Saucy Pet

Backyard chicken raising is a wonderful hobby.  You will enjoy delicious, fresh eggs almost daily. If you intend to raise your hens as pets you will not think about having the occasional Sunday roast dinner courtesy of your feathered flock, but it is an attractive option for some poultry keepers.

But, whatever your plans or aims, you must raise and keep your chickens properly in order to achieve them. So here are the 10 vital steps for raising and keeping your poultry happily and in great condition.

Step 1, decide on the breed. It is very important to get the right birds for your particular location and circumstances.  Susceptible to hot or cold climates, boiler or layer, hobby or business – these are just a few of the aspects when choosing your flock.  Your local chicken supplier can advise, or other neighbors with hens of their own.  

Step 2, decide on the right number of birds. Hens need space in which to forage, exercise and nest comfortably. Plan on about one square meter or 10 square feet for each bird.  This will govern the maximum number of chickens you should plan on getting, based on the available space you have. Three is considered the minimum, because hens like company.

Step 3, decide how much time you will have available. You will need to allocate a period daily for providing food and water, cleaning out the coop and other jobs such as inspection of perimeter fencing. Budget about 15 minutes per day, at the same time if possible – hens love routine.

Step 4, build shelter and housing.  Poultry must have places to roost, nest and forage safely. They also must have a place to shelter from too much sun and they need a supply of fresh water. A good chicken coop will have easy access for cleaning and a way to collect eggs without disturbing the hens too much.

Step 5, provide protection. Safety from predators is vital, and threats come from many creatures including cats and dogs, rats, wild animals, birds of prey, even snakes.  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.  Look out for eagles and other big birds of prey, and put a suitable covering over the run if necessary – it will also stop your chickens flying up into nearby trees!

Step 6, consider health hazards. Poultry can suffer from quite a few diseases, so do some research into the common ones in your area.  Try speaking to local chicken farmers and vets, as well as online forums – you will get a lot of help from the chicken-keeping community.  

Step 7, identify applicable laws.  You must comply with all national and local regulations relating to raising or keeping poultry, although often these are not too oppressive.  Your local town hall or government offices should be able to give you all the guidance and information you need.  

Step 8, provide a good diet.  Hens need a diet of greens, grains, protein and fresh water. Protein is particularly important – talk to your local feed supplier for advice on this.  You might need to introduce protein supplements and grit into your hen food, but most likely free range hens will get enough from their own foraging. There must be a constant supply of fresh, clean water.  If you are away during the day or on vacation, you should investigate automatic water dispensers for your hens. The rest of your hens’ diet should be met by foraging around their pen area.  

Step 9, consider weather and climate.  So long as they have shelter from hot, midday sun, most chicken varieties are able to adapt to a wide range of weather and climactic conditions. They do need to keep their feet dry, however.  

Step 10, consider your local environment. Usually keeping chickens is viewed as a good thing, so you should not encounter significant problems here.  Perhaps talk to any neighbors who might have concerns about possible noise or smells, to reassure them.  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!

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