Backyard Farm: Farm Animals - Chickens

At some point you may begin thinking about adding livestock to your little farm.  Raising animals is not for everyone, but, those who do take the step of adding animals to their life, are usually surprised at how the animals are so different from what they had expected.  They have personalities!  Even chickens have individual characteristics and endearing qualities.

"What?!" you say...  Yes indeed, each chicken is one of a kind.  I admit it, I always thought chickens were dumb as dirt, but they proved me wrong.  Chickens give more than just eggs and meat, they provide entertainment and also help reduce stress.

We bought our chickens as day old chicks (maybe they were more likely a week old).  Even at that
tender age there were two who stood out from the rest.  One was the most timid, the other was the "boss" and the other 11 birds gave way to her.  At least for a while.

Penny is the "Boss of the hen house"

As the weeks passed, and the little girls grew larger and stronger, they each became a bit more assertive and eventually the "boss" was ousted and another took over the lead.

Now, three years later, the pecking order has changed several times.  Most of them have names and we can tell by their individual sound which is "talking".


Chickens don't require much, a safe place to sleep at night and lay their eggs, food and water.  They

are natural foragers and spend much of their day outdoors eating grass and bugs.  The more they forage the better their eggs will taste, plus it will keep the feed expense low.

During the months between snow seasons, our hens find most of their meals in the yard.  This is supplemented with table-scraps.  Cracked corn is given as a treat, and feed pellets supplement during the months when they cannot forage.

Because of our location they have a fenced in "run" where they can run around, dig in the dirt, etc. when we are away.  Our chickens have been given lots of personal space both in the hen house and in
the run.

The hen house is 8' x 10' and we have found that 6 laying boxes is sufficient.  They also have two roosts made of 1"x5" boards.  There are three large windows for light and air circulation.

They require at least 10 hours of sunlight in order to lay eggs regularly.  And the ample air circulation keeps the flies away and the house less smelly.

For comfort and cleanliness we spread a thick layer of fine wood chips on the floor and in the laying boxes.  Chickens poop a lot, which is good for the garden but not for a living space.  By having a thick layer of wood chips it is easy to scoop up the droppings from beneath the roosts with a wide shovel, such as a snow shovel, and allows us to reduce major cleanings to once or twice a month.

Major cleaning involves removing all the used chips and droppings, then replacing it all with fresh chips.  At least once yearly the hen house needs to be emptied and hosed down.  Adding a mild disinfectant, such as vinegar, will help in keeping your chickens happy and healthy.

Don't throw the chips away, toss them and the poo onto the compost pile.

How many chickens should you get?  That depends on how much space you have and how many birds are permitted by local zoning laws.  In some cities although you can keep a chicken as a pet, you cannot have more than one or two.  Other towns have no zoning laws whatsoever regarding keeping chickens.  To find zoning laws for your area you can go to your city/town's official web-site and do a search for  "Zoning Regulations".   Or do a web-search for: ("Your City/St"zoning regulations)

Even if the zoning allows chickens, don't get a rooster without first talking with your neighbors.
Some people do not appreciate the crowing of a rooster at all hours of the night.

How large is your family?  How many eggs do they normally consume  daily?  Chickens may or may not produce an egg every day.  We have 14 hens and normally get 10-12 eggs daily.  During the winter months when daylight hours are fewer, and our hens molt, we get 3-4 eggs daily.

If you normally purchase a dozen eggs per week, then I would suggest 2-3 hens.

Another hurtle to getting your chicks is where you get them.  Most farm stores that sell chicks have a minimum, 6 or 12.   If there are farms in your area you may be able to buy just the few chicks you need.