Historical November–December 2019 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Backyard chickens have become very popular.
The US Department of Agriculture estimates that there are about 4 million households with chicken flocks. OK Hatchery, a feed store in Kirkwood, sells hundreds of baby chicks every Spring and the St. Louis Backyard Chicken Facebook group has thousands of members.
There are lots of reasons to love chickens.
First, chickens provide eggs, which are a complete protein (containing all nine amino acids necessary for humans). Chicken feed is inexpensive. And chickens make interesting and friendly pets.
However, there are some important things to consider before getting a flock, like chickens’ lifespan. Hens typically start laying eggs at 18 weeks and good layer may produce one egg a day for several years. Egg laying begins to slow at six or seven years.
After that, they continue to lay, but at gradually slower rate until old age. Average lifespan is 8-10 years. Hens do not need a rooster to produce eggs and eggs will not hatch without a rooster.
Another consideration is a coop. Coops, generally the largest setup cost, protect chickens from weather and predators. Chickens do not like wet or snowy weather, and chickens may attract raccoons, possums or hawks.
Some people heat their coops, but it is not necessary as long as there is plenty of straw or other bedding. Chickens do need access to water, so a heated dog bowl may be necessary in the winter. Coops are often built with nesting boxes, which are small areas where hens prefer to lay. Nesting boxes make looking for eggs easy. Chicken coops must also be cleaned regularly.
This is for human as well as bird health.
In addition to chicken feed, chickens are very happy to eat kitchen scraps, although it is best to avoid giving them meat or dairy, which attracts other animals.
They also like eating bugs, grit and egg shells. Grit or egg shells are high in calcium and important for their digestive system to be able to process what they eat.
When hens do not get enough calcium, their egg shells can get thin. Hens typically lay more eggs when they are happy, so keeping their coop nice and providing foods they like can help egg production. Chicks who grow up being handled by people are often very friendly.
It is not uncommon to raise chicks who come to you and who like being petted. Hens also may molt when their body chemistry is affected by lack of daylight and colder temperatures. At times, hens may also become broody, which is an urge to sit on a clutch of eggs. Chickens, like many birds, feel more comfortable in a flock, which has established hierarchy (a pecking order). Introducing new chickens to an established flock can cause pecking. Best of all, hens often have an “egg song.” They cackle or crow when they or one of their sisters lays an egg.
There is debate about why hens do this, but most likely, they are telling you it is time for a healthy breakfast, because eggs are a perfect protein!
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November–December 2019.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2019_11.pdf, printed page(s) 4; PDF page(s) 3.
