Despite the advantages of raising backyard
chicken, the practice is still somewhat uncommon. Most people are simply not
aware that aside from the healthy eggs and poultry meat chickens can provide
their family on a regular basis, chickens are fun pets too that you can cuddle.
Here are important considerations that have
to be carefully evaluated and assessed if you are considering backyard chicken
raising – for fun and pleasure and poultry meat and eggs.
Do You Have Time?
Although chickens are relatively
low-maintenance, they do require time for daily care and maintenance. The
necessary time is almost negligible as you only need 15 to 20 minutes daily
(depending on the number of chickens in your flock) for replenishing their food
and water and making sure that their beddings are dry.
Do You Have Space?
If chickens are cooped (housed) then you
have to ensure that the run (where they are allowed to range freely during the
day is big enough and secure from predators. It is highly recommended that at
least six square feet per bird is allotted in the outside run, the more space
the better. Chickens are natural foragers and they eat insects, grass and weeds
and any other that they can find in the run – the more they are able to forage,
the healthier and more contented they will be. This is to your advantage since
you will reap the benefits in tastier eggs and poultry meat.
Making chickens range freely is to your
advantage because they love to scratch, dig holes for their dust baths and eat
plants and weeds. The more space they have, the better it is for your yard
since they can keep the grass trimmed. While they range freely, they also
aerate the area with their scratching while their droppings fertilize the soil
thus making it rich and fertile.
Are Chickens Allowed in Your Neighborhood?
An important aspect of chicken raising is
to determine if it is allowed in your locality as not all towns do. Check your
local regulations and ordinances regarding backyard chicken raising as it may
be necessary for you to secure the necessary health or zoning permit since what
you plan to do is not on a commercial level anyway. Do your homework in order
to avoid unwelcome surprise visits from town hall officials.
In addition, you also have to find out
about noise regulations especially if you plan to have roosters with your
flock. It is better to check with your neighbors first in order to avoid misunderstandings
and future complications regarding your new hobby. It might be a good idea also
to mention that when the chickens start laying eggs, they would surely benefit
from that too!
How Much Would It Cost?
The initial investment in constructing the
chicken coop, feed supplies, cost of the birds, and maintenance may reach a
significant amount of money but in the long run, when they start laying fresh
eggs and you already benefit from their poultry meat, the up front cost becomes
negligible. This does not include yet the fact that your flock provides you
with more fertile garden soil and that they keep farm pests at bay and your
grass trimmed!
How Many?
It is important to note that chickens are
social birds and do not fare well on their own, you should therefore have a
minimum of two for starters. If your family loves eggs then it is best to have
two hens per family member; this should be enough to take care of your egg
requirements as soon as your chickens start laying eggs.
What Size Chicken?
Another important factor for consideration
is the size of chicken, Standard (normal-size), or Bantam, chickens that are a
fraction of the size of Standards and are mainly raised for ornamental
purposes. Although bantams lay edible eggs also, they do so on a less frequent
schedule and their eggs are smaller in size.
There is no problem in having both sizes in
your flock as Silkies, Belgian Bearded D'Uccles and Sebrights are available
only as Bantams whereas there are other breeds which are available in both sizes.
You can combine both sizes in your flock if you want both types.
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