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1) Look before you leap! before you
even consider keeping chickens, check if its legal to do so. If you live in a rural setting this
shouldnt be a problem but if you plan on keeping chickens in an urban back yard you may be subject to
city ordinances. Different cities will may have different rules so check with your local authority or
call animal control. |
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2) Get your neighbours onside! You
may find yourself having to apologise for noise or disturbance caused by your chickens so get your
neighbours onside from the start by keeping them supplied with fresh eggs! |
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3) Know your limits! be aware of
your available space and the time you can afford to manage your flock and dont get more chickens than
you can handle. |
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4) Invest in a sturdy, well
designed and well constructed chicken coop. Getting this right from the start will keep your chickens
safe from predators and make managing your coop simple and stress free. |
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5) If you are new to chicken
keeping choose a hardy breed such as the rhode island red and take some time to source good healthy
livestock to make sure you get off to a good start. |
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6) Unless you live in the country
and plan to breed from your chickens then DO NOT get a rooster! being woken at 5am and the ensuing
complaints from the neighbours just aren't worth it! |
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7) Establish a routine for cleaning
and maintaining your chicken coop and checking for signs of ill health and stick to it. This will pay
divedends in the long run and will keep your work load to a minimum and keep your hens healthy and
ensure a high yield of eggs. |
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8) Buy a selection of treatments
and medications you will be likely to need at some stage and keep them to hand so they are there when
you need them. |
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9) Buy an airtight bin or container
for storing your chicken meal and keep it closed when not in use. This will keep the feed in good
condition and avoid contamination by pests. |
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10) Decide from the start whether
you want to keep chickens as a source of meat and eggs or as pets. If it's the former, DON'T give them
names and don't get too attached. Enough said! |
