ChickenGuard, the automatic chicken coop door opener manufacturer, is today issuing advice for all chicken owners, in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

As supermarkets across the UK continue to experience shortages of many food items, demand for fresh eggs has reached an unprecedented high. As a result, the British Hen Welfare Trust has already reported a surge in people interested in rehousing its rescued commercial-laying hens.

There are currently over 1 million chicken-owning households in the UK.  As interest in acquiring hens continues to spike, many may find themselves at increased risk of their eggs- or even their beloved pets - being stolen.

In light of this, ChickenGuard is issuing some safety advice for chicken owners, in a bid to help keep their flocks safe. As well as following standard welfare practices, and taking the usual precautions against predators, it’s important for chicken owners to take extra precautions in order to keep their birds secure, particularly at night and in the event that they have to leave the house:

• Increase visibility – the majority of us will be staying in for large parts of the day so it’s a good idea to position your chicken run somewhere that is easily visible from the majority of the house, if possible.
• Collect eggs regularly – removing your girls’ eggs as soon as possible will leave left for wandering hands to steal.
• Lock securely. Bolts may keep hens from escaping, but they are not adequate in deterring thieves.  Make sure to use padlocks, or something similarly secure, when locking your hens in for the night.  If you’re concerned about being there to let them out in the morning and prefer using an automatic coop door opener, such as a ChickenGuard, just make sure that their run is securely locked to keep your birds safe.
• Consider Motion Sensor Lighting. Motion detection lights will turn on when they detect any motion near the coop, deterring any potential thieves. They can also be modified to send you an alarm when the lights are activated.

ChickenGuard is currently operating as usual, whilst taking every possible precaution to ensure the health and wellbeing of its staff and their immediate families.

The company’s office and website is still running as usual, so if you have any enquiries, please do get in touch via the website https://www.chickenguard.co.uk/contact-us-2/ or call 01223 855636.

For any chicken owners who are concerned about the safety and wellbeing of their birds during the current outbreak, please do keep an eye on the company’s blog for regular advice and updates. https://www.chickenguard.co.uk/blog/