straw and shavings - it really shouldn't smell. It is very important to keep all the crevices clean and watch for signs of infestation by red mite or fleas.

Eggs
The amount of eggs they lay will depend on various factors nutrition, contentment, age of the bird, length of day and the breed. 14 hours of daylight is the optimum day length, and commercial producers may use lights to provide a false dawn. Dusk should be gradual on welfare grounds, to allow chicken's time to roost.

Chicken's traditionally start laying again after the winter, but you will probably get the odd egg all year round. Using a china egg can help stimulate laying. It is very important for chicken's to have the correct environment for laying eggs. It needs to be dark and reasonably out of view.
Traditional utility breeds are usually good layers, and you could expect perhaps 250+ eggs a year from a Light Sussex.
Collect your eggs at least once a day.

Whether to clean eggs is a matter for debate, if you do, wipe them with a cloth dipped in clean, tepid water or your can buy Egg Wash powder.
Remember, eggs are porous and will absorb smells.

Mark the date on the shell with a pencil so you use the oldest first, and enjoy the incomparable taste of a really fresh egg.

Moult
Once a year chickens lose their feathers and grow new ones. They get rather out of sorts and go off their lay, but after a few weeks will see them with smart new feathers. It is advisable that birds are in tip top condition prior to the moult, as the process takes a lot out of them, so ensure your worming and parasite control is up to date. No other action is required from the poultry keeper though some like to add some extra vitamins or 'poultry spice' as an encouragement.

Flock Interactions
Chickens have a hierarchical social system, with the strong & more assertive birds being first at the feed, they generally dominate the lower members. It is known as the 'pecking order'. You will notice as you watch your chicken's the order of precedence. This behaviour becomes particularly obvious when new birds are introduced to an established flock - until the order is re-established the new birds will be bullied, sometimes quite agressively and remorselessly. It is often necessary for their protection to place the new birds in an enclosure within the main run until they are accepted into the flock.

General Well-Being
Contented and busy Chickens are much more likely to thrive and lay well.
Chickens feed mainly by scratching the ground and then pecking for things of interest. Providing an earth floor to the run, or a layer of bark chippings will keep them happy and contented. Another simple measure is to provide their greenstuff hanging in a string bag or on a hook so they will reach up to get it. If possible, let them Free Range as we do.
With care, especially during the high summer through winter, a small number of chickens will not do much damage in a garden. On the contrary, they will eat up a lot of pests, they love slugs, spread some fine manure and be a pleasure to have around.

Finally - Do keep an eye on your chickens behaviour, their droppings and food consumption - Any bird that 'Goes Quiet', has a messy tail or loses thier feathers should be thoroughly checked over.