Look no further! Here are the answers to all your questions about raising healthy backyard chickens.
Plus, owners say there’s also a “hen zen” that comes with keeping chickens. In other words, the health benefits go way beyond fresh eggs. Learn more….
The following written content by Caroline Collins McKenzie
Backyards have gone to the birds! Everyone from A-list celebs (we’re looking at you, Jennifer Garner and Lady Gaga) to city slickers has taken to raising hens in the name of having farm-fresh eggs at the ready. If you’ve been thinking about joining the chicken-keeping contingency, there’s no need to wing it. Before you get started, check out some DIY chicken coop ideas or you can consider chicken coops you can buy right now. Then outfit your coop with all the necessary accessories from our chicken coop buying guide. You should also do some homework about the different types of chicken breeds. Once you’ve studied up on all that, check out these helpful tips from a panel of grade-A poultry experts. Here, they answer some of your most pressing questions about raising chickens, from time commitment and costs to safety and, yes, even how to get those pretty blue eggs.
I HEAR “CHICKEN” AND THINK “FARM.”DO I REALLY HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO RAISE CHICKENS IN MY BACKYARD?
The short answer: probably so! Chickens are relatively small birds, in turn requiring relatively little space. “You should plan to provide four square feet per chicken in the nesting coop (also called a henhouse), plus 10 square feet per chicken in their enclosed run,” says Country Living veterinarian Dr. Tricia Earley. For a flock of, say, six chickens, that translates to a 6′-by-4′ nesting coop plus a 6′-by-10′ run. (See below for more scoop on chicken coops.) In reality, the amount of room is rarely the deal breaker for backyard chickens. The bigger question is if they are permitted in your neighborhood. Before you get started, our experts advise you to check with your homeowners’ association or municipality to confirm it’s allowed. Surprisingly, many suburban and urban areas only have restrictions on the number of hens allowed or on the possession of roosters.
HOW HARD IS IT TO RAISE CHICKENS AND WHAT DOES A DAY IN THE LIFE OF CHICKEN CARE REALLY LOOK LIKE?
Raising chickens is not hard, but chicken expert and author Lisa Steele (@fresheggsdaily) says, “As with any pet or livestock, chickens are a serious time commitment and require daily attention.” But, again and again, owners say there’s also a “hen zen” that comes with keeping chickens. Part routine, part respite, starting and ending the day with some fresh air and labor can confer a kind of self-care. In other words, the health benefits go way beyond fresh eggs. Read more from Country Living.
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