Chickens, A Popular Pet and Pastime!

in Animals on the Farm

"My friend Anna is afraid of chickens. Of course she doesn't seem to mind eating the eggs or roast chicken dinners..." - Laura Childs

Except for my friend Anna, it seems like chickens, 'round these parts' anyway, are a woman's preference. Women like eating chicken and other poultry more than men and for the most part we enjoy watching and raising chickens more than the men.

Is there a psychological connection? Perhaps...as women we can truly appreciate a chicken's diverse set of gifts to the world - eggs, meat, garden fertilization, weed pulling and bug-eating! Chickens juggle as many jobs and have as many purposes as we do!

Of course since I originally wrote that first paragraph, I've had a pile of men writing in to tell me I'm off my rocker, that they enjoy caring for, raising and watching chickens as much as any woman! Likely those men are also diverse creatures with many talents and gifts themselves...

Keep A Small Backyard Flock Without Worry

Country Chickens - In the Coop or In the Backyard

On larger country lots, or in more rural areas, people keep two distinct and separate flocks of chickens - one flock of birds for egg production and another flock for meat. The egg layers adorn our property for 3 years or so, the meat birds come just for the warmer summer and early fall months.

City Backyard Chickens

All over the internet now you can read stories about people raising chickens even on the smallest of city lots. It is no longer uncommon for an urban family to keep a small flock of city chickens for their family's supply of nutritious home-grown eggs.

Ordering Chickens for the Backyard Flock

When ordering meat birds many people specify roosters only and pay a higher price per chick. I once took this route but now take a mix of both sexes. I find that the flock gets along better and if I have to keep my birds around a bit longer than expected I don't have fights breaking out or worry about my boys over-sizing (and dying prematurely).

Feeding Chickens and Other Poultry

There is minimal difference in care (other than the actual feed you buy) for chickens vs. turkeys or other poultry (ducks, geese, pheasants).

Here's a few basic principles to follow when keeping birds of any sort:

1. Begin with quality bird stock purchased from a local hatchery, poultry supplier or mail order.

2. Give your birds room to roam outside as well as shelter from the elements and predators.

3. Feed them a store-bought feed designed for the purpose of egg production or quick and healthy weight gain. Supplement their diets with as much natural food as possible (let them eat a free range diet in the summer and give them your table scraps year round).

4. Clean out the chicken coop or pen at least twice per year. Chickens can become infested with lice easily. Age the chicken manure in your compost heap for one full year, then add it to your garden soil.

5. Sell or freeze (not in the shell) any excess eggs.

6. Don't feed meat birds any longer than necessary. Once they've reached their maximum or expected size, butcher them yourself and can or freeze them. Overfed usually means fat - and fat collects on the heart first which quickly kills or stresses your bird.

You might also like to check out the ebay chicken auctions going on right now below. You'll find eggs and supplies, as well as antique cages and incubators. Plus, save this page to your favorites so you can easily stop back in again. These listings change daily and you don't want to miss a thing!

One Specialty - The Bantam

Chickens come in all colors and sizes to suit a wide variety of uses and tastes.

For the past three years I have loved my Bantam Chickens best. They're a small bird with a lot of personality (for a chicken). 

Bantam roosters are seldom mean to humans, yet they are fiercely protective of their flock against wild predators and even large family dogs.

The hens are prolific layers and brooders (they'll even attempt to hatch a ping pong ball), and their butchered size is just perfect for dinner for one (cornish hen style).