Tips for your Own Backyard Chicken Farm
I have recently turned my backyard into a mini-farm. As the world gets older, I fear time will be getting continually worse. I first thought once Bush gets out, things will gradually improve. After reading a new article on Obama, I highly doubt that as well. McCain doesn’t have a chance in hell and he never had my vote in the first place. I was leaning more towards Obama, but not anymore. He is against firearms. Against firearms, although he still employs many security guards that carry concealed weapons to keep him from getting assassinated. Kind of funny, don’t you think?
Going back to my original topic, in my backyard I now have chickens. I average about a dozen of eggs each day. I know that eventually, normal people won’t be able to afford groceries. I can barely even afford gas, let alone groceries. With my hens, I get enough eggs to feed me and the remaining I sell to buy more feed for them. So, it works out really well. When the world falls apart even more, I can live off eggs and chicken.
Have I gotten you interested?
Breeds
If so, here’s what you need to decide next. What breed to get. The breed you decide must reflect your mini-farm. Lets say you opted to get the Yokohama breed. They are a beautiful breed, BUT, they have magnificent tail feathers. They are really long and beautiful. They need lots of care and management to maintain their long tail feathers and to keep them clean. Which means you will be needing a lot more space and a lot more time to take care of them. Other breeds you want to avoid if your space is limited, are giants (Black Giants, Jersey Giants) and any type of Cornish. They get huge.
If you are very limited on space, bantams are a great choice. Just about every breed of chicken has a bantam version. Bantams were bred specifically from the runts of the litters. After years of breeding, you now have miniature breeds. So, if you wanted White Leghorns but don’t have adequate room, go for the bantam version.
Your farm’s purpose?
Another thing to consider for your mini-farm is what purpose will the chickens serve? Are they strictly going to be for eggs, meat, or both? Going back to the White Leghorn, they are one of the top layers. They lay constant in both summer and winter. As for meat though, they aren’t the best. They tend to be a lot slimmer than say Rhode Island Reds. Rhode Island Reds are known as dual purpose birds. They are bred both for meat and eggs. Cornish breeds are bred for meat. Most of them are genetically engineered to grow super fast. I do not recommend these types as your first flock. Since their genes are altered, their legs and breasts grow extremeley fast and result in the chicken just laying there and eating. That’s all they can do. Cornish types require a lot of work. They need special food and medication to help in their leg problems.
My breeds
What breed do I raise? At the moment, my main flock consists of sixteen Barred Rock hens, three Rhode Island Reds, one White Leghorn, and a single Barred Rock rooster to take care of them all. I do have other hens, but they are the ones I’ve raised for meat to sell. On top of that I have over 60 or so 3 week old chicks. They consists of Leghorns, Black Giants, and Barred Rocks. They will be replacing my current flock when their time is over. Good hens laying life lasts 2-3 years. Right now mine are almost 2. By this time next year, my 60 chicks will be laying really good and my current flock will be going into the freezer.
Chicken housing
What type of housing do I use? Well, you may laugh, but it works. At the moment I live in a moblile home with a very small lot. Within the next two years I will be moving my mobile home to 6 acres in the woods. So, until then, my current housing will suffice. I got a really good deal on two chain link dog cages. These are they big types that Lowe’s and Sears sells. I have two 10×10x6 cages. One I got for free and the other I only paid $50. I have a wooden nesting house built inside the first cage. It has double doors with two complete compartments.(The other cage is currently empty. I will be adding a new flock to it soon though.) In each compartment there are three milk crates filled with straw. Another thing I want to mention is that chickens don’t care how much money you spend on them. As long as they are warm, dry, got a comfy place to lay eggs and have a full stomach, they could care less. I see people spending thousands on their chicken house. On top of my cages, I have nylon flight netting to keep them in and the hawks out. Covering half the cage are two tarps. I have stretched them with rope and bungee cords so that rain will run off instead of pool and collapse the roof. So, let’s see. I have a little over $60 in my house and my chickens are happy and produce large to jumbo-sized eggs daily.
Conclusion
In conclusion, do some research before you start your own mini-farm. Select the type of breed you need for the purpose you require. Also, let your space reflect your breed selection as well. Also, remember that you don’t have to spend hundreds or even thousands on a chicken house. As long as they have their needs and are safe from predators. That is all you need. As far as where to get your chickens, I will cover that in my next article.
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