Raising a backyard flock
Courtesy of Dave Rhuberg
With the cost of eggs and poultry soaring across the nation due to market volatility, many people are looking for alternatives. For some, that may be raising a backyard poultry flock.
Before finding your nearest Tractor Supply Company and purchasing your first set of hens, there are some things to consider to get started.
The first thing to consider is local limitations. Some municipalities do not allow backyard flocks, so be informed about ordinances specific to your area. If you rent or you’re a homeowner in an HOA, check with your landlord or HOA president to make sure there’s no policies in place against raising a flock.
Once you’ve determined that it is legal for you to keep poultry, think carefully about your ability to provide the necessary care.
Your birds will need fresh food and water every day, you must gather eggs every day, and you must make sure that the flock always has a clean, dry shelter. There are no days off when raising your flock.
Breed
The breed you select is determined by what your goal for your flock is. The types of chicken breeds to select from falls into one of three categories:
Egg laying stock
Meat-type birds
Dual purpose breeds
Each breed of bird is strategically bred to ensure the best outcomes for the goal you have in mind.
Egg-laying birds have been genetically selected for high egg-laying productivity. These birds are characterized by their small bodies due to being bred to not waste energy on body mass production. Egg-laying breeds are categorized by the color of egg they lay: white or brown. The best white egg layers descend from Leghorns and the best brown egg layers descend from Rhode Island Red Stock.
Meat birds are hybrid breeds selected to produce a variety (strain) with meat characteristics that the producer desires most. Some breeds grow faster and larger while others have larger breast meat yield, more efficient feed conversion, or more disease resistance. These breeds do not exhibit high egg production. Two common meat bird breeds are the Jersey Giant and the Ginger Broiler.
Finally, there are dual-purpose breeds. These breeds are inferior in both egg-laying and meat production compared to their egg and meat counterparts, but they are an option for producers who desire some characteristics of both egg and meat birds. Typical breeds in this dual-purpose category are New Hampshires, Plymouth Rocks, and Wyandottes.
Penny courtesy of Dave Rhuberg
Nutrition
For any animal to carry on its necessary life functions, as well as to grow and be able to produce food for humans, there are specific chemical compounds that must be in their diet in the right amounts.
Things to consider for nutrition:
Energy: Without the calories necessary to stay alive, no other aspect of caretaking matters. This energy is derived from three main sources: carbs, fat, and protein:
Carbohydrates: Dietary carbs can come as glucose or fructose, sucrose (table sugar) or lactose (dairy sugar), Carbs can also come in larger forms like plant starch or cellulose. Carbs are a required fuel source in all cells.
Fat: Dietary fats come in the form of triglycerides, which are made up of three fatty acids attached to a glycerol backbone. Fat is used as a concentrated source of calories in a diet.
Protein: The protein content of a feed is listed on the label as "crude protein.” Proteins are large molecules that are built by arranging 20 different amino acids. A bird is able to make 10 of these amino acids from other compounds, but the other 10 come from proteins in their feed ingredients.
Vitamins: All the chemical reactions that are needed for an animal to take carbohydrates, fats, and protein and use them to sustain its life require vitamins. Vitamins are naturally found in different combinations and in varying concentrations in any feed ingredient, but no feed ingredient contains every necessary vitamin.
Minerals: The "ash content" of the feed is the inorganic mineral portion. Minerals are used by the chicken for bone formation, for electrolyte balance in the cells, and in trace amounts for chemical reactions. Supplementing grain with minerals is a necessary component of nutrition.
Water: Poultry feed is typically 10% moisture, whereas their meat has 65–70% moisture, and eggs have 75% moisture. Your birds should have plenty of access to cool, clean drinking water.
Housing
The first thing you have to consider is how much space you have available to raise chickens. Your birds will need a coop: an enclosed, dry, shelter with a surrounding fenced, outdoor area.
As long as the housing provides sufficient floor space, protection from the weather and predators, ventilation without drafts, a place to roost, and nest boxes for laying eggs then it doesn’t really matter how simple or fancy the coop is.
The coop should be well-ventilated and provide cool, moving air during warm weather and warmth during cold weather. Most crucially, the coop needs to be predator-proof. Predation is the most common killer of small poultry flocks. Coops should be secure from predators like foxes, coyotes, and even cats and raccoons. Make sure to reinforce your coop with strong wire to keep persistent predators out.
When building your coop, remember that low-density housing (more space per bird) results in less stress for the birds. Less stress results in less pecking and fewer health issues.
With basic knowledge regarding breeds, nutrition, and housing you are ready to begin considering raising your own backyard flock. For more comprehensive information regarding backyard flocks, visit your local Poultry Extension or click here.
Disclaimer: All information found in this article is from the Poultry Extension of the North Carolina State Extension office, courtesy of Caldwell County Extension Director Seth Nagy. This article should only be used as a starting point for your backyard flock research and not as a comprehensive source. For more information, visit the NC State Extension website or your local Extension and proceed with poultry raising at your own risk.
