Whether you are looking for fresh eggs or meat (or both), chickens are an excellent way to begin producing your own food on your own terms. Like other livestock, chickens need appropriate shelter, nutrition, clean water and care. Chickens are also social animals and will be happiest in a flock, so consider raising two or more birds together.
Chicken coops come in many designs, and should allow for fresh air circulation and protection from the elements. A laying hen needs roughly two square feet of space inside the coop. The coop should close securely to keep out predators and needs to be closed up every night, or you can invest in an automatic door-closer. Be sure the coop is easy to clean, as regular removal of manure and bedding is essential to the health of your flock (and is an excellent addition to your compost pile). A chicken tractor is a coop on wheels, which can be moved to provide continuous fresh pasture for your flock.
The coop should have a roost and a nesting box. The roost is an elevated perch where chickens sleep. Provide one foot of roost per bird. A nesting box is a secluded space, out of direct light, where chickens lay eggs. Provide two nesting boxes for up to four hens, and add a box for every additional four hens. An elevated nesting box will encourage chickens to lay eggs away from the coop floor, where they might break or be soiled. Eggs should be collected daily to prevent breakage and egg-eating.
Foraging for bugs and leafy greens is both good for your chickens’ health and increases the nutritional content of their eggs. Provide an outside space, called a run, enclosed in wire fencing for protection from predators. Your run should have about eight square feet per laying hen. Chickens also need access to dry, bare dirt for dust-bathing.
Chickens’ nutritional needs change as they develop and with the season. Chick starter feed tends to be higher in protein to support growth. Crushed oyster shell is a common source of extra calcium that laying hens need to form egg shells. Chickens kept outside in the winter months can be treated to scratch grains, which contain carbohydrates to help them maintain their body heat. Chickens also need grit, or crushed stone, to digest foods in their gizzards. Provide additional sources of clean water during the summer months, and ensure the water supply doesn’t freeze up in winter. A proper diet is fundamental to your flock’s health.
Raising hens from chicks or “peeps” is a rewarding experience, but requires additional equipment, including a brooding cage, a brooder heat lamp, chick feed and grit for their digestion and lots of patience. Be sure to check local ordinances before setting out to keep chickens.
Healthy chickens are alert, active and curious, with tails held high. Observe your chickens regularly for any changes in eating, laying or other behaviors. Hens will lay eggs reliably for roughly two years. A responsible chicken owner has a plan for their hens after their productive laying years have passed.
These guidelines will prevent disease, fighting and stress, resulting in healthier birds and more eggs. To learn more about raising backyard chickens, come to Satoyama Homestead’s Poultriculture Egg-stravaganza on Saturday, Aug. 6, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. This Satoyama Presents! event is free and open to the public. Donations are gratefully accepted.
Satoyama Homestead is located near the intersection of routes 345 and 401 in Elverson. Space is limited. Visit satoyamahs.org for more information and to register.