I"m Ready To Raise Chickens - What Do I Need To Know?
If you are one of many Americans looking to become more self-sufficient, having a few chickens can become a very healthy and happy project.
There are many resources available and I'm writing this article to give you encouragement to go ahead with your dream project.
Having your own chickens and gathering your own eggs is very rewarding and can give you much pleasure and satisfaction.
Once you've gotten your chicken coop and a few chickens you'll find raising chickens to be easy and inexpensive to maintain, if you compare the cost to most other pets.
And the rewards include having fresh, free-range eggs at a fraction of store bought cost.
Plus they will be fresh, great-tasting and extremely nutritious.
You will also have chemical-free bug and weed control.
And one of the most interesting benefits is the chicken's ability to manufacture the world's best fertilizer.
An added bonus is that you will have fun and friendly pets with a most interesting personality.
Yes, chickens do have personalities! Your first step will be to find out if you can legally own and raise backyard chickens in your neighborhood.
Take the time to check the local ordinances and if your neighborhood has any covenants restricting raising animals.
When you get the ok, you are ready to start investigating your options.
Chickens are so cool, because they come in so many varieties, sizes and colors.
They lay colored eggs.
Who wouldn't love to serve your children green eggs and ham for breakfast from your own back yard chickens? Yes, there are chickens who lay green eggs.
But you must know that when you crack open the shell, the egg inside looks like any other egg, sorry it's not green.
You can order your chickens from a local feed store or actually hatch your own if you wish.
There are home make chicken incubators and plans.
It totally depends on how hands on you wish this project to become.
You will want to either build or purchase a chicken coop.
As a rule of thumb you'll want 2-3 square feet per chicken inside your coop.
And in the outside run you'll need 4-5 square feet per chicken.
It is necessary to keep the chickens penned because of predators.
Chicken dinner isn't just for us humans.
The fence in your chicken yard is usually about six feet high.
This will keep out most predators.
It is wise to also put a net across the top to keep the chickens from flying away and the chicken hawks out of the pen.
Usually a lightweight deer netting will be sufficient.
There are many resources available and I'm writing this article to give you encouragement to go ahead with your dream project.
Having your own chickens and gathering your own eggs is very rewarding and can give you much pleasure and satisfaction.
Once you've gotten your chicken coop and a few chickens you'll find raising chickens to be easy and inexpensive to maintain, if you compare the cost to most other pets.
And the rewards include having fresh, free-range eggs at a fraction of store bought cost.
Plus they will be fresh, great-tasting and extremely nutritious.
You will also have chemical-free bug and weed control.
And one of the most interesting benefits is the chicken's ability to manufacture the world's best fertilizer.
An added bonus is that you will have fun and friendly pets with a most interesting personality.
Yes, chickens do have personalities! Your first step will be to find out if you can legally own and raise backyard chickens in your neighborhood.
Take the time to check the local ordinances and if your neighborhood has any covenants restricting raising animals.
When you get the ok, you are ready to start investigating your options.
Chickens are so cool, because they come in so many varieties, sizes and colors.
They lay colored eggs.
Who wouldn't love to serve your children green eggs and ham for breakfast from your own back yard chickens? Yes, there are chickens who lay green eggs.
But you must know that when you crack open the shell, the egg inside looks like any other egg, sorry it's not green.
You can order your chickens from a local feed store or actually hatch your own if you wish.
There are home make chicken incubators and plans.
It totally depends on how hands on you wish this project to become.
You will want to either build or purchase a chicken coop.
As a rule of thumb you'll want 2-3 square feet per chicken inside your coop.
And in the outside run you'll need 4-5 square feet per chicken.
It is necessary to keep the chickens penned because of predators.
Chicken dinner isn't just for us humans.
The fence in your chicken yard is usually about six feet high.
This will keep out most predators.
It is wise to also put a net across the top to keep the chickens from flying away and the chicken hawks out of the pen.
Usually a lightweight deer netting will be sufficient.