A national egg shortage, courtesy of a bird flu outbreak in the United States, has many suburban farmers dreaming about raising chickens in their back yards and reaping the golden eggy rewards.
But before you visit your local farming supply store, here are a few things to keep in mind:
For smaller yards, invest in a portable coop.
Chickens need a safe place to roost, but keeping their coop in a single spot can lead to trampled, dead grass and an eventual messy mud pit. Unless you have sprawling acreage and are willing to surrender a large portion of your land for farm use, a small coop that can be moved from one spot to another will help keep your yard and your birds healthy and happy. Many urban coop builders are now creating coops that rest on wheels for easy transfer.
Be prepared to deal with a rooster.
When you order your chicks, even if you specify that you only want hens, there is still a chance that a rooster will sneak in with your order. Even for poultry experts, sexing chickens can be more of an art than a science at times. Many municipalities have ordinances banning roosters. Not only is their early a.m. crowing sessions a nuisance to your neighbors, but some roosters can also be very territorial. Having a guard bird sounds like fun until one of your children gets a spur to the face. Aggressive roosters should be taken seriously. Have a plan B in place in case one of the chicks becomes unruly.
Good fences make good neighbors—especially when raising chickens.
At some point, no matter where you live, a neighborhood dog will get loose and try to eat your chickens. It doesn’t matter how big or small the beast is, if your yard isn’t fenced in like Fort Knox, your girls will look like a fun, feathery treat. Dogs have been known to jump over and tunnel under fences just for the thrill of the chase. It’s their natural instinct. And once they draw blood, they will be compelled to revisit your coop until there’s not a hen left alive. Don’t rely on your neighbors to keep an eye on their pets, because accidents happen. You are better off making sure that your fence lines are secure enough to keep the chickens in and predators out.
Avoid a bad egg with an egg skelter.
Fresh eggs and eggs that are past their prime look a lot alike. An egg skelter is a great way to keep track of which eggs were laid recently. This spiral-shaped egg storage organizes your eggs by date, so you always know which eggs are oldest.
Sharing is caring.
When egg production is in full swing, you’ll most likely have eggs to spare. Establish a list of friends and family on whom you can easily unload excess eggs in a pinch. Don’t worry, once you’ve got your brood established and your friends find out that you have fresh eggs, the requests will roll in. You can make egg deliveries extra special with a customized carton label. We’ve created one that you can download for free.
