Not every homeowner in the UK has the capacity to house traditional pets like dogs and cats. It might be because the family has young children, are too busy, or have a crowded space or small garden at home.

Nevertheless, there are a lot of other options that animal-lovers can turn to for companionship, animals that are suitable for keeping in gardens across Britain.

Here are the top six animals that are perfect as pets for your garden!

1. Rabbits

Female chickens can not only provide the family with a fresh source of food, but they can also become your amusing low-maintenance pets. They will lay eggs even without the presence of a rooster, so you can expect some for breakfast all year round.

However, hens will need constant access to fresh water in their accommodation and insoluble grit to aid digestion. They also need a secure and sheltered environment that’s safe from foxes.

Keeping more than 50 hens also requires registration with the Great Britain Poultry Register.

3. Fish

Just like rabbits, guinea pigs need a large space for a hutch. It should also be weather-proof and contain a grassy area to help them stay active.

Guinea pigs love to live in groups too, and they would appreciate having tunnels and places to hide around their hutch so they can move around confidentially. You can use wood shavings or sawdust as their cage lining and straw or shredded paper as bedding and feeding hay to eat.

It would be of their great delight to have toys and activities that can keep them entertained too.

5. Tortoise

Though commonly regarded as livestock, UK homeowners can also acquire goats in their yards as pets, with thousands of them domesticated in British households.

You can love them like a dog but minus the need to house them indoors and choose their food meticulously. However, you need to consider how much space you can provide the goats since this pet is probably one for larger suburban gardens than tight city spaces.