The Beginner’s Guide to Keeping Chickens
Keeping backyard chickens is an increasingly popular activity. It can be incredibly rewarding, and that’s before you consider all the eggs you will technically be getting for free from now on. However, there are a few things you need to be clued up on before embarking on this new venture. As with any animal, chickens require responsible care.
In this short beginner’s guide, we will be taking you through some of the key things you need to understand about keeping chickens. From purchasing their home to setting up their daily routine, we’ve got you covered. Let’s jump in!
How to Choose Your First Coop
First thing’s first, you need to have a suitable place for your chickens to live. There are two ways to go about this. You can either buy a made-for-purpose coop sold by commercial poultry equipment suppliers, or you could simply convert your shed/outbuilding. You have options.
There are a few key considerations when it comes to your coop. You should generally aim to have a coop that could house more chickens than you intend to keep. The extra space will keep them happier and minimize stress.
Your chickens will also require space for both nesting and perching. If you are short on space, you could invest in a smaller house with a run attached.
What Should You Feed Your Chickens?
As is the case with any living creature, chickens require a balanced diet for optimal health. This should mostly arrive from a high-quality poultry feed. If you would like to treat your chickens, fresh fruit and vegetables in small quantities can be added to their daily feed.
Some foods that chickens should never be fed are:
- Avocados
- Citrus fruits
- Raw potato
- Onion
- Chocolate
- Garlic
- Uncooked beans or rice
You should also not feed them anything high in salt or fat, even as a treat.
If you’re not sure about a specific food, always double-check if it’s safe before feeding it to your chickens. What you consider a ‘treat’ could actually prove harmful to them.
Do Chickens Need a Routine?
As strange as it may initially seem, chickens absolutely benefit from a daily routine. They aren’t the sort of pet that can be left unattended for extended periods.
They generally like to stick to the same feed and cleanout times, otherwise they can become uncomfortable or distressed.
They love time outdoors too, so don’t lock them away until dusk.
Which Breed Should You Get?
There are hundreds of breeds of chicken out there. In fact, there isn’t an agreed-upon figure of how many breeds there are. However, there are specific categories of each breed that serve different purposes. These include:
- Egg Laying: as their name suggests, these chickens are bred to produce large amounts of eggs in shorter periods of time
- Meat Breeds: these chickens grow very quickly and are bred to be eaten, with alarmingly fast weight gain
- Heritage Breeds: these chickens have longer lifespans and are designed for breeding or as long-term pets
Everyone gets chickens for different reasons, so make sure to research a breed before purchasing them. If you want to have your chickens for a long time, the meat breed isn’t ideal.
Regardless of which breed you purchase, they all require the same level of care. Keeping chickens is about more than simply collecting eggs!
Now You’re an Expert!
Kind of. This was just a beginner’s guide to keeping chickens, and while we have covered some of the key aspects, there is still a lot left to learn.
Make sure to complete adequate research before committing to any pet. They can be highly rewarding, but they also deserve a proper home with sufficient care. Keep that in mind and you are good to go!
