Raising Backyard Chickens

Raising backyard chickens

by Stephen Clay McGehee

There is no question that raising chickens in your back yard is becoming more popular – and for good reason. Chickens can supply you with healthy fresh eggs and an occasional fried chicken dinner. They are cheap and easy to care for, fit well in all but the most urban surroundings, and they’re just plain fun to have around. We like to refer to ours as “country goldfish” as we look out the back window at our small flock of Buff Orpington chickens.

In these uncertain times, having a dependable source of good food is important. The egg has often been regarded as the ideal source of protein. Especially when it comes to young children, a good diet with adequate protein is absolutely essential.

Another benefit that should not be underestimated – being able to look outside and see your “egg factories” busily scratching for bugs and weed seeds is quite comforting when it looks the whole world is coming apart at the seams.

The details of how to successfully raise chickens is beyond the scope of a blog article, but we’ll include some good sources at the end of this article.

Let’s start by dispelling a few misconceptions about chickens:

First, a hen does not need a rooster to produce eggs. If you want to raise your own chickens, then of course, you will need a rooster. You just won’t need one to produce eggs.

If you plan on raising your own chicks, keep in mind that most modern breeds of chickens will not set on their eggs. That instinct has been bred out of most modern breeds. When a hen sets on her eggs (known as being “broody”), she stops laying eggs, and a non-laying hen doesn’t pay the farmer’s bills. There are ways around that though. Some breeds, especially the larger dual-purpose (eggs and meat) breeds like the Buff Orpington, still retain the instinct to brood. The small Bantam breeds are well known for the mothering instincts. Another option is using an incubator – as long as you have dependable power available. We have had good success with our hens hatching and caring for the chicks.

One final note about raising your own chicks: Our experience has been that chicks raised by a mother hen are healthier and have a much higher survival rate that incubator-raised chicks.

Raising backyard chickens

The economics of back yard chickens? Frankly, you will be better off dollar-wise, by getting your eggs and meat from the local grocery store.

That assumes, of course, that there will always be ample supplies at reasonable prices – not a very good assumption these days. Bottom line here – don’t raise chickens in your back yard thinking you will save money. The objective is not to have food at a low price, but to have food.

Protection from predators is an absolute must. Despite our best efforts, we have lost chickens to hawks, possums, raccoons, and dogs. My brother had his chicken coop destroyed by a bear; the chickens were unharmed, but when they fled their coop, the were then killed by other predators. Chickens are especially vulnerable at night. Even the most skittish chickens can easily be picked up and handled after dark.

Despite the fact that chickens are excellent at foraging for their own food, if you want regular egg production (almost an egg a day under ideal conditions at their peak), you will need to provide plenty of high quality chicken feed. We keep a good supply of “layer crumbles” available to our chickens at all times. We also toss out “scratch feed” a couple times a day.

Chickens need a constant supply of fresh clean water. Eggs are mostly

water, and without plenty of water, you won’t get eggs.

You can expect your chickens to begin laying at about 5 to 6 months old. At first, egg production will be very irregular, the eggs will be small, and they are likely to be found just about anywhere until they learn to lay in the nest box you provide for them.

Choosing a breed is going to be one of your most important decisions. There are meat breeds, egg breeds, dual-purpose breeds, and misc. breeds. My own recommendation is either an egg breed or a dual-purpose breed. The egg breeds are bred specifically for efficient conversion of feed to eggs. The top egg laying breeds will not hatch their own eggs, but if that is not a problem for you, they are a good choice. The dual-purpose breeds are good at egg laying, but not quite as efficient as the layer breeds. The difference in egg production is usually pretty small though. Another major advantage of the dual-purpose breeds is that they are generally easier to work with. There are few things more frustrating than trying to work with chickens that are terrorized when they see you coming. Place a high priority on a reputation for gentleness. This is a good time to note that roosters – no matter what the breed – are almost always very aggressive, and they are quite capable of causing serious injury to a person. Treat any mature rooster with caution.

Sources for more information:

BackyardChickens.com

Raising Poultry the Modern Wayby Leonard S. Mercia