Are you thinking of raising chickens in your backyard? Welcome to Backyard Chickens 101 – a crash course for important things to know.
Let’s take a look at some of the most important considerations you should make before you decide to raise chickens.
Backyard Chickens 101: Important Things To Know
Raising backyard chickens may be a good idea, but you should consider everything that comes along with it.
The most crucial consideration for backyard chickens will depend on your ability to maintain and upkeep the chickens in your backyard.
We’ve broken down the good, the bad, and the ugly that comes with owning backyard chickens. A better understanding of this information will help you determine whether backyard chickens are right for you.
The Good
- Eggs: Of course – the fresh eggs! Eggs are the primary benefit for most people looking to raise backyard chickens. If you love cooking and eating eggs, backyard chickens might be worth it.
- Additionally, pasture-raised eggs are typically more nutritious than industry-sourced eggs. Homegrown chicken eggs naturally have less cholesterol, less saturated fat, and more omega-3 fatty acids.
- Nutrients: Chickens provide nutrients when they drop their manure, including nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Their waste is an excellent addition to your compost pile, which can later be used for extra nutrients in your garden.
- Easy to Feed: Chicken feed is relatively inexpensive if you only have a few chickens. Chickens can also eat just about any leftover scraps that come out of your kitchen. Along with regular food and water, check out this Ultimate Chicken Feeding Guide to see what chickens can eat.
- Natural Insect Control: Chickens often feed on local pests and insects, helping keep unwanted bug populations down. Mosquitoes and flies can be hard to keep away and your chickens may be able to help.
- Fun: Owning chickens is a fantastic way to get your kids out in the fresh air and connected with nature. You can have fun with your kids every morning and race to see who gets to collect the eggs first.
- Weed Control: Chickens love the weeds that you hate. If you don’t like pulling weeds by hand, your chickens can do the work for you. They hardly allow a weed to go to seed, which means you can reduce your need for herbicides.
The Bad
- Loud: Chickens can be noisy, especially during the day. Their ‘Cock-a-Doodle-Do’ can be repetitive. Also, they like to sing a song when they lay an egg; their music is a sign they are proud of their achievement.
- Cost: You’ll need at least a few hundred dollars to get your backyard chicken operation started. You’ll have to obtain a chicken coop (or multiple chicken coops) to house your chickens, nest boxes, a heat source for constant warmth, a bedding source to soak up manure, chick water founts, chick feeders, and chicken feed.
- Smell: Smelly droppings are a big deal. Chicken poop has an odor that can make you and your loved ones feel somewhat uncomfortable. You will be surprised how these little things can produce so much poop. Sanitary issues can arise if the chicken area is not properly maintained.
- Illegal(?): You’ll have to check your local laws, but raising chickens may be illegal in your town. Some towns outlaw roosters (male chickens) due to the amount of noise they make. Check your local and state laws to understand your restrictions on owning chickens.
The Ugly
- Disease: Chickens can pass diseases and parasites to humans. In some cases, these diseases can be deadly. But, fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent these diseases. You’ll need to maintain your backyard’s sanitation, disinfect the housing after each production cycle, and wash hands after any contact.
How to Keep Backyard Chickens Healthy?
Keeping backyard chickens healthy requires proper care and attention. Here are some important tips to help you keep healthy chickens:
- Provide a clean and spacious living environment: Ensure that your chickens have a clean and dry coop with adequate ventilation. Keep the coop well-maintained by regularly cleaning out droppings and replacing bedding. Provide enough space for each chicken to move around comfortably and roost at night.
- Feed a balanced diet: Chickens need a balanced diet to thrive. Provide them with a nutritionally complete feed formulated specifically for chickens. You can also supplement their diet with fresh fruits, vegetables, and treats, but avoid giving them unhealthy or spoiled food. Make sure they have access to clean water at all times.
- Practice good hygiene: Wash your hands before and after handling chickens, and use separate tools and equipment for different areas of the coop to prevent cross-contamination. Regularly clean their food and water containers, and remove any spilled or spoiled food promptly.
- Protect them from predators: Predators such as rats, raccoons, and birds of prey can harm or kill chickens. Secure the coop with sturdy fencing, and cover windows and vents with predator-proof mesh. Lock the coop securely at night, and provide a safe outdoor run for daytime foraging.
- Provide regular health checks: Keep an eye on your chickens for any signs of illness or injury, such as changes in appetite, behavior, or appearance. Provide regular health checks by monitoring their eyes, feathers, skin, and droppings. Consult a veterinarian if you notice any abnormalities or concerns.
- Prevent and treat parasites: Parasites such as mites and worms can be harmful to chickens. Keep the coop and nesting boxes clean, and use appropriate treatments to prevent and control parasites. Follow recommended dosages and withdrawal periods for any medications or supplements used.
- Allow for exercise and natural behaviors: Chickens need exercise and opportunities for natural behaviors such as scratching, dust bathing, and perching. Provide them with a spacious outdoor run or free-range area, and offer items like perches, dust bath areas, and hiding spots to keep them mentally and physically stimulated.
By following these tips, you can help ensure that your backyard chickens stay healthy and happy, leading to a thriving flock.
What is a Broody Hen?
The term “broody hen” describes a female chicken with a strong urge to incubate and hatch eggs. A hen will frequently grow broody and refuse to leave her nesting box. She may even pluck her own breast feathers to make a warm nest for her eggs. She will continually sit on the eggs, rarely leaving the nest other than for brief intervals to eat, drink, and go to the bathroom.
How Many Chickens Should I Keep in My Backyard?
Chickens are very social animals that are flock-oriented. Therefore, we recommend you start with at least three chickens.
An adult hen lays about 4-5 eggs every week, on average. So with three laying hens with consistent egg production, you would have a steady supply of eggs for the week.
Remember, if your purpose is to get eggs, most chickens are only productive in their first two years. Therefore, it will be essential to replace your flock with baby chicks eventually.
You’ll need at least 4 square feet of enclosed space (inside the coop) and 10 square feet of outdoor space per chicken. Do you have a big enough backyard?
If you want chickens for eggs, don’t forget that you
You’ll need even more space if you want to raise free-range chickens.
Also, don’t forget to add chicken-wire fencing to your list of needed equipment; it helps you keep the predators out and chickens safe.
Check out how to keep both your garden and chickens safe.
How Long Do Backyard Chickens Live?
Most backyard chickens live between 3 and 7 years, but this can vary widely. If you keep them safe from predators and care for them, they can live 10-12 years.
You should expect to endure your chicken’s full life cycle and be prepared to handle both the births of new chickens and the deaths of old.
Young hens are good for laying eggs (and hatching eggs), but older hens still contribute by keeping your backyard in good condition.
Older hens are great for bug/weed control and tend to be great protectors.
Do I Need A Rooster to Make Eggs?
If you’ve ever wondered whether you need a rooster for eggs, the answer is no! Hens are amazing creatures that can lay eggs all on their own, without the need for a rooster. However, it’s important to note that these eggs won’t be fertilized, so they won’t develop into chicks.
If you’re simply looking to collect fresh eggs for your culinary adventures, you don’t need a rooster in your flock. Hens are prolific layers, typically laying one egg per day, even without mating with a rooster. These unfertilized eggs are still perfectly safe and delicious to eat, so you can enjoy them in all your favorite recipes without any worries.
If you do have a rooster, you run the risk of fertilized eggs that will turn into chicks.
Conclusion: Backyard Chickens 101
So, what did we learn in Backyard Chickens 101?
If you’re looking to get chickens for their eggs or family fun, then backyard chickens are a great idea.
Backyard chicken eggs will save you some money at the market, and they provide excellent nutritional value.
And NO! Hens don’t get sad when you take their eggs from the nest box. They don’t lay eggs with thoughts of hatching chicks.
Chickens can also make fun family pets. It doesn’t take them long to understand who their owners are, as they can recognize up to one hundred human faces.
Aside from the initial costs, chickens are relatively low-cost animals. First, however, you’ll need to make sure you have enough space and time to accommodate and maintain a proper backyard setup.
If you are a first time chicken owner, you’ll want to make sure you have a good understanding of important information before you start your backyard chicken adventure.
You’ll want to make sure you have proper info about chicken breeds, raising chicks properly, farm fresh eggs, and everything else you’ll need to make sure you have healthy backyard chickens.
If it sounds like backyard chickens are right for you, then get ready for some family fun!