When the idea to raise laying hens first occurred to me, I figured it would be nice to have fresh eggs, and I could also say I owned chickens. Beyond that, I didn’t think much of it…little did I know what incredible pets they would turn out to be!
Chickens are truly the most amusing creatures and remind me of little aliens (especially when they talk!) Their funny chatter and mannerisms are endearing in a way that I did not expect. My girls are Ameraucanas, which are generally thought to be one of the more amiable breeds. However, while different breeds can tend to display different personality traits, upbringing has a huge affect on how your hens turn out. If you interact with your chicks a lot from the time they’re little, they will likely be more tame when they grow up, regardless of their heritage.
In addition to eggs and entertainment value, chickens also provide benefits in the garden. They are a natural solution to keeping the bug population in line, while also depositing little nuggets of fertilizer as the go about their business! The downside, of course, is that while they’re scratching around for food, they can often uproot plants. They might also decide they’re going to eat your lettuce before you get the chance, so you’ll need to fence off some areas of the garden if that’s a concern.
If you’re thinking about keeping your own little backyard flock, these are some of the things you’ll need to first consider.
HOA/City rules/neighbors
First, you’ll need to find out whether you’re legally permitted to have chickens in your area. Some cities, unfortunately, do not allow you to keep any chickens. If your city does let you keep chickens, there’s usually a limit, or you may require a license (which is usually not that difficult to obtain). Also, a lot of places will not allow you to keep roosters, but this shouldn’t be a problem if you’re just looking to keep hens for eggs.
If your city is alright with you keeping chickens, the next thing to look into is whether or not your neighborhood covenants (if you have them) allow for chickens. If you’re part of an HOA, there’s a chance that they will frown on it, but find out anyway—you never know!
Chores
Once you’ve determined whether or not you’re allowed to keep chickens, you’ll also need to determine if they’ll be a good fit for your schedule and lifestyle. Once they’ve grown a bit and you’ve established their living quarters, chickens are fairly low-maintenance; you’ll want to make sure they have enough fresh water and food, will want to collect their eggs, and will need to make sure they’re locked up safely in their coop each night so that predators cannot get to them. (Occasionally, they’ll also need their coop cleaned and liter replaced, but definitely not every day.) Feeding and watering isn’t particularly difficult or time-consuming, but does mean you’ll need to tend to them twice a day. If you travel a lot, chickens may not be right for you at this point, unless you have a very dependable person who’s willing to help out with this.
Feed & Other Expenses
Chickens do require a considerable initial investment, of both time and money. Raising your hens from chicks means you’ll need a space where you can set up a brooder box—this can be a cardboard box, plastic tote, or metal horse tank, or you can build one from wood. This will likely be kept somewhere other than inside your house, but it will need to be inside, so usually the garage is an ideal place. They’ll need a heat lamp, special chick food, and water, and when they’re little, you’ll want to be monitoring them fairly frequently throughout the day.
Once they’re ready to live outside, they’ll need a secure coop or henhouse and a run, or a place outside of their coop that’s still protected from predators. Whether you buy a pre-made coop or build it yourself, this can run anywhere from $100 to several hundred dollars.
Also, if you plan to eventually let them be free-range, you’ll need to make sure your yard is securely fenced in and protected from any neighborhood dogs that might be running around.
Once they’re grown and their living quarters are set up, things like feed and scratch are not that expensive, especially if they have access to pasture (i.e., your grass, bugs, etc.)
Additional/Special Care
A flock with a well-balanced diet (greens, scratch grains, bugs and commercial feed) should be fairly healthy. Unlike other pets, chickens don’t require regular checkups or shots. However, if one of your hens sustains a major injury or becomes ill, you may want to visit the vet. Depending on the ailment, though, it is possible to take care of some problems yourself, though this will require a bit of research.
Egg-stra Value…(Sorry, couldn’t resist!)
Overall, there is tremendous value in keeping chickens. While they may not initially be a money-saver, fresh eggs collected from your own backyard are priceless. Growing your own eggs, so to speak, is one step toward real sustainability. You’ll know that they’re coming from happy, healthy chickens, which incidentally, result in healthier eggs for you. They taste so much better, and are nutritionally worlds better than the conventional grocery store egg. Eggs from your own backyard didn’t have to travel miles and burn gallons of gas.
And personally, I think chickens are the ideal pet. They’re relatively easy to care for and don’t require tons of attention, yet if treated right, will certainly be friendly and affectionate (not all chickens like physical affection, though some do like to be petted and held!)
Conclusion
Keeping chickens is certainly not for everyone, and that’s okay! You may not currently be in a situation where keeping them is ideal, but maybe one day you will. If you decided you want chickens, be sure to do your research. If you’re not ready for chickens, I would highly recommend visiting your local farmers market and finding fresh, free-range eggs there, because they’re definitely worth it; you’ll not only be doing yourself a favor, but helping out local growers and our environment as well.
