On Choosing to Raise Chickens

On Choosing to Raise Chickens

Several months ago, some of us here at PrudentHome began thinking about raising chickens. Our thoughts were the product of a family friend firmly committing to continue raising chickens as a part of his family’s goal to increase food independence and also to become a source for neighborhood eggs and chicken(s) in the hard times he feels lie ahead.

Our thoughts ebbed and flowed until an article in the April/May, 2009 issue of Backyard Poultry Magazine tipped us from just thinking about chickens to actively investigating the possibilities of chickens for our own backyard. The article is entitled, “Is Raising Chickens The Right Option For You?” and it’s by Dr. Charles R.H. Everett, SPPA (Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities)  Secretary/Treasurer. Here is some of the article and some of our thinking and investigation on the subject too:

• First, Dr. Everett raises the most basic question “Do you know anything at all about chickens? If the answer is anything other than a straightforward ’yes” then you need to do your homework.”

PrudentHome agrees completely. We’re beginning by reading magazine articles that relate to the raising of a small backyard flock, say three birds (hens, as they’re generally quiet), and developing those as both a learning model and a base for future expansion if required or desired.

• Second, “Do the laws in your area allow chickens? If you live within any municipality in the United states then there is a good chance that there is some regulation on the books concerning the number of chickens you can raise, including the number of cocks you’re allowed to keep.”

Prudent Home’s “interested parties” have talked with county officials concerning chickens in our area. The bottom line is that although our county area (we live outside the city limits) doesn’t permit “poultry”, as long as no one complains, we can have a few birds. We consider this opinion  to be fragile, considering human nature, and before we actually brought chickens on our property we’d want to know whether we could keep a few birds as, say, “pets”; regardless of neighbor unhappiness as long as they were quiet and clean.

Here it might be noted that the city of Portland, Maine has recently passed an ordinance, to our understanding, that permits up to six chickens per family home property WITHIN the city limits. We believe that  this ordinance is at least partly in response to our current difficult economic times. It might be wise to keep an eye on similar ordinances or unofficial understandings on your area.

• Third, “Do you have room for chickens? Different breeds of chickens have different space requirements. If you are limited on your space you might want to consider bantams as an option.”

The “interested parties” here at PrudentHome have established some initial criteria for chickens on the property and they are as follows: healthy, hearty, able to be easily handled, at least moderately good egg producers, have moderate meat potential, and be able to provide a good bit of their own food should the need arise/be good foragers.  These are all initial criteria only and subject to change with additional information.

Here are some of our sources for further investigation into backyard chicken raising and we expect others to develop as we progress:

Backyard Poultry Magazine (Dedicated to more and better small-flock poultry)

And

“How To Raise Chickens: Everything You Need To Know (How to Raise…)
” by Christine Heinrichs (rated 41/2 stars at ‘Amazon‘)

Don’t forget your local poultry/farm shows or fairs (remember 4-H), your local/county ag agent, your state university and of course, your local library.

Until next time; keep your eyes on the horizon as the weathers changing fast.