Keeping Hens for Eggs
A backyard chicken flock is a great way to learn about chickens, enjoy new pets and get fresh eggs. You may not know that you don't need a rooster to get eggs from hens! Although there are daily "farm" chores, chickens require very little work once you're set up. You'll need a predator proof chicken coop, a feeder, a waterer, some pine shavings, chicken feed and of course, some chickens. The coop is the biggest task and the most important for ensuring your chickens' safety. We'll talk about coop construction, and decide if you want a free roaming flock or an enclosed pen.
Getting Started with Chicks
There is no need to hatch your own chicks from the eggs. Also,
if you buy full grown chickens you miss out on the cute babies and
the control in how they are raised. Raising your own chicks gives
you options such as all organic feed and spending the time to make
them docile and people friendly. Buying chicks from a local reputable
feed store is always the best way to go. They are available at a day
old with necessary vaccinations. Buying chicks online often results in
a lot of deaths, and buying from a friend or farmer may leave you with
unchecked diseases and some unwanted roosters.
People who count their chickens before they are hatched act
very wisely, because chickens run about so absurdly that
it is impossible to count them accurately
-Oscar Wilde
