03/06/2025
Egg prices are skyrocketing, and your first thought may be, “I’ll get some chickens!” Even though baby chicks are cute and inexpensive, consider the following before you take the plunge:
* Chickens live anywhere from 4 to 10 years. Their peak of lay is the first 2 to 3 years of life. And it takes 5 to 6 months before they start laying.
* You’ll need a solidly built coop to keep them safe and happy. It’s best to build it yourself of quality materials, rather than buying a cheap prefab coop.
* Like other animals, chickens get sick. Vet care is the most humane option and is part of responsible animal ownership. It is also expensive.
* Chickens are a 24/7 commitment. If you go out of town, you’ll have to find someone to tend them morning and evening.
* Laying hens need proper nutrition to keep their bodies healthy. This includes specially formulated feed.
* You’ll need to take precautions to prevent lice and mites, as well as rodents, from finding your birds and your coop.
* There are few farms that want to take chickens when they no longer fit their owners’ lifestyle.
* Chickens are different from dogs and cats; they’re a prey species, and they’re birds. Their bodies work differently from those of mammals, and they think about the world differently.
Before bringing chicks home, educate yourself on what’s involved in chicken keeping: Take a class, read books, watch YouTube videos. Be prepared for this commitment to ensure those chicks have a safe forever home.
Some of our favorite resources:
--Chicago-based Home to Roost LLC (offering two FREE classes this spring at local libraries)
--The Chicken Chick
--The Chicken Whisperer
--Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens by Gail Damerow
--Chicks in the City by Patricia Foreman
What are some of your go-to sources on chicken care?
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