OUR STORY

About us

Chicken BnB was officially set up in 2020 to provide a service to all small scale poultry keepers. We had already established the Light Sussex breeding program by 2018. In recent years the breeding programs have expanded to rarer and more interesting breeds. Chicken BnB is a family run business that aims to provide a safe place for poultry boarding as well as education and conservation for interested parties. The boarding service is designed to  cater for most poultry species with previous clients Bantams, Large chickens and even ducks . The birds husbandry and well-being is of upmost priority. The hennels are converted sheepdog kennels which have been adapted for poultry housing. Chicken BnB also has a poultry breeding program for rare and heritage breeds. A The goals of the rare breed projects is to educate people about the wide variety of breeds that shaped our country’s history. We keep a number of breeds that each have there own story’s to tell and have shaped poultry keeping as a howl. Chicken B&Bs breeding projects related to traditional heritage breeds many of which are listed by the RBST as rare others on considered rare by the rare poultry society and some are just locally hard to come by . Breeds are carefully selected for their rarity and potential popularity among the back garden poultry keeper. With most of our target audience wanting to keep a small number of pretty, likeable chickens in a medium sized back garden. Some of our breeds such as the traditional light Sussex are perfect for anyone wanting to be self-sufficient and rear their own chickens for meat and eggs. Meny of our breeds have considerable historical importance either within the UK or in their native country. Our breeding projects involve animals that have a recognised breed standard within the UK. One of our main goals at chicken BNB is to provide education for interested parties about the wide variety of unique heritage breeds and the history of poultry and small-scale livestock keeping. At chicken BNB we do keep and breed a small number of exotic birds including Indian peafowl and African helmeted guineafowl and part of our education mission is to teach about the historic importance of keeping these lesser-known more exotic species in collections and as poultry. In the future we hope to expand into breeding and educating other forms of livestock that are kept on a small scale such as pigs and sheep. we also hope to one day expand into more exotic birds with Avery birds and birds of prey hopefully one day being added to the collection. The hen hotel at chicken BNB will hopefully as well expand in the future and hopefully be able to cater for a large number of your feathered friends.

The Farm on which chicken BNB is based is a 15 acre smallholding in the pretty hamlet of three leg cross historically it has been used for grazing of equines, sheep and in recent years pigs as well as being used as arable land for growing potatoes, corn and wheat in 2020 the vegetable growing side of the business bloomed but has since been phased out as we focused more on our breeding programs which are increasing by the day our main goals of conservation of rare and interesting breeds and education traditional farming methods. Aims as a business and organisation are as follows

rare breed conservation

domesticated farm animals have been selectively bred into unique breeds by humans. over the course of human history many of these breeds have come and gone. when an animal is lost to extinction it is nearly impossible to replicate their gene pool so by conserving rare breeds of domesticated animals chicken BNB hopes preserve for future generations. various different breeds that are considered at risk our breeding projects for silver Breakel’s and Norfolk Gray’s are among some of the most important breeding programs in northern Europe as both these breeds although more common now have they were at some points in history they have dropped down to critically low numbers meaning that selective breeding and genetic purity is essential for the breeds survival.

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Education

The interest of these unique heritage breeds of domesticated farm animals education is an important tool that can be used to improve the situation for many of the breeds. we hold we in the future aim to provide practical and classroom education about the many different breeds of domesticated poultry and farm animals that have shaped human history and the stories that tell us how we wouldn’t be where we are today in the agricultural communities without these creatures.

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Rehoming and rehabilitation

Although we don’t directly rehome any birds at chicken BNB we are supportive of any organisation that does rehome unwonted chickens responsibly many birds truly deserve a second chance at life.  supporting rescue centres that responsibly rehome birds and animals is essential to aid with the population of rare and interesting breeds.

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Captive breeding

Of course all chickens in theory are being bred in captivity. however, conservation and breeding programs at chicken BNB hopes to improve the population of rare and interesting breeds.

 

Education mission

the importance of the heritage breeds that are recognised by the poultry club of Great Britain and other notable organisations that have there roots deeply set in Britain’s history. Unfortunately, many of the heritage breeds that have seen us through peace and war are now considered rare or at considerable risk of extinction within the UK. when a breed of domesticated animal goes extinct it is not seen by many as a major catastrophe however with every loss of each heritage breed a small piece of history goes with it. Our mission is with the aid of breeding flocks to educate people about the stories and development of the breeds we hope to one day hold  open days when we will run talks on the breed histories and the individual stories of some of our characters within our breeding groups. Many of the breeds we hold are rare within in the UK or globally so running education days will help spread awareness of such breeds. Our education days are planned to start operation in 2026 however keep an eye on the website as this may change. Private tours are open to visiting any time they like as long as a select time and date has been agreed with BNB staff. Private tour you will be shown round the breeding enclosures as well as given opportunities to have your say in the future of chicken BNB all advice or comments about enclosure design or specific breeds of poultry and animals that are housed at chicken BNB as part of the education mission and breeding projects are greatly appreciated.

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Park facilities

currently chicken BNB has

Very few facilities that are capable of catering towards certain sectors of the population currently disabled access is poor and there are no permanent toilets or hand washing facilities on the site currently any hand washing facilities are the original farm facilities. but this will change by 2026 we are currently working hard to install facilities such as sinks for hand washing on our site however due to rough ground and steps, access to chicken B&Bs breeding enclosures and educational field is limited we hope to improve the accessibility to the field in the coming years.