Looking After Pets

Keeping free range hens in your backyard can be a lot of fun.  You can get a constant supply of fresh, tasty, free-range eggs. If your aim is to have these birds as pets (like many people) you will not think about having the occasional Sunday roast dinner courtesy of your feathered flock, but it is something to at least consider as a good source of income perhaps.

None of this can be done without looking after your hens properly. Here, briefly, are the most important steps you must take to keep your free range hens healthy, safe and content.

Step 1, select the breed. It is very important to get the right birds for your particular location and circumstances.  Preference for warmer or cooler climes, egg-layer or dinner table, pet or farmyard bird – there are many things to consider before you get your hens.  Your local chicken supplier can advise, or other neighbors with hens of their own.  

Step 2, decide on the right number of birds. Chickens must have enough room to forage and nest. Plan on about one square meter or 10 square feet for each hen.  Measure out the area in which you intend to keep the hens, to determine the maximum number you can keep comfortably. For social reasons (the chickens, not you!) three is considered the minimum number of birds for a flock.

Step 3, decide how much time you will have available. Your hens will need you to allocate daily periods for providing food and water, cleaning out the coop and other jobs such as checking the security of perimeter fencing. Spend at least 15 minutes per day with your hens – they will love your company.

Step 4, build shelter and housing.  Your birds will need  safe places to roost and nest, particularly at night, and safety from predators. You should provide fresh water and shelter from hot sunshine. Buy or make a hen house that has good access for cleaning and collecting eggs without upsetting the birds too much.

Step 5, provide security. Safety from predators is paramount and there is a wide range of these including rodents, domestic animals such as dogs and cats, foxes, birds of prey, possibly snakes and other unwanted intruders.  Do not underestimate the ability of predators to gain access to your hens through or under fences over time.  The coop and hen run must be safe and secure from all such predators.  The chicken run will need a top as well, if there are birds of prey around or the run is close to trees – to prevent your chickens taking flight!

Step 6, consider health hazards. Poultry can suffer from quite a few diseases, so do some research into the common ones in your area.  Internet forums, local chicken farmers and vets are all useful sources – people involved with hens are all very helpful.  

Step 7, identify applicable laws.  Be sure to identify and follow all relevant rules and regulations about hen keeping in your area, although these are seldom very demanding.  Go to your local town hall, government offices or planning department for guidance.  

Step 8, provide a good diet.  Poultry must have access to a mixed diet of proteins, greens and grain, as well as fresh water. A good protein diet is important, and your local feed store will be able to advise on this.  Protein supplements and grit are sometimes needed, but most likely free range hens will get enough from their own foraging. Fresh, clean water must be available at all times.  If you are away during the day or on vacation, you should investigate automatic water dispensers for your hens. Your hens will probably get all the rest of their diet requirements from foraging.  

Step 9, consider weather and climate.  Most chicken varieties are fairly tolerant of harsh climactic conditions, provided that you give them access to shade when the sun is overhead. They can take a surprising amount of cold but they need to keep their feet dry.  

Step 10, consider your local environment. Usually keeping chickens is viewed as a good thing, so you should not encounter significant problems here.  It is sensible to involve your neighbors, who may be concerned about noise (hens are quiet, cocks or roosters are not!) and mess (hens in small quantities are very clean).  They might like the thought of a supply of free range eggs on their doorstep!

You can see that these vital steps are neither difficult nor obscure.  Following them should ensure that you have happy and healthy chickens in your backyard. Oh, one last thing – each of those happy hens should provide you with 6 fresh, free range eggs per week for most of the year!

We have a great deal of information about how to build a chicken coop and where to get the best chicken house plans on our website. Good luck with your birds – we know you will enjoy them!

Are you looking for a way to give your family the best nutrition and health?. Then, why don’t you make some good chicken coop plans on your own and build right in your own backyard? You can actually save money if you build it yourself and your chickens will have all the freedom to roam around. Growing your own chickens inside your own chicken coop has lots of benefits including nutritional and health benefits. With these fowls around, they can give you the freshest eggs. If you’re considering good chicken coop, you can go online and get some chicken coop designs plus you will learn how to build one by yourself.

If you are looking for a business, why go for organic foods and you can start with selling fresh eggs in your neighborhood? Right now, a lot of people are very concerned with their health and they are already watching what they eat. In the case of eggs, many people come to think that eating eggs everyday is not good for the health. Actually, it depends on the product. It’s not really the egg that is not good for the health but what made them. Maybe the fowls that hatched the eggs have been given daily of feeds with boosters and some of these chicken boosters have chemicals in them. If chickens were made to consume chemical-laden feeds, then, for sure, their eggs are not that healthy, right? Now, if your friends have heard that you have a chicken coop and you have chickens, they will surely be interested in asking if you have fresh eggs and would like to buy them. That’s why, learning in building chicken coops can really give you a lot of opportunity and health benefits.

Having your own chicken coop will not only be beneficial for your chickens. It will also keep them away from your garden and will make the surroundings free from weeds and pests. So, learn how to build chicken coop today and you will really enjoy raising your own chickens and get a good extra income out of it.