Jul 14, 2020

Is Backyard Chicken-Keeping for You?

No need to wing it when considering the feathered additions to your flock

More time at home has led to the tackling of to-do lists and crafty projects that had previously been placed on the back burner. For many, turns out, those lists included backyard chicken coops.

Urban and suburban chicken-raising has become more common as awareness has risen in regards to the ease and associated economical and environmental benefits. That's become even more the case as the number of backyard coops and chicken-keeping families has increased during the recent pandemic.

Benefits of raising your own chickens

Companionship: chickens are intelligent, sociable and even affectionate creatures, capable of forming strong bonds with humans
More nutrient-dense eggs than those found at grocery stores, often available fresh daily; containing 2-3 times more omega 3 fatty acids than factory-farmed eggs
Cultivation of a more beneficial personal/local economy; decreasing costs, wastes, and mistreatment of animals created by the poultry industry
A natural form of weed and bug control and
Chicken waste can be added to compost and used as an excellent fertilizer
Waste reduction:

“They’re omnivores and will eat just about anything natural that comes out of the kitchen,” says Andrew Malone, who runs Funky Chicken Farm in Melbourne, Florida. "Just make sure to supplement kitchen scraps with a proper feed to ensure your chickens are getting the nutrition they need to stay healthy."

Steps to prep

Figure out your budget and don't skimp on the quality of nutrition that you'll feed to your chickens. What you feed them, you will ultimately feed yourself, your family/friends, and the soil.
Consider your lifestyle, both now and predictably post-pandemic (as schedules will likely busy back up some), and ensure that you have adequate energy and support to dedicate to chicken companions.
Familiarize yourself with poultry-keeping ordinances in your area (found online or by calling your local government agency. Most areas allow at least three hens, but some don't permit the noisier roosters. Fortunately, hens don't need a rooster to lay eggs.
While you likely won't need permission from neighbors, it's a compassionate step to share your plan with those immediately around your place.
Do your research. Reach out to farmers and other chicken-keepers. Ask questions and be sure to take notes. There are also other guides in circulation that can offer more in-depth insight, such as those found here and here.

Chickens are such an entertaining delight to have around. When combined with the many benefits offered by sharing your yard with them, it's understandable why so many are feeling the pull to build the coop.