How to Raise Chickens & Roosters
If you love fresh eggs and want to be sure the eggs you eat came from healthy, happy hens, few things are more rewarding than raising your own chickens. Your efforts will be compensated not only by a healthy sustainable food source but also the entertainment of watching your birds' daily antics. Roosters are optional since they can be aggressive and the hens can lay unfertilized eggs without them.
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Things You'll Need
- Sturdy box with lid
- Newspaper
- Pine shavings
- Heat lamp with bulb
- Chick waterer
- Chick feeder
- Chick starter mash
- Baby chicks
- Coop
- Layer pellet
Instructions
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Check local ordinances that sometimes limit the number of chickens you are allowed to raise.
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Prepare the box by lining the bottom with newspapers and a thin layer of pine shavings. Take it with you to your local feed store to pick up the chicks and supplies.
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Clamp the heat lamp to the side of the box, or to another solid object, so it hangs approximately 8 inches above chicks at one end of the open box. Allow enough space at other end of box for chicks to escape the heat when necessary.
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Place water and feeder in box, keeping both filled at all times.
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Maintain the temperature for newborn chicks at 90 to 100 degrees F. Reduce the temperature by 5 degrees each week until the chicks start to have feathers.
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Clean the box at least once a day so chicks will stay dry and be less prone to disease.
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Locate your future coop outside in a place where it is easily accessible and has some shade. There they will need access to nest boxes, perches, fresh water and layer pellet. You may also place it so the chickens have access to dirt for taking dust baths.
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Transfer the chickens to an outdoor coop once they are fully feathered. Ideally, they should be slowly acclimatized to being outdoors over the course of about a week, depending on outdoor temperatures. Make sure to keep them in the coop for a few days before allowing them to free range so they will know where to return at night.
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Tips & Warnings
Chicks can also be obtained by acquiring eggs to hatch, in which case you will need an incubator.
In many feed stores or online hatcheries, you can choose a specific breed of chicken if you order ahead.
When choosing a breed of chicken, avoid leghorns--they are difficult birds and are meant for commercial production.
Allowing your chicks to free range where they have access to fresh greens and bugs will make the eggs more nutritious.
Spend time with the chicks each day so they will not be stressed by handling when they are older.
Keep your flock to no more than 20 chickens, otherwise they will have problems keeping track of the "pecking order," which may lead to frequent quarrels.
Chickens are vulnerable to birds of prey and ground predators such as foxes and dogs, so make the coop as sturdy as possible and preferably cover the roof with netting material.
References
- Photo Credit chicken image by Sergey Goruppa from Fotolia.com
