This year egg prices have continued rising, and industrial farming has become worse and worse. Sustainability is on more peoples’ minds than ever before, and many are looking for new ways to help the environment.
The solution to these problems: backyard chicken keeping!
So you might be wondering, are backyard chickens right for you?
Chickens are wonderful pets to have as they provide fresh eggs, free fertilizer and are great companions. Like all living beings, they have necessities and require attention. Not only that, but backyard chickens can get expensive if vet bills come up or they aren’t budgeted for properly.
Restrictions: Before you start building a coop or buying feeders and chickens, you will need to check the rules and regulations regarding poultry in your area. Most jurisdictions have a maximum number of chickens you can have or a specific amount of space that your coop must be from your neighbors. In some cases, permits are even required for your chicken coop, so make sure to thoroughly research what your town’s rules are and fill out the necessary documents. It is also considerate to speak with your neighbors about their feelings towards having chickens near them as a flock can be loud and may wake them up.
The Coop: Chickens require a coop that has three basic parts; a run, nesting boxes and a roosting area. The run has to be at least 4 square feet per chicken, but I recommend closer to 5 or 6 square feet per chicken to give them a bit more space to run around. It should be well protected with chicken wire so that animals are unable to get in and take your flock.
The nesting boxes are where your chickens lay their eggs, and you will need at least 1 box for every 4 chickens. I recommend having more nesting boxes than necessary. I currently have three chickens and a nesting box for each as I often find that they have to lay their eggs at the same time. When all of them want to lay at the same time, fights break out if there isn’t enough space for everyone to do so.
Finally, the roosting area needs to be enclosed and dark so your chickens will be able to sleep (make sure to have some ventilation, I have two windows in mine). It will need a latch door that closes (you can even get an automatic one installed that opens and closes by itself at your desired times), roosting bars (as chickens like to sleep standing up), and a large door that makes it possible for you to clean out their droppings. I also recommend having the roosting area raised above the ground as it protects your flock even further from predators getting in.
Flock Size: Next, you will have to decide how many chickens you want and if you also want a rooster. Most breeds lay 4-6 times a week so it’s easiest to figure out how many chickens to get based on the amount of eggs you want. Chickens are social creatures so you must have at least two at the same time. I have personally never owned a rooster (chickens do not need a rooster to lay eggs) and my town does not allow them (make sure to check the rules in your area), but they can be a great addition to your flock and provide your hens with the opportunity to have chicks.
Time Commitment: Chickens are not very time-consuming, but they still require dedication on your part. Every morning you will need to go and bring them their feed as well as refill their water. At night a similar routine follows, as you will need to bring the feed out of their coop to store it in a cool and dry place. Each night you will also need to make sure all of your chickens are tucked in and sealed off for the night. During the day, it is important to spend time with your flock to not only bond with them but to also learn their habits. Learning their habits will help you understand when something is wrong with your chickens, which will give you more time to get them to the vet and to help them. Spending time with them will also help your chickens trust you more and will give them more reassurance that they are safe. Chickens are also messy animals that have a coop that needs to be cleaned at least once a week. The last time commitment is collecting your chickens’ eggs, and by learning their habits, you will better understand when they lay their eggs. My girls lay their eggs in the morning so I always get fresh ones when I let them out for the day, but your flock may be on an entirely different schedule.
Free Range or Caged: You will also have to decide if your chickens will be free-range or if they will stay in their run during the day. Both come with benefits and drawbacks, but I do a combination of the two. By allowing your chickens to free range, they will be able to dust bath more and will have better nutrition than a flock that stays in the coop. That being said, free-range chickens face more dangers as they are at risk of getting taken by predators. Free-range chickens are also exposed to more diseases, such as Avian Influenza from wild birds or crop throat from eating worms in the dirt. Chickens that stay in their coop will require a larger run and will need boredom busters to keep them occupied during the day. They will also need a dust bath inside of the run to stay clean and to prevent things like flystrike and mites. I allow my chickens to free-range throughout the spring and summer while I am there to sit and watch over them, but I have a movable covered pen to put them in during the fall and winter as that is when there are more predators in my area. Whatever you decide, Hen’s Hollow will give you the tips to keep them safe and allow them to live full lives.
The Right Backyard: Backyard chickens can be a wonderful addition to your family and the eggs are always a bonus, but you have to be fully committed to your flock. Research is key, so before you jump into anything make sure to dig deeper into the points above. I also highly recommend checking to see if there is a poultry vet near you as health complications can come up more frequently than one would expect. If you do find yourself with a flock soon, then welcome to the family of backyard chicken keepers. We are a large network here to support you, and know that Hen’s Hollow will always be available to answer your questions. Good luck!