run attached to it. Don't use chicken wire, as it is way too flimsy and is easily torn into by predators such as dogs, and even humans. Spend a little extra money on good fencing materials and save yourself the heartbreak of finding your birds torn to shreds one day. 6 Purchase food for your chickens before they arrive . Feed supply stores are a good source as well as the Internet . You should have a bag of pelleted poultry feed (for large breeds) or crumble (for bantam breeds). Be aware that the health of the eggs is determined by the health of the feed; for example, protein-rich eggs come from protein-rich feed, while a hen intended for eating will put on weight eating a good balance of protein and carbohydrates. A laying hen needs to eat around 100g of feed each day. Put the feed in a covered feeder and replace it regularly, as it does go stale. Allowed to roam free, chickens are effective weed eaters and insect control -- -- set them loose in your veggie patch. Fresh and cracked corn is a favorite as well as tomatoes, apples and anything baked. You can try growing your own corn, wheat or barley to feed to chickens; all are good sources of protein, although corn is lower in protein than the other crops. Chickens love table scraps. A good rule of thumb: if it's healthy for you, it's usually healthy for your chickens (with the exceptions noted