There are soooooo many people deciding to get chickens these days.
I guess a pandemic and economic down turn will make anyone realize how important it is to start providing for themselves.
Chickens are probably the easiest thing to start with when you want to begin being self-sustaining.
I am extremely happy to see that people are doing this, but I REALLY want to make sure everyone has a fantastic start on their homesteading journey with their new babies.
One needs to consider the startup costs involved. This includes a coop, water containers, feed pans, and fencing. The last thing I want is to have someone buy chicks and then in 6 months to a year decide that it’s not for them; so please be sure that before you jump head first into chickens, that you know it’s right for you and your family.
That being said, I have been asked to give new chicken moms and dads some tips for success.
So here goes.
5 Tips for New Chicken Moms and Dads
Choosing your breed: There are a myriad of choices of chicken breeds to choose from. I don’t even know them all! There are a few questions to ask yourself, though.
Do I live in a cold or warm environment? Chicken breeds with small combs and heavy feathering do well in cold climates. If you live where it is hot, you should consider heat hardy breeds.
Do I want egg layers, meat birds, combo birds or pets? Maybe you want all of those qualities. Some birds are better layers than others. Some will serve both purposes, although you can eat any chicken.
Temperament: Easy going breeds are always as safe bet, especially if you have kids. Roosters aren’t always mean, so don’t let that frighten you. We have never had a mean rooster in all the years that we have been breeding chickens.
Do you want to start with chicks or have adult birds? Sure chicks are super cute, but they do require a bit more work and you have to wait for them to either grow out to eat (8-12 weeks for broilers) or to start laying ( about 20-30 weeks). Chicks are cheaper, you can usually get some for about $2-$3 (specialty breeds cost more) but you do have to feed them. Adult birds could cost $20, $30, even more depending on breed but you don’t have to feed because the breeder has taken care of that. I really can’t answer whether this is best for you or not, you will just have to weigh the pros and cons for yourself.
Brooder: If you decide on chicks you will need a brooder. Brooders help your chicks thrive in their ideal temperature which is usually set at 90 degrees F. This temperature is regulated and will be decreased slowly until the chicks are ready to be moved to the coop outside. This brooder needs to be kept clean and dry to prevent disease, so factor in daily cleanings when deciding if you are starting with chicks.
Coops: ALL chickens need a coop. There are TONS of coop designs online that you can do on a shoe string budget. Just Google it and see what strikes your fancy. Of course, you can always hire someone to make you one or buy a prefab. Keep in mind that chickens poop, A LOT. So make sure the design makes for easy cleaning. Here are some things you need to keep in mind.
Predators: Be mindful of predators in your area. No matter where you live, it’s best to provide coverage on the top as well. Coyotes, bobcats, hawks, raccoons, and other predators can easily access your chickens from the top.
Weather: No matter what breed or different types of chickens you decide to keep, you must still consider how to protect them from the weather, including rain, hail, sleet, snow, cold and heat.
Space: The minimum rule of thumb is about 2 to 3 square feet per chicken inside the chicken coop, and 8 to 10 square feet per chicken in an outside run. More square footage is better. Skimping on space requirements for a flock of chickens can cause stress, cannibalism, pecking, and sometimes even death. The last thing I want to see are several chickens crammed in a tiny space. That is no life for a chicken.
Sanitation: Make sure that your chicken coop is always clean. This should prevent diseases to hit your flock. Sanitation is important as it can affect the overall health and mood of the chickens. It’s important to keep up with the maintenance. Even when you clean regularly, wash your hands after any contact with the birds, coop, after feeding, etc. Regularly replace the bedding you use in the coop as this helps keep the chickens clean. This also controls the smell of the manure of the chicken.
Food: Chickens are omnivores (they eat meat and veggies/fruit and insects), they are NOT vegetarians (I don’t care what the egg carton says). If you’ve decided to start with chicks rather than buying hens or pullets (young females that have not started to lay), you must use starter feeds which are made up of 20% protein. Use this for the first 6 weeks for the chicks. From the starter feeds, the pullets will move to a grower feed. This should allow the chicken to grow at an appropriate pace until they are ready to lay eggs. This feed is used from the 6th week of the chicks (the time they leave the brooder) to their 14th-16th week. You will then switch to layer. This provides the calcium needed for eggs. Feed is about $20 per 50-pound bag, but prices vary depending on your location and the quality of the feed. How long a bag lasts depends on the number of chickens that you have. We feed a quality non-GMO and soy free brand made right here in Texas. Also, our chickens free range and get all kinds of scraps. This cuts down on feed costs.
Water: Chickens need fresh water daily. There are all kinds of watering devices that help make it easier and cleaner.
Are you ready to get started?
Maybe you have some further questions. Post them in the comments or shoot me an email at thechosenweeds@gmail.com. I will be happy to help in any way that I can.
