Who knew that raising chickens was so much work? Last week we told you about a UK family who was facing eviction over the chicken coop they kept in their backyard. The family thought they were being environmentally friendly by producing their own organic eggs and reducing waste from their kitchen. Their town on the other hand claimed the birds don't qualify as pets and neighbors complained about the small and potential health issues.
What started to wonder about the process involved in raising chickens in your backyard, and as it turns out, caring for poultry involves a lot more effort than you might ever realize. In fact, it's hard to imagine trying to keep a few of the birds, let alone 25 like the UK folks. However, if you have found yourself contemplating if urban farming is for you, there are a few things you'll want to consider before taking the plunge.
The number
Chickens actually thrive when they have company. In fact one living on it's own has a high likelihood of dying from stress, so you'll want multiple chickens. Twenty-five might be pushing it, but three is recommended as a good number, at least to start. If one doesn't survive, there will still be two to keep each other company and you'll be able to determine if you actually enjoy raising chickens before filling your yard with them.
The type
Yet another surprise: not all chickens are created equal. You'll actually want to do some research to determine what breed of chickens you want to raise. Docile breeds are recommended, as opposed to more aggressive types. Be sure you know what you can expect from the type of chickens you decide to raise to minimize the chance of unwelcome surprises. For example Plymouth Rock chickens adapt well to confinement or free range and are docile, friendly and easy to handle and also well-suited to colder weather, while Old English Game don't like close confinement, are aggressive and tend to be noisy. You can help narrow down the field of choices by using the Chicken Selector Tool at mypetchicken. com. to help you determine the best breed for your lifestyle and climate.
And as long as you only want the type of eggs you can eat for breakfast (as opposed to the type that produce baby chicks), you don't actually needs a rooster, which many regions prohibit. If all you're after is eggs, stick to the females.
The beginning stages
Baby chicks are high maintenance. They eat a lot of food (called crumble), excrete more than they take in (or so it seems) and the food and supplies aren't cheap. They have to be kept under a heating lamp at 32 degrees Celsius with the temperature reduced for every week of their lives, and have their wings clipped as adult feathers grow in.
The good news is, once they hit eight weeks, the care required becomes much more minimal and less expensive, especially when they move into their coop and run.
The feeding
You can feed grown chickens pre-made chicken scratch or else make good use of your leftover scraps like cooked and raw vegetables or oatmeal. You can also try live insects such as crickets, mealworms and earthworms. On a more disturbing note, they can also eat hard-boiled eggs and meat that have been properly cooked.. Grass during their free-range time is also fine, so long as it is not treated with pesticides.
The living arrangements
Speaking of the living space, when your chickens are ready to be more independent, you'll want to ensure you have adequate living facilities for them. Each chicken will require three or four square feet of space and will need free-range time. Inadequate time outside of their coops can lead to confinement stress, which may cause your birds to become aggressive or develop Hannibal Lector-esque cannibalistic tendencies.
Several resources can show you how to build a proper coop. Catawba Coops has plans based on a design popular in Europe that are simple to build and require only local lumber and few tools.
If you live in a colder climate, you'll also have to ensure you have a heated space for the birds to live once the cold months arrive.
The cleaning
You'll want to minimize the chances of your neighbors complaining about smells by keeping your coop clean. Straw will need to be "mucked out" on a weekly basis and the enclosure floor will need to be swept or vacuumed. Don't use your household vacuum cleaner for this, instead use a wet/dry vacuum, and wear a dust mask. The floor may also need to be washed and disinfected with non-toxic cleaner if soiled. The outdoor run should be raked once a week.
The health factors
The avian flu, though associated with chickens, is rare in backyard chickens because there are typically only a few birds kept at a any given time. If anything, you'll want to be careful about the possible risk of salmonella transmitted via feces.
As mentioned before, only feed your chickens meat or eggs that have been cooked to proper temperatures and always wash your hands after handling the chickens. You'll also want to ensure your kids are safe; they may love to kiss the dog on the head, but no matter how much the chickens feel like pets, don't let your children kiss them or put their mouths too close to them. In fact you'll want to keep the birds away from everyone's faces, no matter the age, because there's always the chance your chicken will pick an inopportune time to peck and I'm sure we don't have to spell out what that could look like.
» Catawba Coops