RAISE YOUR OWN BACKYARD HENS


PRESENTATION BY HOLLY BROWDER AT THE SAG HARBOR FARMERS’ MARKET ON JUNE 29, 2013

CONSIDERATIONS

1.       TIME:  FED, CLEANED UP AFTER, LET OUT EACH MORNING AND LOCKED UP SAFELY FROM PREDATORS AT NIGHT.  EGGS NEED TO BE COLLECTED DAILY.

2.       MONEY:  BULK OF COSTS ARE START-UP:  COOP, FEEDER & WATERER AND CHICKEN FEED.  AND THE CHICKENS THEMSELVES. 

3.       SPACE:  BASED ON SIZE OF FLOCK BUT IN GENERAL FOR BIRDS W/OUTDOOR ACCESS 2 SQ FT PER BIRDSIN THE COOP AND 4 SQ FT PER BIRD IN THE RUN. CONSIDER INCREASING THE SPACE PER BIRD I THE COOP IF YOU PLAN TO KEEP THEM THROUGH WINTER AND PERIODS OF INCLEMENT WEATHER KEEP THEM ‘COOPED UP’. 

4.       NUMBER:  CHICKENS LAY JUST ABOUT AN EGG A DAY SO DETERMINE HOW MANY EGGS YOU WILL NEED TO FEED YOUR FAMILY WHEN DECIDING HOW MANY CHICKENS TO RAISE.  SINCE THEY ARE SOCIAL ANIMALS SO PLAN FOR AT LEAST TWO BIRDS.

 
 
BREED
OVER 200 BREEDS OF CHICKENS THAT RANGE IN WEIGHT FROM 1 TO 12 POUNDS.  BREEDS VARY IN TEMPERAMENT AND CLIMATE NEEDS. 

EGG COLOR DETERMINED BY BREED: 
    WHITE: LEGHORNS
    BROWN: RHODE ISLAND REDS, NEW HAMPSHIRE REDS
    PASTELS: ARAUCANA

HEAT TOLERANT -  RHODE ISLAND RED, LEGHORN

COLD-HARDY -  ARACUCANA, PLYMOUTH ROCK

BOTH – NEW HAMPSHIRE RED AND BRAHMA


ROOSTER? ONLY NECESSARY TO BREED CHICKENS; OTHERWISE JUST PLAN TO REPLENISH YOUR STOCK AS HENS AGE; ALWAYS A DOMINANT FEMALE THAT WILL MAINTAIN ORDER

 

CHICKS, PULLETS OR HENS
ORDER CHICKS IN THE SPRING AND THEY USUALLY ARRIVE IN THE MAIL; WILL NEED TO BE KEPT IN A BROODER FOR ABOUT 16 WEEKS 

PULLETS ARE CHICKENS BETWEEN 16 AND 20 WKS OLD; MUCH CLOSER TO LAYING (AROUND 6 MONTHS)   

MATURE BIRDS:  PURCHASE HENS ALREADY LAYING FROM A FARM YOU TRUST; WILL LAY FOR ABOUT 2 YRS THEN EGG PRODUCTION WILL DROP OFF
**RESOURCES:  MOYERS CHICKS  www.moyerschicks.com  OR LOCAL AGWAY

 
 

HOUSING:
PURCHASED OR DIY COOP:  NEST BOXES, ROOST, VENTILATION, SECURE DOOR

CONSIDER A CHICKEN ‘TRACTOR’ (ON WHEELS)
**RESOURCES: CHICKEN COOPS  45 PLANS FOR HOUSING YOUR FLOCK BY JUDY PANGMAN

FEED:
TYPICALLY PURCHASED IN 50 –LB BAGS; CONSIDER ORGANIC (NO GMOS, NO HERBACIDES, PESTICIDES AND CARCINOGENS LIKE ARSENIC) AND STORE IN A BRUTE CAN WITH TIGHT-FITTING LID TO KEEP OUT MICE, RATS AND RACOONS.

ALLOW DAILY FORAGING

TABLE SCRAPS: FRUIT, GREENS, WEEDS, STALE BREAD, COOKED MEAT SCRAPS.  NO SPOILED/MOLDY FOOD, FISH, CITRUS.

ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER AT ALL TIMES

GRIT (GRANNY GRIT) OR SMALL STONES/PEBBLES

PREDATORS:
ON LONG ISLAND, HAWKS, OWLS, FOXES, WEASELS, RACOONS AND CATS/DOGS.  MOST ATTACKS OCCUR AT NIGHT SO ALWAYS CLOSE UP YOUR HENS SECURELY AT DUSK.  CONSIDER AN ELECTRIC FENCE TO CONTAIN YOUR HENS AND KEEP PREDATORS OUT DURING THE DAY. 

**RESOURCES:  PREMIER 1   www.premier1supplies.com

 

 


A SAMPLE DAY OF RAISING YOUR OWN HENS: 

MORNING:  LET CHICKENS OUT OF COOP, FILL WATERER AND FEEDER

AFTERNOON:  COLLECT EGGS, CLEAN AND REFRIGERATE

EVENING: REPLENISH WATER AND FOOD; LOCK UP HENS AT DUSK