How to Raise Chicken

Growing your own food to ensure the quality of what you are eating and keep the food budget low has led to more people learning how to raise chicken. Space requirements are minimal, especially if you are raising free-range chicken. Five or six hens will lay about 2-3 dozen eggs per week. The benefits far outweigh the costs when raising chicken on the farm or in the backyard. (Some city ordinances prohibit raising chickens in urban areas. Check with your local zoning board for regulations regarding raising chicken.)

To raise chicken for eggs or meat, you will need some type of shelter or chicken coop to keep the chickens safe from predators and to keep them contained. Neighbors may not share your enthusiasm about poultry when they start scratching up their yard or garden. The pen does not have to be elaborate but should be enclosed and provide shelter against the elements.

Think about raising organic chickens or free range chickens if you pursue an income when to learn how to raise chickens. The demand for organic eggs and chickens have increased due to a more health conscious consumers.

1. A portable coop lets you move the chickens around for a fresh supply of insects.

2. Roosters are not necessary for egg production.

3. Chickens love kitchen scraps and will eat almost anything but can not digest potatoes.

Buying peeps online or through the mail requires a minimum order, in most cases, of 25 birds. The cost ranges from $1.00 to $5.00 and up per bird, plus shipping. Many local feed and farm stores provide the peeps in the early spring with no minimum order. This makes it possible to try raising chicken without a large upfront outlay of cash.

An old rabbit pen or other small animal cage works great for the first few weeks when you begin to raise chickens. The only other materials needed are a feeder, water container, bedding, and chick feed, referred to as crumbles, and a heat source. The light from a light bulb generates heat for the peeps when they are first introduced to the pen.

Create a healthy environment for the peeps by sterilizing the cage or pen with bleach or other disinfectant. Rinse well with fresh water and allow to dry before adding the bedding. A wet surface will cause the bedding to mold, spreading disease among the peeps.

Once the bedding is in place, add the water dish and feeder. Both of these containers are designed to keep the peeps from perching on the sides so they do not soil the water or food. You will find that as the peeps get older they will like to try flying to the top of these containers and the sides will become soiled. Simply remove the containers, wash and place back in the cage. Replace the bedding when it becomes soiled.

Place the peeps in the cage and attach the heat source. The heat source may need to be lowered or raised depending on the temperature of the cage. A sure sign the peeps are cold is if they are huddling together in one clump. Lower the light a little and keep an eye on how the little chickens react to the temperature increase. Colder nights may require covering the pen with a blanket or sheet to keep the warmth in so the peeps do not freeze to death. At this early stage of raising chickens, the temperature is the biggest threat for the peeps.

Move the peeps into their permanent home when their feathers have all come in and there is no chance of the chicks getting through the wire. One tiny space too large in the enclosure will have them all running free.

Catching the freed chickens turns into an amusing chore so plan ahead and close up any gaps in the wiring.

The chicken coop does not require any special building plans. A square structure with a door, nest boxes, and a few perches are all that are necessary. There are many variations to the design of chicken coops and hundreds of free plans or ideas on the Internet to research.