Raising Chickens

13 Tips From Homesteaders

1. Check Local Laws

Laura Henderson of Craig, Colorado, says, “Some communities limit the number of chickens you can keep if you live in town, and others might not let you keep a rooster.”

2. Egg-Laying Fluctuates

One of the first things Henderson learned when she started raising chickens is that they produce fewer eggs during certain seasons. Hens tend to lay more eggs when the days are longer.

3. You Don't Need a Rooster

Beth Thompson of Tulsa, Oklahoma,  thought she’d need a rooster in order for her chickens to lay eggs. Turns out, that's not true. “When my hens got about six months old, they started laying eggs,” she says.

4. Mix It Up

When Thompson added another chicken to her backyard coop, she opted for a new species: an Ameraucana hen that looks interesting and lays blue eggs.

5. Be Ready to Doctor  Your Chickens

When chickens are fed a nutritious diet and have clean water, they’re usually pretty healthy, but Linda Hime of McPherson, Kansas, advises new chicken owners to keep a stock of chicken-tending supplies on hand.

6. Watch for Vent Prolapse

Hime has had to treat one of her hens for vent prolapse by bringing her indoors daily and letting her soak in a warm bath before cleansing the injured area and applying ointment.

7. Feed Them Right

Marina Jade Kistler of Lindsborg, Kansas, feeds her chickens Grubblies. “It’s supposed to help their eggshells be stronger,” she says, “and it has made their feathers so soft!”

8. Consider a Doghouse Coop

Investing in a large chicken coop can cost a few thousand dollars, but Ann Taylor of Lindsborg, Kansas, suggests using doghouses with straw inside if you’re new to raising chickens and don’t have a lot of money to spend.

9. Keep It Clean

“Clear out the old hay at least once every two weeks and put in clean dry hay,” Taylor says. “I put the droppings in my compost pile to compost, and then I use the compost to fertilize my vegetable plants.”

10. Cover the Chicken Yard

Within two months of getting her chickens, Taylor lost one to a hawk that swooped down into the chicken yard. She immediately installed chicken wire over the top of the chicken yard to prevent a recurrence.

11. Use Nesting Boxes

“If you find eggs where they shouldn’t be, pick them up and put them in a nesting box,” Henderson says. “Hens like laying eggs by other eggs, so putting them in a nesting box will encourage them to lay their eggs there.”

12. Network With Others

When Henderson first started, she discovered a forum with other chicken owners. “I used to be the one who asked all the questions,” she says, “but now, I’ve learned quite a bit and I enjoy helping others get started raising chickens of their own.”

13. Practice Biosecurity

When it comes to bird flu threats, you can’t overdo cleanliness and prevention to keep your investment of time and money secure. All chicken owners should have and follow a written plan to prevent the spread of diseases such as avian influenza.

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