Backyard Chickens: Fun and Profitable

Raising Backyard Chickens

Growing backyard chickens can certainly end up being easier than you suppose. As a matter of fact, this can turn out to be both an enjoyable and profitable hobby. There are many, many states and cities that do allow you to raise your own chickens even if you do not live in a farm. You can easily get permission as long as you have a backyard and ample space.

Of course, the primary reason most folks are interested in Backyard Chickens is for the eggs. This might shock you, but the 'farm fresh' eggs you buy in the supermarket can be as much as 45 days old or more! And, this is true for "free-range" eggs, as well. The nutritional value of eggs begins to drop on day one.

Eggs from your own chickens, however, have brighter, richer yolks with much higher levels of nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, beta-carotene and vitamin E. In fact, home-grown eggs have 25% more vitamin E, 33% more vitamin A and 75% more beta-carotene than those you usually buy.

Another reason many people would rather raise their own backyard chickens is the security of knowing they will be eating healthy, clean poultry. While it can be a bit awkward and pretty unpleasant to slaughter your own chickens, you can always choose alternatives to Do It Yourself. You can, for example, bring your chickens to the butcher or nearby rancher when it is the right time.

Let's take a look at a general overview about how you, too, can raise backyard chickens.

Get the permits and permissions

Prior to you make your mind up to create a coop for your backyard chickens, you initially need to check out with your local Health Department. These people are the best source about whether or not you can have chickens in your backyard. While there are many, many cities and communities that already allow their residents to raise chickens, there still may be some restrictions and limitations you need to always be mindful of.

Also, you could possibly want to let (blank) neighbors know you are preparing to build a coop. You see, sometimes chickens can possibly be a little noisy. In the particular world of chickens, it is the roosters who are usually the noisy ones and you don't need roosters for the hens to lay eggs. They get along just great without having one. In fact, some towns allow hens but won't permit roosters.

Plan the coop

You need to place it strategically in your backyard because chickens need to be checked on daily. It is your responsibility to make sure they have enough food, water, as well as light, especially when they are laying eggs.

Presently there are many inexpensive approaches to start. Just make sure to appropriate accessories like perches and nesting boxes needed to make the coop conducive for laying eggs. Also, you have to make sure the place will not be too crowded for your chickens. This is why it will be important to know the space requirements connected with your several breeds and choose precisely how many chickens do you plan to have. A common rule, for egg production, is half a dozen to eight birds for a household of four.

Acquire your own chickens

You can always start with buying the chicks and enabling them grow but that can easily be a real challenge. Baby chicks need heat. For their initial few days, they require 90 degrees, Twenty-four hours a day. It is a tremendous joy to be able to observe the little chicks mature into egg-laying members of the household. Still, for the majority of folks buying pullets (young females) is actually much more convenient.

A chicken lays about a egg a day, however there is a great variety among the 60 varieties of chickens. White Leghorns, for example, can lay up to 300 eggs a year. Once you receive the eggs, of course, you can decide whether you will sell them in a market or not. You can usually try selling the eggs to your loved ones members, friends, and relatives. When they taste the actual difference in your eggs and the one's they are used to, you may not always be in a position to be able to fill the demand. They will be pleased to know they are receiving fresh and clean eggs.

If you decide on raising chicks, you generally acquire them at a local feed store. A word of warning, it is extremely difficult to determine the sex of baby chicks. Most stores will only guarantee 50% females, leaving you with the challenge associated with just what to do with the males.

Getting along with your chickens

Sometimes, your backyard chickens will probably grow to be part of the family. Some friendly breeds relish human company and will come when called. My eight-year-old granddaughter loves to carry "Edith," wrapped in a towel just about all over the place. Some chickens are friendly, while others are plain elusive or in chicken parlance "flighty." The White Leghorns I written about earlier, for example, are generally very skittish as well as a little cranky.

But when you provide a decent coop, good clean water, healthy nutritious food and some room for your chickens to stretch their legs, the hens will provide you with a steady supply of excellent eggs for years.

This growing and profitable hobby is perfect for times of economic challenge. Not only do you benefit from higher quality eggs and meat, you do so at great savings. In addition, backyard chickens make excellent pets. You can learn a lot more about this by signing up for the FREE mini-course at http://www.allaboutbackyardchickens.com Learn from the experts.