Best practices for successfully rearing hens in your backyard, which will not only offer your family with eggs of superior quality but also a great deal of entertainment.
In the not too distant past, the government of the United States encouraged citizens to maintain backyard chickens at a rate of two birds for every member of the household.
With the phrase “in times of peace, a profitable leisure, in time of war a patriotic obligation,” the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) took the initiative to encourage families to buy laying hens.
The following information was displayed on posters that were extensively displayed in communities:
My top 6 tips for keeping a small flock of egg-laying chickens.
If you’ve been considering taking the jump, perhaps these pointers can motivate you to do so.
You Are Not Required to Have a Rooster
When it comes to having chickens in your backyard, the first piece of advice I have for you is that you in no way, shape, or form need to have a rooster. People I’ve spoken to in the past who believe that hens won’t lay eggs unless there is a rooster around in the vicinity are taken aback by this information.
Not true!, Eggs are laid by hens on a regular schedule whether or not there is a rooster nearby to crow and wake up the neighborhood. The idea that eggs from fertilized chickens have more nutrients is yet another urban legend. I have not been able to locate a single reliable source that supports this assertion. There is no discernible difference in flavor or appeal between fertilized and unfertilized chicken eggs.
There is not much of a need for a rooster unless you intend to keep newborn chicks for the purpose of selling them or you have a significant issue with raptors.
The best chicken coops are the mobile ones!
If you want to make your coop movable, this means that it will either be on wheels or will have the ability to be moved to other areas of your yard.
This is fantastic for a number of different reasons.
First, a mobile coop makes it very difficult for predators, notably foxes, to locate their prey. The routine is disrupted by having the chickens enter and exit the coop at a different location on occasion thanks to this feature.
Second, it prevents damage to your yard, which is a major benefit. See how great the grass looks in my backyard, even though there are five chickens free-ranging in it every day? You can see it in the shot above.
If you do not move the chicken coop from its current location, the ground within the coop will quickly get contaminated with dirt. If you move the coop around, you can ensure that the chickens always have access to fresh grass whenever they need it.
Third, because the birds are confined to their own space and are unable to move around or perch on droppings, the cleanliness of mobile coops is much improved.
It is REQUIRED to Include ACV in Your Drinking Water.
Chickens, along with the majority of other bird species, are more delicate creatures than mammals. When they become ill, the likelihood of them passing away is fairly significant, particularly if you do not act swiftly to treat their illness.
Keeping this in mind, it is in everyone’s best interest to keep backyard chickens healthy and stay as far away from illness as possible.
The single most helpful piece of advice I can offer for achieving this objective is to ensure that your pet has access to clean water on a daily, or at the the least, bi-daily basis, to which raw apple cider vinegar is also added (packaged in glass only as vinegar leaches toxins from plastic).
Invest in Motion Lights of a High Quality
You will quickly discover that preventing predators from injuring or killing your backyard hens should be your top priority. If you allow your hens free range during the day like I do, you will see a significant increase in the number of different sorts of animals in the area while chickens are around.
Fencing that is both affordable and long-lasting
Even if you have a large piece of land, you will still need some kind of fencing to confine your chickens to portions of the property that are secure enough for them to roam freely throughout the day.
Additionally, it prevents your chickens from wandering into the yard of a neighbor.
An electrifiable moveable fence is an absolute necessity if you either have a significant problem with predators or there is a possibility that the hens will spend the night outside.
If you do not bring your hens inside the coop in a timely manner before sundown like I do, you will not be able to use this model as a non-electrified movable fence. However, you can still use it in the same way.
Roosting Bar
At night, chickens should sleep in roosts that are elevated off the ground. They are in a lot less danger this way (being off the ground reduces the risks of predators).
As this is the natural posture for chickens to sleep in, roosting them rather than sitting them on the ground or keeping them in a hen house is another way to keep them healthy in the long run.
Be wary, as the majority of chicken coop kits, much to our surprise, do not include one. My chicken coop required that I put in a roosting bar for them to use. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on it. I utilized a piece of wood measuring 2 by 2 inches that I had previously acquired from the neighborhood hardware store for a few bucks.
This feature is very important, therefore if you buy a chicken coop kit or purchase a pre-made coop, make sure it has this function! Buying a chicken coop with a run is also an option.