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: LEGHORNSBROWN: 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
