Chickens 101
Good morning!
Today we will begin to journey into the wide world of poultry, more specifically chickens! So grab your cup of coffee and lets cover some basics today,
Choosing the Right Chicken for Your Needs
When people think of farms or homesteads, chickens are usually involved in some way. And why not? Chickens are great and can serve multiple purposes on a homestead. In addition to meat and eggs, chickens can also be great for pest control, and properly composted, their manure is a great amendment for gardens. Did I mention that they can be quite entertaining at times?
Why Raise Chickens?
There are so many reasons to raise your own egg-laying chickens:
Providing food for your family: Honestly this should be your #1 reason. Why? Well, because 3-4 hens can consume $20-$50 (there are lots of ways to reduce the cost of feed, that we will discuss later) worth of feed per month, much like a dog or cat. So having a return on your investment that is tangible and not just emotional is a great benefit. Knowing exactly where your food comes from and how the chickens were treated is an incredible feeling.
Reducing reliance on the grocery store: This is the first step to food freedom. Not to mention you know that you are providing the best possible food for your family from a nutritional and ethical perspective. We can talk more about what your chicken and eggs go through in the industrial model in another blog, but feel free to look into it on your own.
Offsetting grocery costs: With the price of eggs and ethically raised poultry increasing, raising your own can help offset your grocery expenses.
Income source: You could raise chickens to sell their eggs or as adult flock starters.
Supply concerns: With hatcheries running out of chicks and birds being culled due to bird flu, there are even more reasons to keep chickens.
Are Backyard Chicken Eggs Better Than Store-Bought?
Typically, yes. However, please do not fall for the marketing, not all eggs labeled farm-fresh are superior to store-bought eggs. Some eggs that are marketed as free range, pasture raised, or feed a vegetarian diet are full of poo. These are marketing tactics employed by certain producers to “greenwash” their products and make them seem more appealing than their counterparts next to them on the self.
All of this information is available on the USDA website, but here are some snippets to peak your interest straight from the USDA.
Question: What is USDA grading service?
Answer: USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, (MARKETING SERVICE, did you catch that?) through the Livestock and Poultry Program’s Quality Assessment Division, offers a voluntary program which provides for the official grading of eggs in accordance with the U.S. Grade Standards for the Voluntary Grading of Shell Eggs (7 CFR Part 56) and the United States Standards, Grades, and Weight Classes for Shell Eggs (pdf) (AMS 56).
According to the USDA, for a product to be labeled "free range," animals must have continuous, free access to the outdoors for more than 50% of their lives, meaning there is no specific minimum pasture space requirement for "free range" labeling; however, "pasture-raised" has stricter requirements regarding outdoor access and pasture space per animal.
Key points about USDA "free range" requirements:
Access to outdoors:
The primary requirement is that animals have continuous access to the outdoors, not necessarily a specific amount of pasture space.
No minimum space:
The USDA does not mandate a minimum amount of outdoor space for "free range" labeling.
Producer attestation:
Producers must attest that their animals have continuous access to the outdoors for over 50% of their lives to use the "free range" label.
Does “truth in advertising” even exist anymore?
But I digress…
Brown eggs have no more nutritional value than white eggs, despite the common misconception. The health of the egg is directly tied to the quality of the chicken’s diet. Chickens need a high-protein diet from free-ranging on fresh grass with plenty of access to bugs. Otherwise, store-bought free-range eggs may have darker, more nutrient-rich yolks than homegrown eggs from chickens only fed commercial chicken feed.
We aren’t going to discuss this today, but in the future we will spend quite a bit of time talking about feed. It matters that much!
Choosing the Right Breed
Before making a purchase, consider the breed of chicken that will suit your needs. Chickens come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Some lay a lot of eggs, while others lay very few. It's important to study and make the right choice because these are living animals that depend on you for a good life.
When considering breeds, you'll see categories such as heritage, heavies, meat birds, egg layers, and easter eggers. Key characteristics to consider include:
Tolerance of your environment
Activity level
Foraging ability
Docility or aggressiveness
Raising Chickens for Eggs or Breeding
Decide whether you’re raising chickens for a sustainable flock (with a rooster and hatching chicks each year) or just for eggs. Please consider the pro’s and cons of both and we can talk more about those later. If you want to breed your chickens, heritage breeds are the best bet. If not, hybrid breeds will do just fine and may produce more eggs per week.
Do Chicks Need a Rooster to Lay Eggs?
No, hens will lay eggs regardless. Chickens need a rooster to lay fertilized eggs, which can grow into chicks. Most grocery store eggs are unfertilized. Something else to be aware of is city ordinances regarding roosters before bringing one home. If you want chicks, one rooster can cover 8-10 hens, but be mindful of potential aggression.
How Many Chickens Do You Need?
The number of chickens you need depends on your egg consumption. One bird will lay on average 3-5 eggs per week. Keep in mind that egg production may slow down or stop completely depending on the time of year and during seasonal molts. It's a good idea to order a few more chickens than you think you need to account for potential losses and sexing errors.
Best Egg Layers
Some prolific layers include:
Americaunas: Large blue eggs
Red Star (ISA brown): Large brown eggs
Speckled Sussex: About 250 medium-sized light brown eggs per year
Easter Egger: Variety of egg colors including light blue, dark green, and pink
Marans: Dark chocolate brown eggs, but fewer in number
Best Chicken Breeds for Beginners
Heavier chicken breeds tend to be more forgiving and tolerant of all-weather types, making them easier for new chicken owners. Some good beginner breeds include:
Orpingtons: Friendly, dual-purpose breed known as the golden retrievers of the chicken world. If you are starting your first flock and just getting your feet wet, this is the breed I recommend!
Plymouth Rocks: Great layers that can tolerate heat and cold.
In conclusion, raising chickens can be a rewarding and beneficial endeavor for any homestead. Not only do chickens provide a reliable source of fresh eggs and meat, but they also contribute to pest control and garden fertilization. By carefully selecting the right breed and understanding the needs of your chickens, you can ensure a healthy and productive flock. Whether you are looking to reduce grocery costs, gain food independence, or simply enjoy the companionship of these entertaining birds, raising chickens offers numerous advantages. With proper care and attention, your chickens will thrive and become a valuable asset to your homestead.
I think that is a good place for us to put a comma on our discussion today!
As always and this is important, If you have any questions, concerns or think I missed something let me know at NoLackFarm@outlook.com. Because I produce these blogs with the intention to help educate and encourage you all as you endeavor to be healthier and take back control of your food!
Until next time, Stay strong in your faith, love your family and support your local community farmers!
Kevin
