Coyote Logistics
Basic Chicken Care – Are You Prepared For The Work
Have you ever considered getting a few chickens so that you can have fresh eggs?
Many people are deciding to http://wp.me/pQMih-12 You can also join the blog on this site and see what other people have to say about keeping chickens.”>keep chickens keep them in their back yard. But many times they are ill prepared to care for the chickens they get.
There are a few things you need to consider before you jump in and acquire a flock of chickens.
Can you afford to properly care for them? While they are not terribly costly to maintain, you still have to buy special chicken feed for them. Chickens cannot defend themselves very well and are vulnerable to predation. Can you afford to build them a sturdy shelter with perches and a sturdy predator proof “yard” for them to run around in?
They also need a laundry list of other supplies when you initially get started and the startup costs can range up to $2000 or $3000. You need fencing materials for a chicken yard or run, building materials for a hen house, nets, dishes, heat lamps, light timers, food and permits to keep the birds just to name a few things.
Are you prepared to deal with the unwanted pests that the chickens will draw to your property? Even if you are, are you very sure that your neighbors will be as accepting? Keeping chickens in your back yard tends to attract large birds of prey, mites, lice, raccoons, opossum, foxes, coyotes, dogs, snakes, etc. Many of these animals can decimate your flock very quickly.
Did you know that a well cared for chicken can live to be 14 years of age or older? Are you prepared to care for your chickens this long? On average, a hen will begin laying eggs around 6 months old and her egg laying will peak at the ripe old age of 18 months. The older your hen gets, the few eggs she will lay. Are you willing to keep “non productive” hens around? If not, what will you do with her?
If the chicken area is not properly cleaned, it will smell and draw even more pests. Your neighbors will also complain. Do you have the time to devote to properly clean the chicken coop and chicken yard? Be prepared to set up an area to deposit the soiled bedding, nesting box bedding and droppings. Even if you intend to use them in your garden, they will have to sit and “cool” before they can be used.
If you live in a rural area, your neighbors won’t be as big of a problem. But if you live “in town” so to speak, you will need to make sure that you can own chickens where you live. You will probably also need to obtain a permit to have the animals on your property. You neighbor may also complain constantly about any roosters that you may unwittingly end up with as the tend to crow all day long, not just at dawn.
These are just some of the down sides of owning your own flock of chickens. While they can be a lot of fun and the eggs are a great benefit, you need to carefully consider the Logistics and possible problems before you get into owning chickens. For more information on chicken care, Check this out.
About the Author
Owning chickens can be a great deal of fun. Just be sure that you are prepared for the amount of work and time you are going to have to invest in caring for them. Depending on how handy you are, it may not be very costly to get set up initially. But if you have to have a contractor do everything for you, it can get expensive quick. For more tips on chicken care and to sign up for a free newsletter full of helpful tips visit my blog. You can also check out the site listed there so that you know what you are getting into ==>http://wp.me/pQMih-12 You can also join the blog on this site and see what other people have to say about keeping chickens.
The Green Exchange | Chicago Business Today
