My family were not horsey and could not understand my desire to be around them, mind you neither could I. I drove my poor mother mad with my constant, dreaming and pleading. Eventually she realized I would not give up and she asked the local horse yard if they would give me a Saturday job. I think they thought at eleven, I would soon be bored and realize what hard work looking after horses can be, afraid not.

The quest for perfect poultry is a road littered with hurdles. Add to that an urban location and you will encounter numerous barriers both socially and logistically even before you collect your birds. As a London based poultry fanatic, I am testimony to the challenges involved with keeping backyard chickens. In an attempt to disseminate the sea of information and advice available, I have put together my top ten tips for keeping chickens in a city garden.