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Plastic chicken coops are becoming a more popular choice for prefabricated chicken coops, and it is easy to see why. Plastic is easy to clean, it doesn’t stain as easily as wood, and it is non porous and resistant to mites and lice as well as many other predators. Unfortunately, when purchasing a prefabricated chicken coop, one is pretty much stuck with the designs available, as they are not easily modified to individual needs.

When buying a prefabricated plastic chicken coop it is important that the structure meets these needs with only slight modifications. If the coop comes with a slatted floor, are the slats too wide for the type of chicken you will be raising? Smaller types of chickens have smaller feet, and may injure them in wider slating. If nesting boxes are built in, is their adequate space? If the chicken coop comes with an attached run, is it large enough for the flock you intend to keep, and does it provide adequate protection from wildlife while allowing the chicken access to foraging? Keeping these questions in mind will help you to make an informed decision when buying a prefabricated chicken coop.

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When building a chicken coop the first concern should be the safety and protection it maintains for your chickens. It should not only provide shelter from the weather, but from predators and wildlife as well.

Creating a chicken coop that has adequate airflow, but doesn’t allow other species in isn’t as difficult an endeavor as it might seem. Keep in mind that airflow can be created with openings in both the base and the roof of the shelter. These vents will either need to be small and plentiful, or covered in a strong steel mesh. Rats are able to squeeze through very small areas, and are known to chew through mesh that is not strong enough to get at eggs.

Wild birds may be attracted by chicken feed and attempt to get in through the upper vents in a coup. These wild birds may introduce parasites to your chicken flock. Fox and raccoon are notoriously clever, and may even attempt to dig under coops to find entrance. Do not depend solely on reinforcement to keep these pests out, but inspect for damage daily.

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Besides the ethical reasoning for allowing chickens to be raised in a free range environment is the health benefits they receive. Chickens who are allowed to live in an environment that provides for their natural needs can keep themselves healthy, while caged chickens are unable to meet their needs.

Chickens that can forage for worms and bugs when they need extra protein, grit to digest their food, and plant material for extra minerals are very able to regulate their own diet. Chickens with access to the dirt they use to give themselves dust baths are less prone to mites and lice. The ability to enter or leave their shelter as they see fit will prevent overheating. Chickens who are provided with a clean living area, fresh water and clean food are less prone to parasitic diseases.

Chickens who are allowed to live naturally are more easily monitored for health problems evidenced by changes in behavior and these problems can be caught earlier and remedied. When building a chicken coop it is important to keep the natural needs of the chicken in mind, and allow the chickens free range of an open space during the day.

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If you are purchasing your chicken hatchlings from a large feed store or saving chickens that would have been slaughtered, you may find that you have acquired birds that have been genetically altered to become very large or lay huge amounts of eggs. While these chickens can be raised appropriately as pets or as egg layers, they require some extra attention and care.

Because these chickens put more energy into bulking up or laying eggs, they need a high protein diet. This can be achieved by mixing your own feed, or using a commercial feed that is supplemented with fish protein, sunflower seeds and greens. Fish protein is a good source of easily digested protein for chickens. Sunflower seeds are high in natural protein, oils, and the calcium that the chickens need for proper egg formation. When selecting greens to feed your chickens, alfalfa is a powerhouse of nutrients, containing a variety of the vitamins and minerals your chickens need to maintain good health.

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Pet chickens can be amazingly tame creatures, appropriate for handling even by older children. Raised in constant proximity to their human keepers, chickens tend to be friendly and beloved pets. Often times, even the tamest birds will become stressed when needing to be picked up for their care. When picking up a chicken, it is important to keep the bird safe and not allow it to injure itself.

Pick up the chicken by hugging its wings close to its body so that it is unable to injure its wings by flapping about. While some people may attempt to “hypnotize” a chicken by placing it upside-down on its back, this should never be attempted with larger birds as it places stress on its circulatory system and can lead to heart failure. Never attempt to pick up a chicken by its neck or feet. While this is often practiced in industrial chicken raising facilities, picking a chicken up by either its feet or neck can result in injury to the bird and the handler.

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Parasites are often a problem that those who raise chickens must be vigilant against. Lice, mites, worms, and even coccidia are all problems that can be guarded against by providing your chickens with a healthy environment.

Lice and mites are the easiest to prevent. Chickens who have access to plenty of free space are able to coat themselves with dust which prevents the parasites from becoming colonized on the bird. This is why free range chickens rarely suffer from external parasites while tightly caged chickens often have them. Worms and other parasites, such as coccidia, are discovered during routine fecal tests, so it is important to have the chicken’s fecal matter tested regularly throughout the year.

This is another reason that a clean environment is crucial to raising healthy chickens, as these parasites are spread through fecal matter. These parasites can be eradicated with medication that will need to be prescribed by your veterinarian.

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One of the problems that chickens often suffer from is damage to their feet. Their feet are not terribly sturdy in proportion to the rest of the bird, so some measures must be taken to keep them safe.

To keep chickens from harming their feet, ensure that they do not have a large drop from their roost to the ground, and do not have access to places where they may face a large drop. Chickens are not always able to accurately judge their ability to land softly from a high place.

It is also important that the chicken not be required to stand or walk on very hard surfaces constantly. A bit of grass area, or some hay, or even soft dirt can prevent the injury that comes from repeated lengths of time on a hard object such as a board floor. It also helps to prevent any bruising the chicken foot may incur from pebbles or other debris on a hard floor.

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Chickens kept in warmer climates like Australia need a place that provides a cool shelter as they are prone to heat exhaustion. Some signs that a chicken is over heated include panting, listlessness, drooping posture and even collapse. Allowing chickens free range access to a well ventilated and shady spot will prevent this from occurring.

A chicken coop that does not have adequate ventilation can become incredibly hot in the summer months. When planning the coop ensure that there is ventilation by creating airflow through both the bottom and the top of the coop. Fans and misting systems can also help to prevent heat exhaustion in your birds.

If a chicken does succumb to heat exhaustion, it is important that the bird be brought to a cooler environment immediately. Once a bird starts to display the signs of heat exhaustion they can go into shock very quickly and may even die. Keep the bird cool and remove any distressing stimulation and monitor the chicken. If it does not recover quickly a visit to the vet is in order.

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Pet chickens can be great fun and they can also be a source of family self sufficient nutrition. The back yard food supplement that stabilized the American food diet of years past, when you had to grow it yourself or starve to death has been around for many centuries. By keeping chickens yourself you can ensure you provide them with all they need and care for them well, unlike most commercial egg farms.

A chicken coup, to house the hens, serves as a protection from their natural predators and also provides a place for the eggs to be gathered more conveniently. The mother hens of course are not always receptive to the idea of people gathering their products of labor and delivery, so you may wish to buy a few ‘fake eggs’ made of wood or plastic, which you can pop into the nest once you have taken the real eggs.

As long as your coup is solid, weather related problems seldom are a concern since the natural bath of a driving rain only serves to comfort and cleanse, as long as the chickens have a choice to get onto the dry. Free range chickens seek cover and shelter wherever they can find it, which is not necessarily where you would like it to be. The barnyard rooster is also a someone you may like to give a home to, but only if you live in the country, as his early morning wake-up call can quickly test the nerves and patience of the new landlords of a backyard chicken farm.Chickens can be a great source of family self s…

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Chickens require an adequate place to perch. Appropriate places are where the chicken is already comfortable and can perch in a place protected from both the weather and predators. Chickens enjoy perching at the highest point possible, so often times, if an adequate perch is not provided, they will find someplace themselves. This is not always helpful in keeping their area clean and the birds safe.

Chickens must also have adequate perching space. Crowded chickens are more likely to injure each other. The perch itself is important to the well being of a chicken’s foot. Too narrow a perch and the chicken will overlap its toes to hold on, possibly causing damage. A perch that is too thick will cause the chicken discomfort. Both too narrow or too wide perches can cause the muscles in the chicken’s foot to become sore or even deformed. A good perch can be made out of a 2×2 piece of lumber. Filing the corners a bit to give it a more rounded edge is more comfortable for the chicken feet.

Make sure there is about a foot of space for each chicken. A rounded perch made of pvc piping coated with a sand and paint mixture also works well for the chickens, but in colder weather they may not be able to keep their toes warm as well as they would on a flatter surface.

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Providing a good space for your laying hens is essential for maintaining their health and happiness, ensuring a better supply of eggs. Plan one nesting box for every four chickens. Nesting boxes can be purchased from farm supply stores, or easily built out of wood. If building your own, they should be just over a foot across each way with a depth of about one foot. They should be filled with clean straw or other soft bedding and cleaned daily to reduce the spread of chicken parasites.

Placement of the nesting boxes is also important. The best area will be where they are protected from drafts and disturbances. This is not always convenient, as it usually means further to go to collect the eggs. Eggs should not be left in the nesting boxes for very long, as they can spoil or crack, creating unhealthy conditions for the hens and increasing the difficulty of keeping the nesting boxes clean.

The nesting box is a great place for your hens to feel safe and protected, but they must also have plenty of space to roam in the day in your garden or a very large chicken coup.

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Chickens Make Better Pets Than Meals

Chickens can be great pets. Keeping chickens as pets is much more humane than eating them for meat. Owning chickens can be a great experience. Although the majority of pet chickens are females, many also keep roosters as backyard pets.

Caring for chickens means that you should provide them with excellent shelter, especially at night, so they will be protected from predators. You should monitor your pet chickens the same way you would watch any pet. Your job as owner is to protect and care for them. One thing to watch for with female chickens is egg binding, which may be indicated by hen who hasn’t been able to lay eggs in several days. It is important to contact the vet in this case.

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Making Your Own Chicken Feed –

Few people that raise laying hens realize how easy it is to make your own feeding blend for your chickens. Not only is it very economical, it is also comforting to know what goes into your chickens, and also rewarding to know that you can rely on yourself to feed your chickens, and not a mass market feed supplier.

The ratio of ingredients is not an exact science, so feel free to alter the recipe a little if you find yourself with a bit extra of one ingredient and a bit less of another. First off, please note that this recipe is for chickens six to eight weeks old. The primary ingredient is ground corn, and will comprise fifty percent of this recipe’s total.

Mix twenty five pounds of ground corn, with fifteen pounds of ground wheat. Add to that ten pounds of meat scraps, and season with half a pound of salt. That’s it! So simple and easy and yet so healthy for your tiny birds! After eight weeks, chicks should eat nearly the same recipe, though increase the ground wheat by three to four pounds, and decrease the amount of meat scraps to six to seven pounds.

Hope this is helpful, and that your chickens stay healthy and happy!

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How To Keep Your Chickens Healthy –

The first step to keeping your chickens healthy is keep their housing clean and mite free. Make sure that you do not use hay to line their coop, and use mite-free straw instead, as this will keep mites to a minimum. Also, be sure that the coop is well ventilated and not too warm or cold. A little temperature fluctuation is fine, but extremes in temperatures can cause them to become suspect to illnesses.

Second, be sure to use common sense if one chicken begins to “just look different” than the rest of the flock. Usually, if one begins to act different than the rest, there is cause to worry and this chicken should be isolated IMMEDIATELY! You should then contact your vet and get the bird treatment straight away. Chicken diseases are easily spread, and an entire flock can become infected soon after the first chicken begins to show signs of sickness.

Third, when you do suspect that a chicken is unwell, be sure to look for symptoms such as uneven breathing, irritated or watery eyes, discharge around the eyes and beak, or scaly, red patches of skin. There are medications that are easily obtainable over the counter usually sold at the same place where you buy your feed, and it is helpful to be able to describe symptoms to someone who is knowledgeable in regards to chicken care.

Hopefully this article is helpful to you in keeping your chickens happy and healthy. Just be very sure to remember that while chickens are on the whole a very resiliant animal, when they become ill it very important that you react very quickly, as disease progression in chickens happens extrodinarily swift!

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Reader Contribution:

My family and I just recently moved out into the country where we have some land. Last spring we decided that we would get our children some baby chicks. It has been a great experience for all of us, we love our chickens. They are no longer chicks anymore, we let them run around during the day and lock them in a coop at night for their own safety.

When it comes to feeding the chickens, we feed them chicken scratch from our local feed store every morning and night. During the day the chickens walk around and eat bugs that they find. Having chickens for pets has been a pleasant experience and a very low manitance pet. The feed cost $8 for a 50lb. bag that last for about 2 weeks. They are cheaper than a dog and they give you eggs to eat. Some of my chickens even enjoy a cuddle and they respond to their names.

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Backyard chickens can be a great addition to any household. Do you have a backyard? Do you like fresh, healthy all natural food?

If you answered yes backyard chickens may be for you. Not only will they provide you with fresh eggs daily, guaranteed to have no steroids, antibiotics or preservatives, you will be helping reduce the inhumane treatment of food animals.

By providing your own backyard chickens with ample space, healthy food and clean living conditions you can do your part to show the corporate food industry that you will no longer tolerate the mistreatment of any animal. You will feel healthier, save money on buying eggs, provide a healthy living environment for otherwise mistreated animals, and do your part to make the world a greener, more natural living environment for all. You can sleep well at night knowing your children will be consuming less unnatural substance, that they will learn the importance of fair treatment of all creatures.

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We used to have chickens for the purpose of having our own fresh eggs every day, and we did. Lots and lots. One reason was the chicken house, it was large , easy for the chickens to use and safe. And this is how we did it, we used an old wooden shed that we got from an allotment.

We placed it on a flat surface Removed any old nails that were sticking out so the chickens wouldn’t catch themselves when jumping or flying, and built on either side two perches with thick wooden poles and placed under them troughs full of hay to catch the eggs and lots of hay on the floor as well. Then cut a hole that is large enough for the chickens to go in and out of. Do not board up the shed door or block it in anyway as this is where you will be going in and out of to collect the eggs.

Once this is done you will need to put around your chicken wire , make sure it is a large area for your chickens to walk around and feed, but also make sure that it high and that you dig deep down at least 50cm but more would be better. This is stop foxes and other animals from getting in. Done this should give you eggs for years to come.

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People are sometimes unaware that different breeds of chickens have different personalities. Learning about the different breeds and choosing the best breed to fit your family is the first step in fulfilling your backyard flock needs.

A good example is the Brahma breed. They are an exceptionally gentle and loving chicken that bond well with the family, but because of their heavy size and thick feathering they do better in cooler climates. Those living in warmer climates may prefer Rhode Island Reds or similar breeds. Learning about the different breeds is also essential in setting up the proper coop environment. In our example above, the heavier Brahma breed requires low nesting bars as opposed to the higher tiered bars that the Rhode Island Reds prefer.

There are many different resources online to help you and your family to research the different breeds. Knowing the personality and special requirements that your chosen breed has will insure the healthiest and happiest backyard flock!

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Chickens can make great pets if you know how to properly keep them. First of all, chickens love to roam. So make sure your pet has plenty of room to wander around. Remember even though they have wings they wont fly away, so just a regular fence should do just fine.

Next, is their eating habits. They aren’t usually to picky of eaters; but the easiest way to feed them would be to have an open feeding area where they have a special mix of seeds that can be bought at most stores such as Walmart or Petsmart, or even online.

Something you should always remember is it is key to let your chicken show natural behavior. This means they should be shown just as much compassion and respect as a cat or dog would be shown in the house. One more thing to remember is be on a lookout if you live on a farm for tom cats or other predators that could be of danger to your animal.

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Chickens make great pets because they are such entertaining creatures. Nothing is more captivating than watching a group of chickens get clucky over a swarm of flying ants, or a handful or grain dispersed on the ground.

Often if chickens are handled regularly they are quite happy to be picked up and stroked and of course this makes doing health check-overs easy too. They make surprisingly good company because they are quite vocal animals. They are continuously making a low clucking sound as they peck around at the grass, and as a chicken owner you will take great delight in learning to recognise your chickens noises.

Chickens express joy and fear as well as any human. They are quite low maintenance animals and really the only big must is keeping them safe from predators such as dogs and foxes. This is fairly easy as long as you build them a proper enclosure and ensure that they are shut away every night.

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Reader Story:

Keeping chickens can be a fun hobby and a source of a little extra income if you have a market for fresh eggs. There is nothing like a rooster crowing or just relaxing in a lawn chair and watching them scratch and peck in the yard. You’ll need a chicken coop that is built well enough to keep any predators out and prevent them from getting to your chickens. They will mostly need to be put in there at night.

They will need water and feed so there will be those things to consider. Check a farm supply store for your needs. Feed can be expensive especially since grain prices are so volatile these days and you’ll need to consider what minerals they may need in the feed for good health and egg laying. Since they will be wandering free range so to speak you will just have to hunt the eggs in the yard. The eggs will be a real treat compared to most of what you buy in the store. You can get chickens that will lay brown or other colored eggs if you so desire. There is a certain time when the chickens quit laying eggs.

I recently ran across an article that was reprinted about Laura Ingalls Wilder and how she got her hens to lay year round but unfortunately I don’t remember the source or if it mentioned her methods. Her home is a historic site in Mansfield MO. Maybe that could be a source. It’s been a long time since I’ve had any part in caring for chickens. It’s part of the fond memories I have about growing up on a farm with the animals roaming in the pastures and the yard. My friend tried to raise some chickens but his coop wasn’t built well enough to keep out the predators. Enough said. Best of luck with your chickens.

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Keeping chickens in your backyard can be very fun and rewarding. They make great pets and eating fresh eggs straight from your backyard can feel very satisfying. Some fairly popular breeds, which are all fantastic, are Rhode Island Red, Maran, and Light Sussex.

They each differ in size and colouring but will all provide good eating size eggs. If you live in an urban or semi urban Brahmas may be a choice as they are reputedly the quietest of the breeds and least likely to irritate the neighbours! If you are interested in keeping chickens more as pets than for the eggs, bantams could be a great option to explore. They have wonderful temperaments and come in wide range of breeds. Silkies are a very docile and exotically beautiful breed. Though of course bantams do lay and you can eat the eggs, they are much smaller in size! And if you do get into bantams perhaps you could have three eggs for breakfast rather than two!

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Baby chickens are delightful creatures, fluffy and noisy, with a curiosity and energy that will quickly convince you that birds are hardly the stupid, unfeeling creatures most people take them for. Chicks are very vulnerable, and you need to watch their health carefully.

Pay attention if your bird lacks an appetite, or if it keeps its feathers fluffed out or holds its wings our and down. This could indicate sickness, or the chick could be too cold. If it seems like it’s growing slowly, make sure you’re feeding it enough protein. Watch for changes in its dropping or bleeding. Parasites can be a major problem for chicks, and feeding them an eyedropper of water with a few drops of honey in it is said to be a good preventative.

Generally, the most important steps to keeping your chick healthy are to keep them in a nice, clean area that’s warm enough and free of predators (like cats), give them lots of fresh water and feed them healthy food with a carefully monitored level of protein.

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The idea of keeping chickens in your backyard may seem daunting, but it is actually quite easy. Chickens are low-maintenance, very rewarding creatures. Whether as pets or as a replenishing source for fresh farm eggs, chickens are relatively hassle-free.

One untrue myth about keeping chickens is that they have to be kept contained. Chickens can actually roam about and will stay close to their home. It is not necessary to keep them contained in a pen (as many will be able to use their wings to get out of it, anyhow), but rather, they can be allowed to range freely. However, you must provide them with protection from predators and keep them safe at night. It is also important to provide shelter from wind, rain, cold weather and hot sun.

Their feed is pretty simple – they supplement what you give them with the grubs and bugs in your lawn. Chicken coops can be designed in such a way that waste removal is quite simple. Some chicken coops have built-in trays that catch chicken droppings. The tray is easily removed and emptied. Fresh eggs are worth the hassle, but even keeping chickens as happy pets is enough reason to embark on this adventure.

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While people who like to eat poultry would prefer to think of chickens as mindless creatures, people who keep chickens as pets insist that these birds are surprisingly intelligent, that they have very distinct personalities and are capable of recognizing individual humans and showing affection. United Kingdom breeds range from the Norfolk Grey, which is ideal for free range, to the Rosecomb, a stylish bantam that doesn’t produce many eggs.

It’s always a good idea to investigate breeds before you get a chicken as a backyard pet, so you know what to expect. The Old English Game Fowl, for example, is a lovely looking bird, but the males are famously aggressive. Doing some research could also lead you to try one of the more exotic breeds, like the stunning Sebright, a bird with distinctive marks on its feathers that make it look like a living line drawing. Always check with local laws to make sure it’s legal to keep a chicken as a pet.

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Building a chicken coop can be a rather complex project. The more organization you have in your plans to building your chicken coop, the more likely you will get pleasing results. The first thing you should do is sketch a drawing of how you would like the chicken coop to look. Be sure to include all the colors you would like to implement in the design.

Also consider what kind of materials you want use, and every detail including the functionality you would like it to have. Make sure to include important elements that can keep your pet chicken safe in the design of the chicken coop. If you would like to protect your chickens from predators, make sure you implement windows that can be open and shut at your discretion. Also be sure to place chicken feeders and water in places that your pet chickens can easily get to.

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If raising chickens in your backyard is interesting to you then you’ll enjoy this article as well. All of us would have craved to own pets while we were young children and not many parents approve of the same. It has been my dream to own a chicken coop in our garden during my childhood days but my parents never agreed, specifically my mother would tell that they are very dirty creatures and would dirty the house a lot.

But now since I have grow up I never put such restrictions to my daughter. We have a backyard where we are growing about 7 hens and 2 roosters. It is fun to see them grow up. We have been nursing them from small and we have names for each hen and the roosters as well. They are like an extended family to us. We enjoy feeding them, we ensure that they have an clean and neat place to habit. Its really fun seeing them do small small things, they stand and sleep and what not. We found the process of our first hen laying eggs as though it was a daughter of the family and took extreme care of her. She is the proud mother of three of her children now who are also growing with her. How she used to take care of them and teach them to feed themselves, keep themselves safe are all really wonderful. We keep them fenced in our backyard safe from predators and they love us so much. They are very disciplined creatures. We love having them as our pets.

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Chickens are fairly easy to care for, if taken into consideration their natural instincts and needs. Meeting these needs and recreating their natural environment will produce happy and healthy chickens.

Chickens naturally forage for food, scratch in the dirt to get gravel for their digestion process, and give themselves dust baths to prevent parasites, so allowing them access to dirt and open areas is essential. Chickens need a safe area where they are protected from predators and weather and can feel secure enough to get sleep or lay eggs without being distressed. Chickens roost in high places, and build themselves soft and roomy nests for laying, so any housing for the birds needs to have appropriate perches and nesting boxes to accommodate the birds.

Stress and health conditions occur when chickens do not have the ability to meet their needs, such as being kept in cramped and tight cages, without the ability to perform the actions their instincts tell them to.

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If you’re concerned about appearances or just eager for a cheap and easy solution a plastic chicken coop might be the right choice for you.

On the one hand you can buy a small plastic coop a few hundred dollars.It will protect your chickens from predators and your neighbors won’t complain that it looks like something you picked up at the city dump.It’s also very easy to attach a run to these coops so that the chickens can be protected outside.

If you simply want to avoid the expense of buying a coop it’s quite easy to take a plastic doghouse and turn it into a coop.You must make certain to add ventilation so that the chickens get plenty of air and then put in a couple of boxes.So long as you’ve only got a couple of chickens a doghouse is adequate. You must also give them plenty of outside space. Another option for conversions is a disused plastic playhouse.Anything large enough for kids has plenty of room for chickens.In most cases this will require very little effort to make your chickens feel right at home. This is lovely for them to roost at night and then they can scratch around in the garden in the day.

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How many times have we heard someone’s salary described as “chicken feed”? One might think that chicken feed were cheap. It is possible to feed chickens a healthy diet inexpensively, but that does not mean feeding chickens the equivalent of garbage.

Chickens need protein and minerals for growth and egg development. A poor diet will result in poor quality eggs, and a decline in the health of your birds. How much feed your chickens will go through depends on how they are housed. Free range chickens need less feed then chickens who are caged and fed, and free range chickens are better able to supplement their diets with foraging. A flock of twenty to twenty five chickens who are free range raised will go through about a third of a gallon of feed daily.

Ensure that the feed they are eating is made of quality ingredients. A good quality feed will cost about ten dollars for fifty gallons. That comes to about six cents a day to feed a flock of 20-25 birds. Supplementing that diet with table scraps and greens grown where the chickens can forage for them will give the birds a well balanced diet with all the minerals they need to stay healthy and produce nutritious eggs.

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Chickens are not allowed in some urban areas. However city residents are increasingly ignoring these rules.They find that chickens are excellent at protecting their gardens from pests,disposing of some kitchen scraps and they providing eggs.

Of course you need to provide the chickens with a safe ‘run’to protect them from birds of prey,raccoons and neighborhood pets.This isn’t all that difficult,particularly if you and your neighbors aren’t too fussy about appearances.You should always take their opinions into account as you’re unlikely to get into trouble so long as they don’t complain.An easy method is to simply re-purpose something else like an old shed or a child’s playhouse.

You can often find that others want to get rid of old buildings you can either use intact or simply salvage the materials from.If you can find some tin or lumber someone will let you have for removing it you’re halfway there. Only your imagination and inventiveness limit you.Of course you can also buy prefabricated kit coops.Some of these are quite nice,but you have to be wary of inferior materials and high prices.You want to have something that will protect your precious fowl from predators. Chickens aren’t that much trouble for the owner and they provide a lot of benefits.You just need to think your own situation through and consider how your neighbors will react beforehand.

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When painting a chicken coop one of the most important considerations is to ensure that the paint you are using is non toxic. Even if the chickens do not, or are unable to pick the paint off and ingest it, often times toxic paint will emit fumes when heated by the sun, or leech chemicals into the water or feed of the chickens. Whitewash, a mixture of lime and water, is a traditional painting application, and is beneficial as it is a natural disinfectant and parasite repellent, but while the whitewash is still wet the chickens must be kept away as it is highly caustic.

Whitewash is also very inexpensive to make, and the lime can often be bought at a feed store. Acrylic paint is also a favorite, as it is more inexpensive then other paints, comes in a variety of colors, and is readily available at all hardware stores. Mixing a bit of sand into the paint where the chickens will be walking increases their traction. One of the more interesting uses of paint I have seen in a coop was the application of a strip of chalk board paint on the side of the wall used to keep track of laying hens.

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When raising chickens for eggs it is important to remember that the best eggs come from well fed chickens. Chickens need a diet high in protein and minerals for proper egg and shell formation. Chickens raised in a free range environment get some of these benefits naturally, eating worms, insects and snails and digesting some of the minerals from the gravel they use to help grind their food.

An all grain diet lacks some of the vital nutrients that chickens need to produce high quality eggs. Fishmeal is an excellent source of protein, and can be added to a grain diet to increase the quality and quantity of egg production. Table scraps are also beneficial to chickens, fruit, vegetables, and even the remnants of cooked eggs are nutritious additives to a laying hen’s diet and will add color and nutritional value to the eggs they lay. Keeping fresh water available to chickens at all times is also vitally important for both the health of the chicken and the quality of the eggs laid.

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My mother was a great lover of pets and she always had a variety of animals our backyard. She had many breeds of chicken and the chickens had names. They would come when she called them! I suppose they learnt to associate her call with feeding time! The chicken ranged free during the day and spent the night in their coup, which was a box made of wooden slats.

The top was raised like the roof of a house and had a tarpaulin over it to keep out the rain. The sides and floor had an inch of space between each slat. Perches were provided inside. The 12”x12” entrance had a chicken mesh door. The coup was raised 2’ above ground on four legs. A straw-lined basket was inside for eggs. What fun we had racing to collect the egg when we heard the hen cackle to announce its feat!

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The backyard chicken – what a mess but what a benefit. They can be wonderful pets, egg producers, and a way to keep bugs out of your garden.

They make great pets, some chickens can be beautiful and graceful. They can make you feel wanted if you take care of them. Some will follow you around making you feel wanted and depending on you. Kids also have a ball when chickens are around.

Chickens I feel are a remarkable animal. Chickens can provide you with a nutritious egg. You may have to search and hunt for it. You always wake up knowing you have breakfast. What some people don’t know is that you can use them to keep bugs out of your garden. You should wait until some of the plants start growing though or they will eat the seeds. All together I feel the pros of having chickens outway the con of having to watch where you step.

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It is important to feed your backyard chickens a healthy, nutritious diet. You can select quality ingredients to mix your own chicken feed or purchase ready-made mixes. Perhaps the easiest thing to do is buy one of the mixes. They usually come in 50 or 100 pound sacks and are designed specifically for the age, type and purpose of the chicken. Buying chicken feed does not have to be complicated.

If you are looking for a smaller quantity, try your local tractor supply store. Check the yellow pages for locations. The feed mill is another option. You may not find a listing for the town’s feed mill in the yellow pages. However, you can usually locate the mill on your own by looking for a tall cylinder shaped structure. You can also do an online search for facilities licensed by the FDA. Likewise, the Amish community also makes chicken feed. This source is valuable, especially if you are looking for organic feed mixes.

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Raising chickens in your backyard is not tremendously difficult and has its rewards. Be sure that you check you local laws to make sure that you are following all regulations with your animals. You will need to build or buy a shelter of “chicken coop” for your chickens.

Depending on your situation, you may allow them to roam in a fenced in yard or area of the yard, or you may use a chicken coop with a “run” so they have room to move around and exercise. It is important to make sure they have clean water and dry food available. Food will mold if it gets wet. If you choose to keep roosters, be aware that  they will mate with the hens, but they are not needed for hens to produce eggs.

Also keep in mind that chickens are easy targets for predators. Make sure their area is secure and their fences and coops do not have holes in them. Even small holes in a coop can allow raccoons to reach through to the chickens.

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Feeding Your Chicken Right –  Chickens that are pets or ones that provide you with eggs daily should be well taken care of. The most important thing would have to be thier diet. One type of diet I would recommend would be to feed them organic chicken feed.

Feeding these precious creatures organic chicken feed eliminates hormones, preservatives or antibiotics from thier diets. With these things gone the chicken will be healthier. With the chickens being healthier they will produce better eggs in which you can benefit from.

Ultimately you will helping yourself by feeding them organic chicken feed. Some say organic chicken feed is expensive and they don’t have that kind of money to be spending, well you can make your own. There are several websites out there that contain reciepes that are somewhat inexpensive. You can even try to make your own recipe and share it with other chicken owners. No matter what, feeding anything a good diet is always the best for everyone

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When building a chicken coop it is important to determine what material will be most effective and maintainable for your chicken’s needs. Wood is usually a popular choice, but it does have some drawbacks. Wood is porous, and many of the external parasites that chickens are prone to can burrow into it to escape being cleaned away. Wood also tends to stain easily, and may be a ascetic problem for the chicken owner.

Wood treatments are often toxic to birds, and the more safe treatments may need to be reapplied occasionally. Wood is also more easily broached by predators such as rats or raccoons. Wood does have several benefits, it is easily workable and the average do it yourself chicken coop builder can create a coop to their specifications. Wood is also a better choice for the chicken’s feet, allowing them the traction they need to walk well. Wood housing is also easily modifiable to include more nesting space, more perches or other needs as they are discovered.

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Raising and keeping chickens in your backyard is fun and easy. To do this, you can build a chicken coop to give them a safe and comfortable home away from predators and so that they don’t acquire diseases and thereby maintaining good health.

Be sure to supply them with enough food and water so that they don’t have to look for food somewhere else thereby containing them within the area you build for them. You can get chicken food from pet stores but chicken eat almost anything so you can also give them some leftover food or some sunflowers seeds and corn but also remember that they also eat vegetables. Be sure to regularly clean the chicken coop to keep them pests free. T

he chicken manure that you collect after cleaning the coop can be a great fertilizer for your garden but it would be a good idea to compost it first and not to apply it directly to the plant as it can burn the plant when applied directly.

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Fresh From Your Garden Want to bring a taste of the country life into your own backyard?

Have you ever thought of raising a few chickens in your backyard? It’s easy with today’s portable chicken coops. The coops come in many sizes, colors, and styles to fit perfectly into most any backyard or garden area. Did you know that you can rescue ex-battery farm chickens? They still produce eggs, but not enough for the factory farms. You are effectively saving the chickens lives and giving them freedom. You can then order the backyard coop with just a few clicks of the mouse. It can be shipped directly to your doorstep. It’s quick and easy and you’ll be enjoying watching the chickens scratch around in their new portable coops in no time.

Save time and money at the grocery store by raising chickens that lay the best tasting eggs right in your own backyard.

Get started today!

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Backyard chickens can make a great addition to your household, provided you have the space, time and your local zoning laws allow livestock. I grew up in the suburbs, but we had over a half an acre of wooded land, and were able to keep chickens. We always had more fresh eggs than we needed, and we usually had about six chickens of different varieties. Chickens will lay eggs everyday, and sometime twice a day.

My best advice is to only get chickens if you can keep them a fair distance from your and your neighbors’ homes. They are noisy and can smell sometimes. You need sufficient space for a henhouse and a mesh, chain or wire chicken coop for your chickens to run in. They will forage for food, exercise and perch, if you provide them with a suitable landing spot. Our henhouse was very small providing a small atrium and about one square foot of sleeping stall space per chicken. Keeping the henhouse small helps keep the chickens warm in cold winter climates, but you must make sure they have another space to run around and express their natural behaviors.

Lining the floor of your hen house with rabbit bedding makes cleanup easier. Our coop was about twelve-by-twelve feet, and had a bush in the middle. The chickens pecked the leaves off of the bush and used the branches to roost during the day. If you raise chickens from baby chicks, they can be very tame, and will even follow people around once they get used to being fed. They can be very entertaining.

Chickens will eat table scraps, but should really be fed commercial chicken feed to keep them healthy and productive. You can also crush up eggshells to supplement their deit with extra minerals. You will also need to provide clean drinking water, and commercial hopper-type feeders and drinking water pans that refill from an upside down reservoir or bottle take most of the work out of taking care of the chickens. All you would have to do is collect their eggs, muck out their hen house, and refill the feeder and water bottle. However, feeding them by throwing handfuls of food on the ground is more entertaining, and helps you bond with your chickens.

The biggest problem we had was with vermin and animals bothering our chickens. Rodents will eat their food. Raccoons will eat their food too, and we think a raccoon might have killed one of our chickens. The old stories are true. If you have foxes in the area, they will kill your chickens, so you need to make sure that your hen house and coop close securely, and that large animals can’t burrow under your fence. One thing to be careful about is having a rooster. If you have a roster, you should have a humane plan for finding homes for the extra chicks.

Chickens are an economical home livestock, that can be kept in rural areas and some suburban areas. They are a source of cheep eggs, and cheep entertainment. Some towns have laws against keeping livestock, so you should check with your zoning official. Remember to be a good neighbor, and don’t house your chickens in an area where they will bother other members of your community. And, remember that a handful of fresh eggs every once in a while can go a long way towards keeping your neighbors happy.

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When determining how much space your chickens will need, keep in mind that most guidelines are for commercial chicken raising, and do not necessarily take into consideration the health of the birds.

Commercially raised laying hens are often packed into too small a space to allow even basic movement, and have no access to outside space where they can forage or exercise naturally. A chicken forced to live in a cramped environment will not realize its full potential, and will be an unhappy chicken indeed.

Tight spaces also allow for the spread of diseases and create an area that is difficult to maintain. When creating an environment for your flock of chickens, allow about a square yard for each chicken indoors and about ten square feet of outdoor room. These guidelines are an average estimate, and larger or more active chickens may need more room, while smaller or less active chickens may need less room. Basically the more space you can give them to express their natural behaviors, the better.

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Though chickens are often perceived as farm animals, chickens as pets are not a thing of fiction. They each have their own personalities, just like dogs, but are often much easier to care for, and less expensive too.

Chickens are also great pets for other reasons as well. They will provide you with fresh eggs, saving you valuable money at the grocery store. They are also great pest controllers. The foul will eat all kinds of garden bugs, as well as mice. Coops are making their way into suburbs and cities. They are available pre-built from stores, or you can make them yourself. In order to live comfortably, a chicken coop should consist of a place to lay their eggs, some form of shelter, and somewhere to eat, play, and bathe.

There are many designs and sizes that one can choose from depending on their specific needs and local ordinances.

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September 23, 2009
- I am surprised by the answers to this question. Using animals for school experiments is so irresponsible, especially with all the animals already in shelters.

September 23, 2009
- I think it is great when celebs get behind a good cause. I think KFC should be shut down for their horrific treatment of chickens.

September 23, 2009
- This is a really good article about a rare breed of chicken. There are so many breeds to choose from, it is good to do your research.

September 23, 2009
- People who think of chickens as commodities will never understand that chickens are infact sentient and intelligent animals.

September 23, 2009
- Cockfighting is one of those things most people assume has died out, but infact it is going strong and illegal cockfighting rings are out there. I hope the people involved in this animal cruelty will feel the full force of the law.

September 23, 2009
- The idea of keeping backyard chickens is quite romantic, but you must be sure you can provide your chickens with everything they need to lead a happy life.

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Chickens have a reputation for being stupid and hearty, but in fact they’re smarter than you probably think and they’re vulnerable to many diseases. When they’re chicks, they’re especially prone to illness and must be watched carefully.

Parasites are a real problem for baby chickens, and it’s a good preventative to feed them water with a few drops of honey from an eyedropper. When chickens reach adulthood, they’re prone to respiratory ailments, a terrible disease called fowl pox, and many other potential health problems. It’s very important to have a good vet you can trust, and to keep your bird’s vaccinations current.

To keep your pet chickens healthy at any age, keep them in nice, clean, warm and roomy area, free of any potential predators (this includes house pets like dogs and cats, unless you’re certain you can trust them with chickens), with plenty of fresh water to drink and healthy feed to eat. And if one bird does show signs of illness, separate it from the others until it’s well, so the disease won’t spread.

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Many people who are new chicken owners (friends, not food!) get their pets in the spring or summertime. By the time winter breathes its first frosty breath, it’s too late to begin preparing your chickens for the cold environment. Here are some things that you can start thinking about for your chicken!

• An insulated coop/hut/hatch/house – The most expensive method would be to actually buy insulation in order to pad your chicken coop, but it may not be the best method. To keep your chickens warm and healthy you need to also take into consideration the fact that there needs to be proper ventilation as well as proper warmth for your chickens. Extra hay or cardboard as lining for the bottom of your chicken coop will help maintain proper ventilation while creating a compost-like floor.
  
• Fattier feed/More frequent feedings – Animals, like people, burn more calories in the winter trying to maintain correct body temperature and therefore need more food so they can burn the calories without getting too thin or malnourished.
  
• Heating lamps/heated bowls - Don’t let your chickens’ water or eggs freeze! Using heating lamps or heated water bowls can help to keep the frost at bay.
  
• Controlled lighting - Like humans, chickens are also affected by the change in the number of daylight hours. To keep your chickens’ eggs production consistent, try using natural sunlight light bulbs/full spectrum light bulbs to keep them in cheery moods.
  
• Vitamin D supplements - Since sunlight is limited in the winter, so is Vitamin D. Try some Vitamin D supplements to mix in with the chicken feed.

If you are worried about your ability to provide a good, happy and healthy environment for your chickens despite these tips, some breeds that fair better in the winter months than others include:  Brahma, Cochin, New Hampshire, Orpington, Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red and Wyandott

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Reader post – I have often wondered about the practicalities of keeping chickens in your garden but there are so many problems that spring to mind that I have never managed to get very far with it. How do people stop their chickens from being eaten, won’t the occasional roving fox will have its fill during the day, that is presuming the chickens are not kept in a backyard battery, surely they are allowed to peck away outside their coup.

The proposition of keeping a chicken as a pet came as a surprise to me, I had never thought about doing that since chickens have never seemed all that compassionate, but I suppose they are similar to any other kind of pet, even better, they supply breakfast for you. How envious I am of chickens, they live such unfettered lives; they peck all day, have lots of babies and never have a care in the world (apart from the foxes).

Ed note – Yes chickens are intelligent animals and should be given the chance to express their natural behaviour.

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September 22, 2009
- Here are a few tips on going vegetarian. The fact is when you have pet chickens you will find yourself questioning how chickens are kept of factory farms and how these and other animals suffer.

September 22, 2009
- If you have decided you would like to keep backyard chickens, you will need to check whether your local council allows it. If they do not, it is possible to take action to get them to change. But you will have to be willing to put up quite a fight.

September 22, 2009
- Here is a useful forum covering all things backyard, such as veggies and of course our loveable chickens. This discussion is on whether you can keep different chicken breeds together and the good news is that yes you can.

September 22, 2009
- I know of people who can successfully keep roosters together, such as the sanctuary a Poultry Place, but you must be careful and research before you try it. You must also make sure your council will allow you to keep roosters.

September 22, 2009
- You have got to check out this blog. It really shows the proper way to look after your sick chickens. If you choose to have backyard hens, you must make sure to give them the proper care and these people certainly do that.

September 22, 2009
- Have you given proper thought to protecting your pet chickens from predators? This story highlights the necessity to provide your hens with proper protection.

September 21, 2009
- It is a shame that you can’t really keep roosters in urban areas due to their crowing as sadly many people buy cute chicks not knowing the sex and end up giving the males to shelters, who cannot keep them all. Plus so many male chicks are unwanted in the egg industry that thousands are killed per day.

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In constructing or selecting a chicken coop you have to take several factors into the decision. First is whether or not your neighbors will object to what you have in the end.If you live in a populated area their opinion will matter as they can cause you many problems if they feel your decisions are adversely impacting their property value.They certainly won’t appreciate a noisy rooster either.So it’s always best to keep your neighbors informed.

In many cases they’ll have the right to veto your coop by refusing to grant an easement.You should always make sure to get an easement if one is required.It makes absolutely no sense to build something or have something erected unless you’re sure you’ll not have to tear it down as soon as your neighbor complains. Next you must consider a budget and figure out what you can afford.You must build a coop that will protect your chickens from predators,but often you can save money by salvaging construction material from job sites or old sheds.It’s possible to buy prefabricated coops also.The chickens will need plenty of air and each chicken will require it’s on nesting box,which is best placed off the ground.You’ll especially want to protect against snakes.Raccoons and dogs may simply destroy anything that isn’t built well enough to deter them so you can’t take too many shortcuts.

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If you are going to keep chickens as pets, it’s important to look after their health as you would any other pet. While chickens have a reputation for being stupid and unfeeling, in fact they are surprisingly intelligent and emotional birds, and it’s your responsibility to keep your pet chicken healthy.

Be especially wary of diseases of the respiratory tract, a common chicken health problem. You also need to watch for fowl pox (also known as avian diphtheria), a nasty thing that comes in a dry or wet form. The dry form causes lesions on featherless parts of the bird, while the wet form causes lesions inside the mouth and throat that can swell until the chicken can’t breathe. There’s no cure for this, but you can vaccinate against it. Newcastle disease is extremely dangerous in chickens, and it can cause conjunctivitis in humans and other pets.

Like fowl pox, there is no cure but there is a vaccine. If you are going to have a pet chicken, be sure to do your research about their potential health problems first, and find a qualified vet in the area who knows about the health issues chickens can face.

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September 21, 2009
- Portland has opened its arms to keeping pet chickens and I think it is great. People can enjoy the pleasures of keeping chickens in their backyard and get lovely, fresh and cruelty free eggs.

September 20, 2009
- If your chicken has ill health symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhoea you must contact your vet asap. Home cures may be suitable for some minor issues, but you must contact the vet asap if your chicken is ill. This potential cost is something you should consider before deciding to have chickens.

September 20, 2009
- If you have problems with chicken lice in your coup, you will need to buy a spray. These are available online and at pet stores. If you spot it early then it should not be a major problem.

September 20, 2009
- This lady managed to get her chickens approved in an urban area and she seems like a great chicken owner. If you do not keep roosters you will find chickens are very quiet. However, you should remember that many rooster chicks are left at shelters and euthanazed each year, so if you do live on a rural property you may want to consider adopting one.

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One of the most interesting things for the backyard chicken owner is the preservation of now rare chicken breeds.In states like North Carolina the chicken population is over 10 million,but all of these are almost identical animals raised industrially.

The Plymouth Rock Chicken is not really threatened,but this American species has become far less common.The Rhode Island White is particularly well suited for backyard farmers as they are very calm.The best layers among them can produce upwards of 250 eggs per year so you may need your neighbors to help you if you have more than a couple in your yard.

Those are only a few breeds you might want to investigate.Before farming became an industrial enterprise there were literally hundreds of breeds of chickens and now many of these are becoming threatened.You may want to adopt one for your own. For the heirloom breed enthusiast there are far more exciting and beautiful options.One of my favorites is the Araucana or Ameraucana which originated in South America.It’s a beautiful bird with a great variety of plumages.It will lay both green eggs and blue eggs

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Caring for Backyard Chickens – Imagine having fresh eggs for breakfast every morning, as well as a natural alarm clock. These are just two of the benefits of raising backyard chickens. When cared for properly, chickens can be entertaining and valuable pets.

When constructing a living space—a coup— for your chickens, there are several things to keep in mind. Chickens, though small, need room to move. Plan on allotting 3 to 4 square feet of space per chicken in your coup. When in doubt, err on the side of too big rather than too small.

Climate is another factor to consider. In warm climates, chickens need plenty of ventilation to stay comfortable, and in cold climates, they need insulation for warmth as well as fresh air ventilation. You should also ensure that their drinking water does not freeze in the winter. Light is good for egg production, so a south-facing window in the coup will ensure your chickens have plenty of sunshine. Chickens can easily fall prey to coyotes, dogs, hawks, and bears, among others. Creating a predator-proof coup with good fencing can help protect your chickens.

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So you’ve decided that you want to raise a few chickens in your backyard. The next question you might be asking yourself is what color and breed to buy. Many of us here in the Ozarks like black chickens – they stand out in the landscape and are quite beautiful.

If you like small chickens or have only a small space, you should consider the Rosecomb Bantams. Bantams or ‘banties’ as they’re often called are small chickens – about one-fifth the size of regular chickens. The Rosecomb is black with a vivid red comb and white “cheeks”. Another breed to consider is the Black Cochin Bantams. These tiny chickens have feathered legs which make them look larger than they actually are. They are very gentle, excellent setters and require little space.

All bantams lay very small eggs; about six bantam eggs would equal one regular chicken egg. Most bantams weigh around two pounds. Unfortunately for city folk, bantam roosters have a screeching, very loud crow which can be heard many hundreds of feet away. Your neighbors will probably not like the sound. In fact, you may not either! At the other end of the size range (8+ pounds) are black Jersey Giants – the largest breed in the American Class. The breed was developed in the 1880s in New Jersey. These chickens grow more slowly than most breeds and their black feathers take on a green sheen within the black color. They are good natured birds and are good layers of large eggs which range in color from pale cream to dark beige. You might also want to consider Australorps, a breed created in Australia. Their weight is about five to six pounds. They are calm, friendly birds; the hens are good layers of large brown eggs.

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My neighbor has just begun raising chickens at her house. Her husband built the cutest six-foot red A-frame house for them. They cluck around most of the day and eat the family leftovers. Just like clockwork, the chickens provide eggs, which are tasty, fresh and organic.

My neighbor has enough to give some away to friends and sell others for $4.00 a dozen. A few weeks ago, I was helping my neighbor prepare hundreds of skewers of fruits and vegetables for a friend’s wedding. We piled all the leftover rinds and scraps, and took them out to the chickens. They especially loved the grapes and kicked them around like soccer balls. Sometimes it looked as if a full soccer game was in session. One would punt the ball to another, who would dribble around a chicken from the opposing team. It was very entertaining to watch.

The chickens lay three different types of eggs—white, brown and–my absolute favorite–the green ones. Green eggs and ham, anyone?

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September 19, 2009
- This is a good suggestion by PETA. Since the winner of America’s Got Talent used to be a chicken catcher on a huge commercial chicken farm, he will have contributed to the abuse of those poor birds, it would be great if he could do something to help the birds, now he is in a better position. Those of us who have had the pleasure of sharing our lives with chickens will know how wonderful these animals are and they should be given the compassion they deserve.

September 19, 2009
- Making a chicken coup can be fun if you have someone you like to do it with. Plus it is a real feeling of accomplishment when you succeed. Especially once you see how happy your chickens are in their new home.

September 19, 2009
- This is an interesting post showing us a few of the benefits of backyard chickens. Some that I hadn’t even thought of.

September 19, 2009
- Organic chicken feed will mean healthy and happy chickens, so it is definitely something to consider. Plus, I really like Joy. She seems to care about animals a lot.

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“Bantam” refers to a couple different kinds of chickens: those bred to be miniatures of standard breeds, and true bantams, chickens who as a breed as small. Bantams tend to be quite colorful, and have interesting feather patterns. They tend to do well in smaller areas than larger chickens, and are very distinct in the fact that the hens will nurture an egg and raise the hatching of another bird, not just other chickens.

While the females are quiet and sweet, the males still try to be aggressive, though being that size and all puffed up tends to make them more comical than frightening. There are numerous breeds of bantams. Silkies, which are one of the most popular breeds of true bantams, are known to be very gentle and friendly. The smallest of the true bantams are the Dutch, which were developed in the Netherlands. The Polish bantams are known for their extraordinary colorings, which include pink, purple, and blue. Bantams are often kept as family pets or shown in competitions.

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Chickens in the Backyard Cluck-cluck, our Araucana hen, is seven years old now. She lays a beautiful pale blue egg about once a week. In her younger years, she laid an egg about every three days. But she’s very old now for a chicken. When my husband and I moved to the Ozarks 12 years ago, one of the first thing we did was buy chicks, looking forward to fresh eggs for breakfast and for light suppers. Our chicks grew quickly and we had fresh eggs by the end of the summer. And what eggs they were! No supermarket egg even comes close. Fresh yolks stand tall above the white. The yolk can at times be almost a dark orange.

Our chickens quickly became pets, running up when we went outside to see if we had anything interesting to give them. They love food scraps, especially the leftovers from our fruit salads. Chickens are “easy keepers”. Our chickens roam around the property during the day, pecking and scratching. They particularly love fresh dirt and help to control insects and weed seeds, as well as soil cultivation. We live in the country where we have raccoons and possums, both of which prey on chickens. Even those in the city have predators who would love to have your chickens as a meal. So it’s important to have secure place for the chickens to sleep at night. This can be a simple or as elaborate as you like. We use a large dog-house type structure with a locking door. The floor is strewn with hay from our pastures, but you could use saw dust or cedar shavings.

Backyard Chickens via the Chicken Coup blog where you can get Backyard Chicken and Chicken Care news and info.

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September 19, 2009
- I think PETA have the right idea. Chickens are feeling, sentient beings and deserve our respect, care and empathy. Before you build a chicken coup it is important to consider your chicken’s needs and welfare requirements. Happy chickens are a joy to see.

September 19, 2009
- Keeping backyard chickens means you can give them the care they deserve and enjoy their produce in return.

September 19, 2009
- Wow – a commercial farmer who actually cares about the welfare of her animals. This is the side of commercial chicken businesses that people don’t see. Chickens that are too old, or are male get discarded and slaughtered and usually don’t have kind women to find them homes.

Top Chicken Coup Info on September 19, 2009 via the Chicken Coup blog where you can get Backyard Chicken and Chicken Care news and info.

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When building a chicken coop there are a number of features that are important to include in the design. Besides simply protecting the chickens to be housed from the elements, the design should allow feeding and watering the chickens to be convenient.

The coop should also be easy to clean and maintain. Sturdy materials should be used to provide adequate shelter. Chickens that are easy to feed and water are more likely to receive adequate nutrition, a coop that is easier to keep clean and maintained is more likely to provide a healthy environment, and a structure that is made out of sturdy materials is less likely to go unrepaired.

Providing adequate housing for your chickens is more likely to be a priority if it is not difficult to do, especially if children will be playing a part in maintaining the chickens. Healthy chickens depend on shelter, clean food and water, and a well maintained environment, so be sure it is easy to provide.

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How to care for your backyard chicken -

Just like any other pet in a household there are many pros to having chickens. They’ll give you personal pest control, fresh eggs and process your compost, where all your cat will do is us its tongue for toilet paper!

Whether you keep chickens for personal use or as pets there are many steps and tips to taking care of them properly, like how much space that they will require to live comfortably, it’s also important to learn about the breeds, knowing what materials will be needed to build a coop where they will be safe and won’t be able to get out, especially if your living in or close to the city.

One of the most important things is knowing their nutritional diets so they can grow up to be healthy and helpful chickens with long and capable lives

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