Unlock the Benefits Of Backyard Chickens!
By Tom Seest
Should You Really Have Backyard Chickens?
At BackyardChickenNews, we help people who want to raise backyard chickens by collating information and news blended with our own personal experiences.
Whether you want to raise chickens as pets or eat their eggs, there are several reasons to think twice about keeping backyard chickens. These include the risk of Salmonella infections and the potential for conflict with wildlife. In addition, keeping backyard chickens is expensive and can lead to conflict with neighbors.
Should You Really Have Backyard Chickens?
Table Of Contents
Can Keeping Backyard Chickens as Pets Be Harmful?
Although chickens are considered pets in most cities, the city of Philadelphia has banned chickens since 2004. Its ordinances forbid chickens from being kept in city neighborhoods and regulate their noise levels. Despite this ban, most large cities still allow backyard chickens. While the Philadelphia ordinance does not specifically ban chickens as pets, it does classify them as livestock or farm animals. In general, a backyard chicken’s living conditions are not much different from those of a pet dog.
Keeping backyard chickens as pets is a great way to get a fresh supply of organic food, and they’re fun to have around the house. Chickens are creative foragers, and they will often seek out exciting items in the backyard. They’re also a great way to bond with your children, and they’ll teach them about responsibility.
Chickens are social birds, and a flock of two to three hens is ideal for an average-sized family. You’ll need to provide a clean environment for the hens, as well as feed, water, and shelter. You’ll also need to devote a bit of time to taking care of your flock. You can choose to raise chickens for meat or eggs, but remember to set aside adequate space for them.
Keeping backyard chickens as pets is a popular hobby for many people. Besides being fun and interactive, chickens can also provide tasty eggs. However, backyard chickens can be difficult to raise and can also develop certain health problems. You should contact your local government before getting started. There are about 400 varieties of chickens available, including standard chickens and Bantams. Bantams are smaller and are usually kept for show.
Keeping backyard chickens as pets can be a great experience for children, but there are some risks to be aware of. Chickens can be dirty animals, and their droppings can carry disease. You should thoroughly wash your hands after handling chickens and after interacting with them. You should also wear gloves whenever cleaning their cage and their manure.
Can Keeping Backyard Chickens as Pets Be Harmful?
Is Keeping Backyard Chickens as Food Worth the Risk?
Keeping backyard chickens as food can have several benefits. First, it can help you save money and become self-sufficient. You can also enjoy a closer relationship with nature. And last but not least, raising backyard chickens can make you laugh. You can also sell the eggs you collect to help offset the cost of raising them.
But before you get started, keep in mind that chickens are noisy and can sometimes be disruptive to neighbors. They can be especially noisy at dawn and may disturb someone living nearby. It’s also important to protect your backyard chickens from predators. Rats, foxes, and weasels are known to feast on chicks, so you should protect your property from these animals. In addition, keep in mind that chickens need intensive care until they’re at least 12 weeks old.
Chickens‘ feed needs vary depending on their age. For young chickens, you can use starter feed. When they’re about six weeks old, you can switch over to grower feed. After eighteen weeks, you can switch over to layer feed. Supplements are also helpful for your chickens’ health and egg production. You can also add table scraps to their feed, but you need to be careful with certain kinds of scraps.
While backyard chickens are generally healthy, the chickens will sometimes carry certain diseases. Fortunately, most chicken diseases are not contagious and will not affect you if you keep them indoors. A good way to prevent these diseases is to properly clean their enclosure and disinfect it after every use. It also doesn’t hurt to wash your hands after handling them with soap and water.
In addition to saving money on food, keeping backyard chickens can also be a great way to foster your connection to nature. They are social animals and fun to watch running around your yard. They also make great pets, which makes them an ideal choice for families with small children. Besides, keeping chickens in your backyard will help you save money on feed and coop costs. For example, the average organic egg at a farmers’ market costs six to eight dollars per dozen, while your chickens will produce fewer than half of that amount.
Is Keeping Backyard Chickens as Food Worth the Risk?
Can Salmonella Infections Be an Unwanted Risk of Keeping Backyard Chickens?
A recent outbreak of Salmonella infections in backyard chickens and geese has caused concern among poultry owners and the public. Since the outbreak began in May 2018, a total of 1,135 people in 48 states and the District of Columbia have become ill from contaminated poultry. However, the actual number of illnesses is likely much higher. As a result, it’s important to be extra cautious when handling poultry.
Salmonella infections in backyard chickens and other poultry are caused by bacteria found in their droppings and on their body parts. The bacteria can easily spread to other poultry, bedding, and even your hands. Infected poultry are especially dangerous for small children because their immune systems are not fully developed and can cause serious illness.
Infections of backyard chickens can be prevented by following proper hygiene practices. Although chickens are not as dangerous as commercially raised chickens, it is essential to regularly wash your hands after handling the animals. It’s important to remember that children have weak immune systems and can become infected with salmonella. The bacteria can cause diarrhea illness that can be mild or even life-threatening.
In a recent outbreak, the Washington State Department of Health has identified 11 cases of Salmonella infections in backyard chickens. The outbreak has been linked to a multistate outbreak of human salmonella infections. In addition, the outbreak was also linked to an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis in Maryland.
Salmonella infections in backyard chickens are uncommon but should not be ignored. Backyard flocks need to be kept clean and comfortable, and their feed and living conditions need to be controlled. Homeowners can monitor their flock’s health more closely and provide medical attention if necessary. Salmonella outbreaks in factory farms can be dangerous, but the risk is low compared to raising your own flock in a backyard environment.
Can Salmonella Infections Be an Unwanted Risk of Keeping Backyard Chickens?
How Can Keeping Backyard Chickens Lead to Human-Wildlife Conflict?
Keeping backyard chickens can create problems for local wildlife. In addition to causing health and economic losses, the conflict can also threaten the livelihoods of artisanal fishers and farmers. In some cases, this type of conflict can lead to the extinction of entire species. It also affects the global food supply chain and reduces the productivity of producers.
The best way to deal with human/wildlife conflict is to identify the species at risk and manage it. You can either remove them or try to prevent them from entering your property. A simple deer fence made of steel wool or bird netting can be effective. Regardless of the method used, make sure that the fence is sturdy and can withstand the weight of an aggressive deer.
Another common problem in backyard chicken keeping is conflict with black bears. Many residents of the state are raising backyard chickens, and the environmental police and MassWildlife receive calls each day about bears breaking into chicken coops. In many cases, this behavior is learned by the bear, which is why it is so important to monitor and control it. As backyard chicken farming has grown in popularity in the Bay State, so has the conflict between humans and black bears.
There are a number of ways to deal with this conflict. In rural areas, raising chickens is a common practice, and these chickens provide important food sources for wildlife. The Black-and-chestnut eagle has been known to feed on backyard chickens.
How Can Keeping Backyard Chickens Lead to Human-Wildlife Conflict?
How Much Does It Cost to Keep Backyard Chickens?
The first year of keeping backyard chickens can cost up to $2,000, which includes the cost of the coop, feed, and other necessities. While the initial setup costs may be substantial, ongoing expenses are not as high. There are also ongoing costs for the birds’ healthcare and diet, including the cost of bird feed and grit.
Aside from food and water, chickens also need adequate shelter and water. However, the cost of keeping a flock of chickens is not prohibitive if you consider the benefits of having a pet. These birds make excellent pets and are inexpensive psychotherapists. As long as you take good care of them, you won’t break the bank.
A dozen free-range eggs can run anywhere from $5 to $7 per dozen. You can also feed your chickens with kitchen scraps and let them forage in your garden. Feeding your chooks can be quite inexpensive, with some people only spending about $25 per month on their chooks.
Feed is the biggest ongoing cost of keeping backyard chickens. The quality of your feed is important to the health of your flock. High-quality feed provides the right amount of nutrients for healthy chickens and improves their productivity. Feed comes in many varieties. Some of the most common are pellet feed, crumble feed, and scratch feed. You can also use chick starter feed to feed your flock.
Backyard chickens are social creatures that can bring joy to your entire family. Aim to keep two birds for a good mix of companionship. In cold climates, you should choose Mediterranean breeds as they are easy to keep cool even in the hottest temperatures.
How Much Does It Cost to Keep Backyard Chickens?
Be sure to read our other related stories at BackyardChickenNews to learn more about raising chickens in your backyard.