Raising Chickens For Pets And Fresh Eggs – It’s Easy And Fun
Whether you're into raising chickens for pets or production of eggs, you'll find it to be a relatively easy thing to do, and something that is allowed in many municipalities, even New York City.
And, it's lots of fun. Give chickens a try and you won't be disappointed.
It takes a while for baby chicks to reach the age where they produce eggs, but once they do, you'll wonder why you ever bothered to buy eggs in the grocery store. Good egg laying chickens will produce wonderful brown and white eggs with great consistency if you give your girls just a little attention every now and then.
Here are a few of the joys of raising chickens as pets and providers of food:
-They require little room. A small flock of 6 or 8 birds can be raised in about 100 square feet of space.
-Chickens eat just about anything. Whether it's bugs, worms, seed, grass, weeds, kitchen scraps or commercial feed, chickens are eager eaters. Turn them loose on a spot of ground, and they'll scratch up everything that is edible within a matter of days.
-The birds are very heat and cold tolerant. In the heat of the summer, they lift their wings to stay cool, and in the dead of winter, they close down their wings and huddle up to stay warm. All you need to do is give them basic shelter that is well ventilated.
-They naturally roost to stay away from predators, and they naturally find a nesting spot to lay eggs. Both are easy to provide.
-Unlike children, chickens know when it's time to come home. When the sun begins to set, they head back to the coop and roosts, and settle in for the night. If you allow them to find their own way out, they'll be able to find their own way back.
Chickens aren't trouble-free, but many of the potential problems can be avoided with a little planning and minimal care. The only problems you're likely to have with chickens are:
-Predators that like a chicken dinner as much as you do. Fencing and barriers usually reduce opportunities for chickens to become dinner for someone else.
-Crowding can lead to pecking and cannibalism.
-Birds that want to fly out of the enclosure. Thankfully, clipping chicken wings is an easy task.
-Aggressive roosters, so don't get males unless you're willing to deal with birds with an attitude.
-Scratching up the garden. Chickens are big scratchers, so you'll need to keep them out of vegetable gardens and flower beds.
As for the basics, you just need to make certain your chickens have adequate shelter, a poroper enclosure for protection, and access to fresh water. They also need a place to dust themselves, a place to roost, and a few nesting boxes that give them a sense of security for laying eggs. If you have those bases covered, and you provide them ample food sources, they will provide you with entertainment as well as an ample supply of fresh eggs.
Clair Schwan is an early retired management and technical consultant who lives a self directed and debt free life on the prairie just outside of Cheyenne, Wyoming. He writes and publishes four websites and two blogs about his life passions: frugal living; personal liberty; self employment; vegetable gardening; self reliance; and, his Boston Terrier companion.