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04/12/2018 12:00 AMIf you or your family have ever considered keeping a small flock of chickens on your property, there's no time like spring-time to get started. For those with the time and the space, chickens can be fun, practical for the eggs they provide, and make good outdoor pets.
Where to Begin
There are some basic principles of caring for your flock that you'll want to learn upfront. Foremost, your birds will require basic regular care. According to Jim Merrithew of Guilford, who started his flock of four chickens eight years ago when his two daughters were young, you'll need to check on your hens daily.
"Make sure they have fresh water, check they have food, gather up any eggs they have laid, and if you let them run in your yard, open up the coop in the morning and get them back into the coop before night," Jim says, and beyond that, "Once a week you clean the coop of any droppings and work those into the soil in your garden so you never have to buy fertilizer again."
When Merrithew first decided to buy chickens, he visited nearby Lakeside Feed, a family-run business in Guilford that serves as a one-stop shop for getting started with everything from information about the different breeds and buying baby chicks, to the bird feed and basic supplies needed—like straw for bedding and white pine shaving for the coop's floor —as well as a willingness to answer questions and give advice.
Selecting Breeds
Merrithew started with two-week old chicks of four different breeds: Buff Orpington, Australorp, Ameraucana, and New Hampshire Red. He says his daughters enjoyed helping with the chickens—and of course, eating the eggs.
"The yolks of fresh eggs are so dark yellow and tasty," Merrithew says.
Patty Mackenzie, co-owner of Lakeside Feed, notes that the popular Rhode Island Red breed lays a medium brown egg, whereas the White Leghorn breed (made famous by the Looney Toons cartoon character Foghorn Leghorn) lays a white egg. So, egg color preference is something you'll want to consider when selecting breeds.
Breed also determines how productive an egg-layer a chicken will be.
"The Leghorn eats less food but lays more eggs than other breeds," Mackenzie says.
Merrithew notes that his daughters enjoyed the Ameraucana because it laid different colored eggs, resulting in a natural Easter Egg effect.
Housing
Chickens need a safe home to roost. Merrithew had a friend build a coop for him, and Mackenzie also advises hiring a local carpenter to build a coop (or building one yourself) as she feels you'll get a much betterquality structure for less cost than purchasing a high-end, pre-made coop.
If you do want to spring for a pre-made coop, Mackenzie warns that you get what you pay for.
"If you purchase a cheap coop from online, you're going to get a cheap coop," she says.
And small is better when it comes to coops, experts agree; just roomy enough for a roost for each bird to sleep in at night and lay her eggs.
"A small coop is easier to keep warm on those cold winter nights when the bird's body heat is usually all that's needed to keep them comfortable," says Erica Schillawski, animal manager at Deep River Farms.
Protection
Predators are the biggest concern for your flock's safety. Mackenzie notes that when hens are allowed to range free during the day, "There's a danger of hawks."
"You want to let them free-range when you can keep an eye on them," she says.
Another option to allow chickens to venture outside the coop on their own is with the use of a dog pen, Mackenzie notes, which can be placed adjacent to the coop with a protected pathway for the chickens to walk between the two on their own.
Schillawski and Mackenzie both also advise that if you decide to let your chickens go freerange and you don't have a fenced-in yard to contain them, it's wise to talk with your neighbors.
"If you're giving free eggs to your neighbors, it might not be an issue," Mackenzie says, "but chickens are omnivores and they will eat vegetables and flowers in gardens and they willturn over garden soil looking to feed on bugs."
An abundance of caution is in order when it comes to how far you let your chickens wander, especially considering all those fourfooted predators just itching to get their jaws on your hens, including fisher cats, coyotes, and the old sly fox.
Health Issues
The biggest issues that Schillawski and Mackenzie warned about, when it comes to a chicken's health, is related to mites and that rare but dreaded condition when a chicken becomes egg-bound. While treating for mites is easy with diatomaceous earth (also known as D.E.), when a chicken becomes egg-bound the bird usually has to be euthanized.
The Pet Factor
Once chickens reach the age of three or four they will slowly stop laying.
"Ours stopped laying about four or five years ago," Merrithew says; now they are just pets for he and his wife, since his daughters are off to school and other ventures.
Check the Local Rules
Even if your yard has space and you're ready for the time commitment, there may be additional regulations on keeping hens 9and especially roosters) at your home. Call your town zoning officer to ask about what rules apply to your neighborhood for keeping a flock of your own feathered friends.
Local Resources
Patty Mackenzie, co-owner, Lakeside Feed, 31 Lake Drive, Guilford. 203-453-1461 www.lakesidefeed.com
Erica Schillawki, animal manager, Deep River Farms, 362 West Elm Street, Deep River. 860-662-9124 www.deepriverfarms.com
Online Resources
www.backyardchickens.com
www.almanac.com/blog/home-health/chickens/raisingchickens-101-raising-baby-chicks
www.dummies.com/home-garden/hobby-farming/raising-chickens/raising-chickens-for-dummies-cheat-sheet