However, the rewards of cultivating your own healthy, happy egg layers can far outweigh the challenges.
The first step is deciding on a structure to house your chickens in. They’ll need a safe and warm environment for roosting and laying their eggs. Coops can be purchased online or in farm supply stores. Alternately, constructing your own coop can be a great money-saver for capable builders. Whichever method you choose, make sure to allow about 4 square feet of space per chicken in the coop.
The next consideration is deciding which breeds to invest in. Hybrid birds such as the Hy-Line Brown and California White are generally the most productive egg layers. You can purchase chicks from a farm supply store or online from a mail order hatchery. While raising them takes some effort, you will be rewarded in about six months when your hens start laying. Or reap immediate rewards by buying adult hens.
Most hens lay regularly throughout the first three years of their average 4- to 8-year lifespan. This does present a difficult decision for some farmers: to keep older, non-laying hens as pets, or to cull and replace the flock. Chickens, like all animals, are a responsibility and should be taken on accordingly. All things considered, chickens are easy to manage and worthwhile, and raising them can be the perfect adventure for many backyard farmers!
Helpful online resources:
Posted in: Community
Comment Policy: All viewpoints are welcome, but comments should remain relevant. Personal attacks, profanity, and aggressive behavior are not allowed. No spam, advertising, or promoting of products/services. Please, only use your real name and limit the amount of links submitted in your comment.
You Might Also Like...
Voyage From Ethiopia: A Dad’s Perspective on International Adoption
International adoption is a frustrating, difficult and expensive process, and yet I’m here to recommend it. And for two very good reasons. My daughters. While international adoption made my family […]
Krysta Shaw-Stearns & The Red Bluff Performing Arts Centre: A Center for Expression, For Everyone
Everyone deserves a creative outlet and a form of expression that brings people together. Whether dancing and performing are passions or just hobbies, the Red Bluff Performing Arts Centre is […]
Empowering Children to Change the World (One Sock at a Time)
My daughter came to me from the foster care system when she was nine years old. Now that she is 12 and adopted, it’s important to her that she help others. […]
This Season’s Harvest Happenings
Autumn is here and it’s time to begin or continue a traditional visit to harvest events in our region. Pumpkins, colorful gourds and winter squash all provide a cornucopia of […]