Raising Backyard Chickens 101-learn from my mistakes!

Impact-Site-Verification: 7b829abe-bda6-4b9a-8803-09c383df3dca If you're thinking of raising chickens, you're not alone. Raising backyard chickens has become increasingly popular in recent years, as more and more people are turning to homesteading and sustainable living. Not only can chickens provide you with fresh eggs and meat, they're also fun and entertaining to watch. In this post, I'll cover some of the basics you need to know to get started with raising chickens, from choosing the right breed to building a coop and caring for your birds.

Little Known Facts About Chickens

• Chickens are one of the closest living relatives to the Tyrannosaurus Rex.
• Chickens can see in full color, and they have excellent depth perception.
• Chickens have a complex social hierarchy, with each bird knowing its place in the pecking order.
• Chickens can live for up to 10 years, but most commercial chickens are slaughtered at around 6 weeks old.
• Chickens are omnivores, and will eat just about anything, including insects, seeds, and even small animals like mice. 🤢

Challenges: 

Chickens require daily care, including feeding, watering, cleaning, and monitoring for health issues. They can also attract predators like raccoons, foxes, coyotes, and hawks, so you'll need to secure the coop and run. Raising chickens can be a rewarding experience, but it also requires commitment and responsibility. 

Check your local regulations on keeping chickens. Some cities or homeowners' associations may have specific rules on the number of chickens you can keep, coop size, and noise restrictions. Many don't allow roosters. Also, hens are NOT super quiet, like I assumed. They cluck, purr, quack/honk, bock-bock, some who are higher up in the pecking order have also been known to make rooster-type sounds here and there. Keep that in mind if you live in an urban setting!

Getting chicks: 

You can buy chicks from a local hatchery or online. Make sure to choose a breed that suits your climate and needs. There are many different breeds of chickens, each with its own unique characteristics. Some breeds are good for meat production, while others are better for egg-laying. Some are docile and easy to handle, while others are more flighty and require more space. Here are some of the most popular chicken breeds and their characteristics:

• Rhode Island Red: One of the most popular breeds, Rhode Island Reds are known for their hardiness and excellent egg-laying abilities. They're also good for meat production.
• Plymouth Rock: Another dual-purpose breed, Plymouth Rocks are friendly and easy to handle. They're good for both meat and egg production.
• Leghorn: Leghorns are one of the best egg-laying breeds, but they're not as docile as some other breeds.
• Sussex: Sussex chickens are good for both meat and egg production, and they're friendly and easy to handle.
• Orpington: Orpingtons are a popular breed for backyard flocks because they're friendly and docile. They're good for both meat and egg production.

You'll want to consider whether you want only hens or a mix of hens and roosters. Straight run chicks are unsexed chicks that have not been sorted by gender, while pullet chicks are female-only chicks. This means that if you purchase straight run chicks, you may end up with both male and female chicks, while if you purchase pullet chicks, you will only receive female chicks. This is not a 100% guarantee, sometimes they are identified incorrectly so there's a small chance you may end up with a gender you didn't anticipate! So, you may need to re-home him if your city doesn't allow roosters-we've already had to re-home 2 cockerels that were "supposed" to be hens.

Plan ahead and have a brooder box, heater, and chick starter feed ready before you bring them home. They've had a rough couple days, being born and then in the shipping box, they need to get settled and warm asap. Their downy feathers don't allow them to regulate their body temperature. Chicks require a temperature of around 95-100°F (35-38°C) for the first week of their lives, with the temperature gradually decreasing by 5°F  each week until they are fully feathered and can regulate their own body temperature. 

Mistake #1: Please, please, AVOID the heat bulb. We started with one of those, but I didn't realize how much DUST the chicks could scratch up in such a short time, the silver housing was quickly covered in dust, and I then saw so many posts about serious fires caused by these bulbs. I checked on them constantly, didn't sleep for 3 days worrying about it until we purchased this Chick Heater Brooder Plate

Mistake #2: Purchase a brooder heater with a cone shaped top! I did not and the problem is that they climb on top of it and poop everywhere! So, it ends up being a huge mess and a pain to clean all the time. Trust me, don't get the flat one. If you already did, just get this add-on Anti-Roost cone and problem solved.

Building a Coop

Once you've chosen your breed, the next step is to build a coop. Your coop should be sturdy, secure, and well-ventilated. Chickens need plenty of space to move around, so make sure your coop is big enough for your birds. Here are some tips for building a coop:

• Provide at least 3-4 square feet of space per bird inside the coop, I recommend more to be on the safe side.Overcrowding the coop can lead to stress and health issues for the chickens. And it gives you more wiggle room to get more birds in the future without needing to plan for a "chicken coop addition".
• Include roosts for your birds to perch on at night.
• Use 1/4" hardware cloth to keep predators out. Chicken wire will NOT suffice in most cases. It's made to keep chickens IN, not predators OUT. As I mentioned previously, there are predators that will go after chickens. Here in AZ we have to battle snakes, kangaroo rats/pack rats(they eat the feed and eggs), coyotes(they can jump over a 5 foot fence!), bobcats, mountain lions, in some places-raccoons, hawks, owls, maybe even stray dogs/cats...
• Provide plenty of ventilation to keep your birds healthy. This is especially important in a hot climate like the desert! We have quite a few vents in our coop, including the entire roof-everything under the polycarbonate roofing panels is elevated and covered with hardware cloth so hot air can escape. In the future I want to get a solar fan!
• You can also build a run so they can roam, if you don't plan to free-range. I've seen many recommendations for about 10 sf/bird in the run area, so they don't peck at each other. I agree with this number, but plan for more space because chickens are addicting and you "may" end up with a few more at some point. If you can create a larger space from the start, I'd do that for sure!

Mistake #3: I waited too long to build the coop. I didn't realize how FAST they would grow and how long it would take to plan and build the coop I wanted, soooo, in a very short time, they were too big for the brooder box so I built the run first because that was faster and they lived in that while I built the coop.

Caring for Your Birds

Once your coop is built, it's time to start caring for your teenager-almost adult-birds. Here are some tips for keeping your chickens healthy and happy:

• Feed your birds a balanced diet that includes plenty of protein. They require a starter blend until 18 weeks old. Then it's time to switch to a layer blend.
• Provide fresh water at all times.
• Keep your coop clean and free of droppings.
• Provide plenty of space for your birds to move around.
• Monitor your birds for signs of illness, and consult a veterinarian if necessary.

Scraps: 

Chickens can eat many kitchen scraps like grains, fruits, vegetables, and even some meat and dairy. However, avoid feeding them anything that is moldy, salty, spicy, toxic or greasy. Chickens can start eating table scraps at around 6-8 weeks of age, when they are old enough to eat solid food, as a part of their balanced diet. 

Egg production: 

Depending on the breed, chickens can start laying eggs at around 6 months of age. They need 14-16 hours of daylight to lay consistently. Collect eggs daily and clean the nesting boxes regularly.

Conclusion

Raising chickens can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it's important to do your research and make sure you're prepared for the responsibility. By choosing the right breed, building a sturdy coop, and providing your birds with proper care, you can enjoy fresh eggs and the company of your feathered friends for years to come.