Things to Know About Chickens Before Raising Them
Chickens are relatively-easy to raise on the homestead, and they can be highly-productive in terms of providing you with a source of eggs or meat. However, just because they are productive and easier to deal with than other backyard animals, having chickens presents a number of challenges that people don’t expect to encounter as they get started. Let’s take a look at some of the less-than-ideal characteristics of chickens so that you won’t be caught off-guard as you incorporate them into your plans to become more self-sufficient.
Chickens are Destructive
Chickens will dig, peck and scratch at almost anything they can get their beaks and claws on. This makes them particularly destructive in gardens and on grasses. It’s important that you protect your crops, plants and other sensitive areas of your yard before letting chickens roam free. You can also create chicken runs or fence off areas where chickens are free to destroy anything they like without putting any of your important plants and crops at risk.
Chickens are Ornery
Hens as well as roosters are not always friendly towards one another or to their handlers. In the world of chicken communities, establishing a pecking order and hierarchy is a top priority. Expect chickens to fight, chase, intimidate and ward each other off as they decide who’s in charge and assert their dominance. Roosters are also highly-protective of their brood of hens and will go to great lengths to ward off any advances that may pose a threat, including going after humans. While it is possible to “train” a rooster to be more friendly and accept people instead trying to ward them off, it takes time and patience to establish a good rapport and let them know who’s boss.
Chickens are Masters of Escape and Evasion
Keeping a coop or hen house secure is not only necessary to prevent predators from getting at your chickens, it is also a way to keep them contained. Chickens will search for any possible means of escape when given the opportunity, and it’s surprising how they can squeeze through the smallest of openings. While they generally don’t wander off too far, you may end up spending more time chasing chickens than you expected at first. They can get into trees, climb fences and essentially make life miserable for those who are just learning how to corral them.
Chickens Eat Almost Anything
This could be good or bad, as foraging on insects and various seeds can be beneficial for their diet. However, they can also eat items that contain pesticides, fertilizers or other chemicals that can be harmful. They can also easily peck away at small stones and pieces of debris. While their stomachs are designed to provide a good measure of protection against the effects of pecking at the wrong things, it’s up to us to be vigilant and continually check that harmful items are cleared away from where they roam.
Chickens Have Their own Personalities
Just like other animals, chickens have distinctive personalities that you will need to adapt to dealing with. Some are happy and low-maintenance whereas others will be grumpy, prone to getting into trouble or downright mean. It’s important to avoid the temptation to try and condition the chickens to behave in a certain way and focus on keeping them safe, content and as productive as possible.
Inasmuch as you can’t change the personality dispositions of people, the same applies when dealing with chickens. However, you can also pick and choose chickens that are the right match for your “community” in order to help promote peace among the residents and your own peace of mind.
These are just a few of many idiosyncrasies relating to chickens that a lot of people don’t think about before diving into raising their own. While raising chickens is comparatively-easy and inexpensive with respect to other home-bred and raised animals, they also require a lot more work and effort than most people think. A little bit of preparation will go a long way in terms of enjoying the benefits while of having your own chickens, and you can save yourself a lot of time, frustration and unexpected surprises by learning more about chicken behavior before introducing them into your backyard.
