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