Backyard chickens are seeing a sharp rise in popularity. Recently, sales of chickens and chicken raising products have jumped over 500 percent. They’re fun to keep, support sustainable living, and they offer both entertainment and a steady supply of fresh eggs—what’s not to love?
If caring for chickens sounds like your next passion, follow this guide to get started!
Chickens are social; you can’t just have one to cover your morning omelet. You’re going to need a flock of at least three to six chickens, and the space to keep them.
Each hen requires about three feet of floor space within a coop, and they need a sizable run to stretch their wings as well. The smallest space you can get away with is about 20×5 feet.
Make sure you check the local ordinances on chicken coops and runs. Your town or neighborhood might have rules about whether you can keep chickens as pets or restrictions on the size of your flock.
Food
Chickens need access to food all day every day, or they may engage in unhealthy behaviors like feather picking. In addition to chicken feed, you can give them some of your leftovers as a treat. They enjoy leafy greens and even foods like yogurt and porridge.
Chicken feeders and chicken waterers make the job much easier. You can rest assured that your hens will have the constant access to clean food and water that they need and that they won’t knock over their dishes.
Responsibilities
Chickens are pretty easy to take care of; after you feed them, your biggest chore will be cleaning up. You can expect to shovel manure every day and change bedding frequently, but they don’t need daily walks, playtime, or constant supervision.
You do need to keep them safe from predators, though! A strong fence is a must to keep out foxes and even the neighbourhood dogs. Count your chickens every night to make sure they are safe and healthy.
And, of course, don’t forget to collect the eggs every day!
Cost
To start keeping chickens, you may face steep start-up costs: you’ll need to purchase a long list of chicken products. The coop, equipment, and chickens themselves could total around $700.
Long-term, you need to buy chicken feed. Depending on whether you go organic or not, you could be looking at a monthly cost of $30 or $150. Egg production will slow down after a few years, so you’ll need to buy younger hens on a regular basis as well.
When you look at your budget, remember to factor in what you gain! You can say goodbye to buying eggs at the grocery store. If they produce more than you can eat, you can even sell the extras to friends and family.
Start Caring for Chickens Today
Caring for chickens is a great way to start living sustainably. You gain fresh eggs for most of the year as well as a stronger connection to nature. Use this guide to bring the joy of raising chickens into your life today!
Did you find this article helpful? There’s plenty to learn about chickens, chicken accessories, and so much more! Check out the Animals page on this site to begin your search.