Chicken Coops

Keeping a small flock of chickens in your backyard has many benefits. By getting eggs from your own chickens, you avoid supporting industrial farms that produce the vast majority of eggs sold in the US. Egg-producing hens on factory farms are often kept in such close, inhumane quarters that they cannot stretch their legs or wings, walk around, or participate in normal social behaviors.

A 2010 Cambridge University study demonstrated pasture-raised eggs from chickens provided with space to peck for food are more nutritious than industry-sourced eggs. Pasture-raised eggs contain twice as much vitamin E and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. By supplying your chickens with a certified organic chicken feed, you can keep your them healthy while supporting sustainable farming.

Backyard chickens also serve as great composters for your kitchen scraps. Chickens are omnivores and will eat just about anything that comes out of the kitchen, including meat. Just make sure to supplement kitchen scraps with proper feed to ensure your chickens are getting the nutrition they need to stay healthy and lay strong eggs. You can then add the chicken’s waste to your compost pile and use it on your garden as a fertilizer. In addition, chickens will happily eat up insects and pests in your yard.

Provided that children are gentle, chickens can make social and even affectionate pets. Task the younger ones with collecting the eggs every morning. Give the older ones the chore of keeping the coop clean.

Before you buy a clutch of chicks, make sure you’re ready for the commitment. Check with your local officials to ensure backyard chickens are allowed where you live. Some municipalities have bans on chickens, or limits on how many chickens you can keep on your property. Roosters are usually banned because of their early morning sounds. If your city isn’t yet chicken-friendly www.communitychickens.com has articles on how to change local ordinances.

You will want to provide the birds with a coop, or a secure house that offers them a place to lay eggs as well as a “run” where they can roam and peck. Make sure your coop also protects them from predators. If you’ve never seen a raccoon on your property, you’ll see one within the first few nights the chickens are home.

Each chicken needs a minimum of three to four square feet of space in the coop, and another three to four square feet in the run. Because chickens are social animals it’s suggested you get a minimum of six chickens—which would require an 18-24 sq ft coop and a run of equal or more size.

The Internet is replete with ideas and instructions on how to build chicken coops with varying designs and styles. Also, most local feed stores and online companies like www.backyardchickens.com also carry ready-built chicken coops. Experts also recommend having one nesting box inside the coop for every three chickens, which can be fashioned out of everything from a wooden box to any number of things you may have at home, like old milk crates, plastic tubs, etc.

Taking proper care of your chickens will ensure that they stay healthy, and will help you get the most eggs out of your flock. Each chicken requires about ¼ cup of feed per day, as well as a supply of fresh, clean water. Chickens can survive both hot and cold weather, and will be fine outside with temperatures as low as 15 degrees, but their laying patterns will change with the seasons. However, make sure you provide them with plenty of shade during the summer!

Be sure to be vigilant about cleaning your chicken coop every two weeks and cleaning your hands and shoes after handling chickens and their eggs. Choosing the type of chickens best suit you can also be a voyage in and of itself. Use the breed selector tool provided at www.mypetchicken.com – they can help you to find the breed of chicken right for you.

Most hens start laying eggs at about six months old and will lay with the greatest frequency for that first year—giving you about four to seven eggs each week, though it may vary with the seasons. The number of eggs she’ll produce will reduce by about 10% each subsequent year, and most backyard hens can live from eight to ten years.