Getting to Know Your Chickens

This is Hortense, an Austrolorp breed. She was the blue ribbon winner at the Garland County Fair 2 years ago. They are one of the most prolific layers and one holds the record for the most eggs produced in a year.

When I brought her home I almost split my sides laughing at her and the other chickens. Being penned up without male companionship must have raised her hormone levels. As soon as I put her in the pen, the other hens ran at her to establish pecking order. Red was going to have none of that. He raised a wing and ambled between the other hens and Hortense as much to say, "Back off, this lady is mine."

Hortense proceeded to dig a hole. She put her fanny up in the air and Red had his way with her. She was head honcho from that point on. She'd strut around the other hens, chasing them away from anything she thought should rightfully be hers first. So I called her "Hortense" to bring Her Majesty down a peg. Didn't work. She still thinks she runs the coop.

Phew! That Smell! (or Are you my gardening friend?)

The first thing you'll notice is the smell. It is easily controled with lime and your gardening buddies. Let them 'clean' the cage for all the poo they want. Wonderful fertilizer and best if put in the composte pile for awhile to decompose enough not to burn the plants befors spreading. The lime neutralizes the odor and the acidity so it should decompose rather quickly. The more chickens the more poo so keep a list of your gardening buddies handy.

Raising Chickens in the City

Chickens are one of the easiest kinds of livestock to raise. Their requirements are so easy to meet that city-dwellers can often find room for at least 2 or 3. They are not picky about what they eat and they will reward your care with fresh eggs that contain no hormones or antibiotics. Be sure and check with your local goverment for restrictions on how many if any you are allowed to have.

GETTING STARTED

A small coop, big enough for you to move around in easily is necessary. This can be free-standing or a wired-off part of a larger building. An enclosure six feet by eight feet and about five feet or more high will be fine. Depending on the weather where you live, they will need to be protected from the elements. If you have more room, make it larger if you like. You will need a couple of nest boxes. Five-gallon plastic pails, cut in half, top to bottom, and fastened to the wall will make fine nest boxes. Fill the nest boxes with straw or long pine needles. Chickens don't mind sharing and in fact are encouraged to lay more if there is already an egg in the nest. You can use golf balls as incentives to get the process going. Also you must provide containers for food and water that the birds can eat from. Chickens are messy eaters so expect to see their food all over the place. They will eventually eat it all though so there is little waste.

FEED AND WATER

While it is possible to raise healthy chickens on "Scratch" your birds will be happier if you feed them Purina “Layena” or similar chicken feed for layers. All you have to do is carry a bag home and dispense to the birds. They appreciate chopped greens from your kitchen and love whole-kernel corn and stale baked goods, like good chickens everywhere. Always keep fresh clean water available to your birds. Make sure it stays clean and does not freeze in winter.

WHAT KIND OF CHICKENS TO GET

Simply put, the bigger the better! Rhode Island Reds are great because they lay nice, big brown eggs so get the best stock you can find. Another good layer is the Austrolorp. These can usually be found at your county fair. and are the most consistent layers, averaging almost an egg a day.

SIT BACK AND WAIT

For the types of chickens available:

http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html