Not only will you benefit from the free eggs that your chickens will lay, but they make great pets as they are both clean and quiet.
They are inexpensive to maintain, make the best fertilizer, and are a chemical free way to control bugs and weeds.
However there are a few items that you will need to consider before you can start raising backyard chickens.
What breed of chicken is best for raising? The answer to this question depends on many factors.
Are you looking for egg laying birds or are you looking for meat? If egg laying, what color and size do you want the eggs to be? Do you have children? Some breeds of birds to better with children than others.
These are all important questions you will have to answer before selecting your bird.
How many roosters are needed? Many people make the mistake of over buying roosters.
A single rooster can easily serve up to twelve hens.
If you are just looking for eggs than a rooster will not be needed at all.
What is needed right after the purchase? Before you purchase any birds you have to make sure you have a chicken coop ready when they arrive.
A coop will keep them safe from predators and the environment.
You will also need feed and clean water when they arrive in their new home and also for the trip home if it is long.
Also needed will be a cage for the trip home so there are no injuries to your birds on the way home.
Be sure to consider the above before you start raising backyard chickens and you will be off to a great start in one of the fastest growing pastimes in the country.