Before getting started, it’s essential to make two important but difficult decisions. Firstly, what purpose will the backyard chickens serve? This greatly depends on municipal regulations, which will deem whether hens can be solely kept for egg production or whether slaughter is also an option. According to Vancouver farmer, Jordan Maynard, making this choice will determine the type of breed to pick, the number of chickens to purchase and the type of infrastructure to invest in.
The second key question: what will happen the chickens once they get too old to lay eggs? Maynard says a hen’s egg production peaks around 2 to 3 years of age, and then steadily declines until the age of 6 or 7. However, some hens can live up to 15 years. That being the case, potential backyard chicken keepers have to consider whether they will continue to keep their feathered friends as pets, or if they will be slaughtered post egg production years, or if they will be put down. If there is limited space in the backyard, this will be an even more pertinent question to tackle.
How Much Space is Needed
Unlike their agrarian counterparts, people living in urban settings don’t have acreages of farmland to dedicate to chicken husbandry. Therefore, the size of their lawn determines the number of chickens that can be kept. Maynard says two hens is a good starting point for first time chicken farmers with an averaged sized lawn. He adds the recommended density of hens in a backyard largely depends on whether they will be living in a free-range setting or confined to the chicken coop area.
Hen Housing Options
Every hen needs a safe home, particularly in the urban setting, where predators such as coyotes, raccoons and dogs present a daily threat. Maynard suggests starting with a solid ‘Chicken Tractor’, if there is enough room to keep the hens on grass. A chicken tractor is a bottom-less, portable chicken coop, which allows for rotational grazing of the lawn. More hens can be kept in this scenario, but the mobile coop does need to be moved from section to section on a regular basis. Maynard says chicken tractors can be built to any size and at a nominal cost.
The alternative to the chicken tractor and rotational grazing, is building a permanent chicken coop. In this case, hens could range freely during the day in the yard and would be shut in at night. Farmers, such as Maynard, can be contracted to construct such enclosures in backyards. Some companies even sell pre-constructed ones, most notably Omlet UK's Eglu. Meanwhile, for those with a knack for do-it-yourself projects, more information can be found online on building either mobile or permanent backyard coops.
Finding the Right Breed
If chicken rearing is a new component to your life, knowing which breed to pick from the thousands available can certainly be confusing. Again, it comes back to the question of purpose. Look, temperament, productivity, cost and size are some of the factors that come into play when picking a breed. Some breeds are better for laying eggs – others better for their meat. Maynard suggests a middle-of-the-road option in choosing a hybrid hen, ideal for both purposes. Some breeds he recommends include: Orpington, Rhode Island Red and Plymouth Rocks. Maynard adds mixing breeds in a coop is a common practice, and one, which can help prevent the spread of disease. On average, a chicken can be purchased from a poultry farmer for about $8.
Like any other pet, chickens are a responsibility. To ensure an ideal living space is being constructed for the hens, contact local ‘Backyard Chicken’ advocates or solicit professional advice from local poultry farmers.
In Vancouver, Maynard offers regular urban chicken husbandry workshops. Visit the Southlands Farms website for further details. Specific information on community regulations can be found on individual municipal websites.
Some Chicken Coop Necessities:
- Perches
- Nest Box
- Dust Bath
- Water Trough
- Feed Trough
- Insulation or Heat Lamp (for colder months)
- Shelter from Rain, Wind or Sun
- Fencing to keep Predators out
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