You should have a minimum of 2.5 to 3.5 square feet per bird inside your coop and an additional 4 to 5 square feet in the fenced, outside area. Low-density housing results in less stress for your birds. Remember that predation is the most common cause of mortality in small poultry flocks- make sure you use strong wire fencing for your outdoor area and bury it at least six inches underground so predators can’t dig under it. There is a wide range of coops you can use, from an old, watertight doghouse to a custom made hen house, but your coop needs to have sufficient floor space, protection from the weather and predators, ventilation without drafts, a place to roost, and nest boxes for laying eggs. The coop should be an enclosed, dry shelter with a fenced outdoor area. To keep your chickens safe, they need to be kept in a confined space. Roosters are loud and aren’t necessary for hens to produce eggs. For a small operation, you probably don’t want a rooster. Choose the number of hens that will meet your egg needs- do you need eggs just for yourself, are you planning to give some to friends and neighbors, do you want to have some to sell? You also need to consider how much space you have and what type of chicken coop you will be using. That number will go down as the chickens get older. In their first year of production, each hen will produce about two eggs every three days, or up to 15 dozen in the year. If you’ve decided to get chickens, first you need to decide how large you want your flock to be. Someone will also need to gather eggs every day and make sure that your flock always has a clean, dry shelter. It is a lot more work than a vegetable garden. If it is legal where you live, you need to realize how much attention they need. In many urban and suburban areas, raising chickens is not legal or if it is legal there may be restrictions on the number of chickens you can have or bans on roosters. If you’re thinking about getting chickens, you should first see if it’s legal where you live. Spring is a perfect time to get your flock started. Many people are interested in having a backyard flock to provide eggs for themselves and their families. Raising chickens for eggs has become more popular in recent years. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest> Backyard Chickens
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