If you haven’t already heard bocks and squawks in your neighborhood, it might just be a matter of time. The backyard chicken flock, once all but banished from urban centers, is making a bit of a comeback thanks in part to loosening regulations.
In 2017, more than 1% of all U.S. households raised chickens; the USDA estimated that by 2019 urban chicken flocks increased by 400%.
This year, the coronavirus propelled interest in backyard chickens for eggs. (NPR April 3, 2020)
My backyard hen house built (by myself) with reclaimed items and materials from Restore and Goodwill
Just a few of the MANY reasons to have chickens
Great-tasting nutritious eggs
Chickens have personality galore...seriously!
One step closer to sustainable living
A guilt-free way to use leftover people-food, chickens LOVE it!
The very definition of low maintenance
You get to name them! ( mine were Henny Penny, Gwendolyn, Henrietta, and Dot )
Be the coolest kid on the block. Friends will "flock" to see the chickens!
You’ll spend more time interacting with the chickens that watching T.V.! (My daughter Haley bonding with adolescent chickens).
Chickens in the backyard will get you and the kids or grandkids outside.
If you're like me, you're always looking for ways, and reasons, to spend more time outside.
Having chickens to care for and play with will draw everyone outside. I found it a great way to get the grandkids out to do chores as well. They loved the responsibilities of feeding the chickens, cleaning out their coop and yard, replacing straw, and most of all, collecting eggs!
I grew beans, tomatoes, and squash in a narrow yard leading to the chicken coop, so the kids learned how to care for and harvest the vegetables with the chickens milling around, which made it twice as much fun!
* note: A rain barrel close to the coop makes it easy and free to water the plants and keep lots of fresh water for the chickens to drink.
The truth is, chickens will capture your heart. They are loving, entertaining, and sometimes goofy.
Chickens as pets
Because I wanted my chickens to be pets as well as egg producers, I chose to raise them from chicks so that we could all bond with them. I bought four, (the minimum number you can buy) at a local feed store, after checking city ordinances and making sure they were all female. I needed a heat lamp, feeder, waterer, chicken feed, and a place inside to raise them until they are old enough to be moved outside full time (4-5 weeks). As much as you will have undoubtedly grown to love the chicks, you will be thrilled to have them out of your house!
Once you get them moved outside, the real fun begins. They will instantly take to their interesting new home and will love being out in the fresh air.
You will have installed some sort of roosting bar for them inside the coop that they will sleep on, and a nesting box or two to lay eggs in.
The maturing chickens will start to lay eggs at about 18 weeks old.
Chickens love to be let out of the coop in the morning and will go back in to lay eggs ( on their own schedule), or to sleep (around dusk ). You must never forget to shut and latch the door before dark as there are predators, even in the city,
I caught a sneaky raccoon one night, hanging out around the coop and an opossum another night. Don't worry, I took them to a local nature area (with permission, of course, and released them).
"Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy chickens and that's sort of the same thing"
My grandsons loved to play "defenders of the coop"!
The Eggs!
Oh, did I forget to mention the delicious, nutritious, beautiful free-range eggs that are straight from the coop to your skillet? I averaged 27 eggs a week from four hens. These eggs were often double, and sometimes triple yolks!
So... I hope I inspired you just a bit, to take the plunge if you have been considering starting a backyard chicken coop. In my opinion, there are innumerable benefits! Just be sure to research all of the many wonderful sites and blogs that specialize in the ins and outs of preparing for, and building your hen house and yard. As with any animal or pet you
choose to bring into your life, they are a serious responsibility, worthy of love, and care.
As with all of my blog posts, I'd love to hear from you about your experiences if you choose to give chickens a try!
Living my artful life!
Pam
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