Raising Chickens For Eggs - What You Should Know About Your First Backyard Chicken Flock
Raising chickens for eggs isn't just for farmers anymore and is quickly becoming popular for apartment dwellers and urbanites.
While this might seem like a fairly new concept today, until World War II, many homeowners kept chickens - even in the city.
Raising chicken was very practical because not only do they provide fresh eggs...
they are a great means to controlling the bug population in a city garden! If you are deciding whether or not to raise a backyard chicken flock you might want to consider a few things before making an initial investment: -- Check city ordinances where you live and verify backyard chickens are permitted.
Be sure to question further if your inquiry is declined since while there may be restrictions to raising roosters, hens may be just fine.
If roosters are out of the question, not to worry - your hens won't need roosters to produce eggs! -- After checking local laws, decide on the number of chickens you want to keep.
Two to three healthy hens will produce enough eggs for a small family to enjoy for days and weeks to come.
Remember, it's always best to start small while you are getting the hang of things.
You can always increase the size of your flock later if that's what you decide to do.
-- Next you'll want to consider the location for your backyard chicken coop and run.
A chicken coop house can be as simple or elaborate as you want, but it must meet a few basic requirements:
The location should be sunny, but offer shade during the hottest part of the summer.
Selecting healthy chicks...
A good rule of thumb is to start with healthy chicks.
If you buy chicks from a feed store or breeder, closely observe the little ones before making your selection.
Look for chicks that are eating well, drinking and have plenty of energy.
It is normal for young birds to frequently sleep, but avoid those that are puffed up and with drooping heads since these are signs illness.
Check beneath the chick's tail for pasty butt, and the beak for any signs of discharge.
While you may feel the desire to save these babies, it's more likely they will die regardless of your efforts.
While this might seem like a fairly new concept today, until World War II, many homeowners kept chickens - even in the city.
Raising chicken was very practical because not only do they provide fresh eggs...
they are a great means to controlling the bug population in a city garden! If you are deciding whether or not to raise a backyard chicken flock you might want to consider a few things before making an initial investment: -- Check city ordinances where you live and verify backyard chickens are permitted.
Be sure to question further if your inquiry is declined since while there may be restrictions to raising roosters, hens may be just fine.
If roosters are out of the question, not to worry - your hens won't need roosters to produce eggs! -- After checking local laws, decide on the number of chickens you want to keep.
Two to three healthy hens will produce enough eggs for a small family to enjoy for days and weeks to come.
Remember, it's always best to start small while you are getting the hang of things.
You can always increase the size of your flock later if that's what you decide to do.
-- Next you'll want to consider the location for your backyard chicken coop and run.
A chicken coop house can be as simple or elaborate as you want, but it must meet a few basic requirements:
- Accessibility: You will need to tend to your flock's needs daily - fresh food and water are a must! To clean their home regularly, you need to be able to sweep, rake, or hose down their space easily so take this into consideration when planning your chicken coop house.
- Chicken Predators: Depending on where you live, you might have a variety of chicken hunters from raccoons to dogs.
Fencing or a protected run may be useful depending on the placement of your coop. - Keep Your Hens Dry: Hens hate being wet and will get sick if you don't keep them dry.
You will also want to consider the temperature since they will not survive in extreme weather conditions.
The location should be sunny, but offer shade during the hottest part of the summer.
Selecting healthy chicks...
A good rule of thumb is to start with healthy chicks.
If you buy chicks from a feed store or breeder, closely observe the little ones before making your selection.
Look for chicks that are eating well, drinking and have plenty of energy.
It is normal for young birds to frequently sleep, but avoid those that are puffed up and with drooping heads since these are signs illness.
Check beneath the chick's tail for pasty butt, and the beak for any signs of discharge.
While you may feel the desire to save these babies, it's more likely they will die regardless of your efforts.
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