Hen Of The Woods Mushrooms Recipe

What You Need to Know About Owning Hens

Raising backyard chickens has become a popular hobby for people all over the country, and it can be a fun, educational and rewarding experience. It can even provide your breakfast. However, before you dive in, there are some things you need to know before you raise hens.

Starting With Chicks

Often, people who want to raise flocks of hens start with baby chicks. They're adorable and pretty inexpensive, and you can generally find them at your local feed or farm store during the spring. You can also order them from various hatcheries online. Keep in mind that baby chicks require heat of up to 95 degrees for their first week of life, so you'll likely need to purchase a heat lamp for them. You can slowly decrease the temperature each week until they have all their feathers, usually by eight weeks, according to USA Today. Your little chicks will also need water and starter feed.

How Many Chickens?

Chickens are social animals, so be prepared to have at least four at a time or more depending on how much space you have and how many eggs you want. Many people assume they need a rooster in order for their hens to lay eggs, but hens lay eggs without a rooster. If you plan to raise more baby chicks in the future, you'll need a rooster to fertilize the eggs. A rooster can also help protect your flock. One rooster per 12 hens should be adequate, according to USA Today.

About Egg Laying

Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Rock, Sussex, Leghorn and Marans are all considered good egg-laying breeds, and all are typically easy to acquire. These breeds and other hens known for being good layers can produce up to 300 eggs per year. However, that production level will likely drop after the first two to three years of life. Also, keep in mind that hens lay more eggs during the warm and sunny spring and summer months. The less daylight they receive, the fewer eggs they produce.

Know the Laws

Before you add backyard chickens to your home, check your local laws. Unless you already live in a rural area or on farmland, you may find that your municipality has limits on how many chickens you can own per acre. Some cities and counties also ban rooster ownership in certain residential areas. And if you plan to sell your eggs, you'll want to find out if there are any laws regarding that.

Be Prepared

Before you even bring your baby chicks home, make sure you have everything you need to keep your hens safe and happy. You'll need a coop, of course. It should be big enough so that your chickens have enough space to enjoy their day, and you'll want a nesting box for every three hens. You'll also need to make sure it's safe from predators. Depending on where you live, these may include raccoons, dogs, coyotes, foxes, hawks, owls and possums. The coop will also require protection from weather and extreme temperatures. Your chickens will require fresh food and water each day, too.