Are you excited about the possibility of keeping chickens on your own farm or in your own backyard? This is indeed a fun, healthy and smart choice.
Before you get started, there are a few basics you should know about raising pet chickens and the legality of keeping hens.
1.
Chicken and the Law First, make sure that you are in cooperation with all city ordinances.
Many cities have rules on how many chickens you are allowed to keep as "pets" in a chicken coop.
Some rules state that hens are allowed but roosters are not.
2.
Building Chicken Coops - Long before buying your first chicks, make plans to build (or buy) a chicken coop and possibly a larger chicken run area.
Proper chicken coop design will protect your hens from weather, outdoor predators and from, of course, flying the coop.
Put some serious thought into location; many people cannot stomach the idea of a chicken coop (with accompanying smells) so close to the home.
3.
Now Hiring Chicken Cleaners - Don't underestimate the mess on your hands-literally.
Decide in advance if you have the time and energy to clean up after your chicken coop or if you are going to pay someone else to take care of it.
Many people find that they are unable to deal with the smell or the demanding activity that chicken coop cleaning requires.
4.
Prepare Yourself for Hen-Death - It's inevitable that you're going to have to toughen up and hack some chickens if you have a coop, and this is regardless of whether you plan to eat your hen population.
For example, if your chicken becomes sick it's not practical to take it to a "vet.
" The only solution is hen death.
(Don't look, Chicken Little!) You might also have to contend with hens that died of natural causes, hens that escape and hens that are murdered by predators.
5.
Planned Hen Parenthood - Determine in advance how many hens you plan on raising.
This really depends on how much room you have to spare.
The minimum yardage for a chicken coop is 1-4 square feet per bird; for a large coop.
You may need as much as 50-100 square feet for a chicken coop and chicken run.
How many hens do you need to start out with? If you just want fresh eggs (feeding about four people) then six good "layers" is workable.
However, egg production does decrease at certain times of the year, especially in winter seasons.
Late summer and early autumn might also cause problems in raising chickens.
6.
Buying Your First Hens - You can start small if your budget is limited.
Remember to consider your capital as well as your time investment.
Remember, hens do not produce eggs on cue.
There may be a waiting period and you have to plan for that.
Some people find it advantageous to buy day-old chickens because they are cheap.
However, these little birds have a higher likelihood of death.
They are also high maintenance and sometimes require foster mothers or artificial brooders.
Last but not least, remember that when chicks are young, they cannot be easily sexed.
Therefore, you may end up with more roosters than layers, which is not practical for your great egg plan.
Keeping chickens in a chicken coop is a lot of fun, green-friendly and will produce better eggs than you will find in the supermarket.
Before you get started, there are a few basics you should know about raising pet chickens and the legality of keeping hens.
1.
Chicken and the Law First, make sure that you are in cooperation with all city ordinances.
Many cities have rules on how many chickens you are allowed to keep as "pets" in a chicken coop.
Some rules state that hens are allowed but roosters are not.
2.
Building Chicken Coops - Long before buying your first chicks, make plans to build (or buy) a chicken coop and possibly a larger chicken run area.
Proper chicken coop design will protect your hens from weather, outdoor predators and from, of course, flying the coop.
Put some serious thought into location; many people cannot stomach the idea of a chicken coop (with accompanying smells) so close to the home.
3.
Now Hiring Chicken Cleaners - Don't underestimate the mess on your hands-literally.
Decide in advance if you have the time and energy to clean up after your chicken coop or if you are going to pay someone else to take care of it.
Many people find that they are unable to deal with the smell or the demanding activity that chicken coop cleaning requires.
4.
Prepare Yourself for Hen-Death - It's inevitable that you're going to have to toughen up and hack some chickens if you have a coop, and this is regardless of whether you plan to eat your hen population.
For example, if your chicken becomes sick it's not practical to take it to a "vet.
" The only solution is hen death.
(Don't look, Chicken Little!) You might also have to contend with hens that died of natural causes, hens that escape and hens that are murdered by predators.
5.
Planned Hen Parenthood - Determine in advance how many hens you plan on raising.
This really depends on how much room you have to spare.
The minimum yardage for a chicken coop is 1-4 square feet per bird; for a large coop.
You may need as much as 50-100 square feet for a chicken coop and chicken run.
How many hens do you need to start out with? If you just want fresh eggs (feeding about four people) then six good "layers" is workable.
However, egg production does decrease at certain times of the year, especially in winter seasons.
Late summer and early autumn might also cause problems in raising chickens.
6.
Buying Your First Hens - You can start small if your budget is limited.
Remember to consider your capital as well as your time investment.
Remember, hens do not produce eggs on cue.
There may be a waiting period and you have to plan for that.
Some people find it advantageous to buy day-old chickens because they are cheap.
However, these little birds have a higher likelihood of death.
They are also high maintenance and sometimes require foster mothers or artificial brooders.
Last but not least, remember that when chicks are young, they cannot be easily sexed.
Therefore, you may end up with more roosters than layers, which is not practical for your great egg plan.
Keeping chickens in a chicken coop is a lot of fun, green-friendly and will produce better eggs than you will find in the supermarket.
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