Chickens have become more and more popular over the last few years as America continues to see a shift towards real food, sustainability and homesteading. And for good reason. They can provide meat and eggs that you control the quality of and have near constant access to. Want organic? Raise them organic. Snowed in? You don't have go further than the chicken coop to find a ready source of protein. There's nothing like farm fresh eggs and biscuits with butter and honey! Who needs the grocery store? Not you!
But before you rush out to grab your fluffy little friends there's a few things you should know.
There Are Over 200 Breeds!
There are over 200 breeds of chickens in existence today and they all have unique needs, quirks and offerings. You'll need to consider a few things to decide what breed of chickens you should be raising.
Do you want meat birds? Just eggs? Both?
Are you planning to hatch chicks?
Are winters incredibly cold where you are or are summers unbearably hot?
Considering your goal and the factors you have to work with (like climate) will help you decide which breeds will be best suited to you.
Baby Chicks Are High Maintenance... sort of.
If you're planning to raise them from chicks then they'll need a brooder. This set up can be fancy or it can be as simple as a watering trough with a screen top added. I've even seen up cycled deep freezers turned into awesome brooders! The important thing is heat.
You can purchase brooder lamps at Tractor Supply, Rural King, your local feed store and many other places. Just ensure that the bulb isn't touching anything, the cord is free of any damage and the lamp is well secured. Otherwise, it can be a fire hazard. As a rule these little guys need to be kept at about 95 degrees for the first week. The temperature can be lowered about 5 degrees every week after until their feathers start to fill in (usually between weeks 6 and 8). You should also make sure that there are parts of the brooder where the heat lamp doesn't shine. That way, if the chicks get too hot, they can get out of the heat to cool off.
Aside from the heat lamp you'll also need bedding. Wood shavings are a great choice and should be kept clean and dry. However, it's advisable to steer clear of using cedar shavings or any other shaving that has a strong odor. These shavings seem to have negative, long-term health affects on chickens.
Last but not least, you'll need feeders, waterers and food. Again, they don't have to be fancy. Waterers should be enclosed so that babies don't fall in and drown. Feeders can be the dishes at your farm supply store or even a clean, empty egg carton.
Baby Chicks Very Hard to Sex
If you've ever gone into Tractor Supply in the Spring you've probably noticed the baby chicks. They usually have them in different troughs with signs stating the different breeds and saying either "straight run" or "sexed". Sexed means that all of those birds should be hens. Straight run means that the birds have not been determined to be male or female and could be either.
But don't be fooled. Baby chicks are notoriously difficult to sex at that age and you could ultimately end up with either. It's honestly very hard to tell until they're at least at that 6-8 week mark and start to really get their feathers.
You Don't Need a Rooster to Have Eggs
Hens do not need a rooster to lay eggs. Once they mature and begin laying eggs they will lay with our without a rooster. They just won't be fertilized and therefore won't hatch into baby chicks. So, if you're only planning to eat the eggs... you can skip the rooster.
Roosters are great for hatching chicks and protecting the flock can also be challenging. My chickens free range and my rooster loves to sneak up behind me and attack my leg. He'll probably catch me off guard one day and give me a heart attack. But that's a story for another day.
When your hens will start laying eggs can vary greatly depending on their breed but most start laying around 6 months or so. Their first eggs may be small or misshapen. Don't worry. That's totally normal. It's also normal for a hen to occasionally go broody. This is when she sits on the egg and protects it making it hard for you to collect. A broody hen can be combative so collect that egg with caution!
Last but not least....
Chickens Are Fun!
As they grow you'll notice the personality and distinctive traits of each bird. They all have their own personalities and love to run around doing crazy things. If your chickens free range you never know where you might find them! They might be much higher up than you'd expect or even catching a ride on a goat.
They're inquisitive and love to check things out. You can find endless chicken enrichment ideas on Pinterest or with a quick Google search. Old CDs hung up in the coop for the sun to shine off of, DIY treat feeders made with a plastic bottle or a chicken swing make great toys. Love to go overboard? How about a battery powered disco ball in the coop? Chicken Party!
Whether you hang a disco ball in your coop or not your chickens will still be happy to provide you with plenty of fresh eggs and endless entertainment for years to come as long as they have the proper nutrition and care.
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