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The Pros and Cons of Backyard Birds

March 20, 2023 Dr. Mary Cope

With rising egg prices, many people are exploring the option of getting a backyard flock of laying hens. While owning chickens can be a fulfilling experience, some factors must be taken into consideration before bringing birds home.

It is important to check with the local ordinances to confirm that chickens are allowed within the city limits. If they are, there are often limits on the number of birds owned and roosters are typically not permitted.

The recent drive for many people’s desires for hens is the rising price of commercial eggs. It is important to remember that the increasing cost of commercial eggs is driven by rising costs of feed, which make up most of the expense for egg farmers, combined with massive flock losses due to outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).1 Owners of at-home flocks are not exempt from this inflation of feed prices, nor are backyard flocks protected from disease. Over 50 backyard flocks have tested positive for HPAI in 2023 alone, and people will spend more time, money, and energy keeping a backyard flock than continuing to purchase their eggs from their local grocer.2 Expenses such as building materials for a coop, feed, bedding, fencing, medication, heat lamps, and the birds themselves can make a backyard flock quite pricey. However, if cost savings are not a primary motivator, and are interested in getting backyard chickens for education, entertainment, knowing where your food is from, or simply just for some pets, then having a small, backyard flock may be the perfect addition.

Before bringing chickens home, a coop will need to be built or purchased. Coops need to be large enough for the number of birds they will house. There is a lot of varying information on how much space is required for each chicken in a coop, but if the birds will be allowed access to an outdoor run, they will need less space than birds who will be kept confined. On average, each chicken will require 3-5sq. ft. of space, within the coop, if allowed access to an outdoor run. It is important to remember that, depending on the climate of the region or disease outbreak, the birds may be confined in their coop for long periods of time. The United States Department of Agriculture monitors the spread of HPAI and if birds are kept in too confined of space, problems with feather picking and fighting may arise, so it is always best to side on a larger coop with fewer birds to prevent these issues.

Because chickens are prey animals, it is important to build a coop and run as securely as possible to prevent predation. A fenced-in run may help to prevent predation from diurnal predators, such as dogs, and netting over the top of your run can help to deter birds of prey, such as hawks, to help keep your chickens safe. Keeping birds safe from nocturnal predators require a coop that can be closed at night. Burying chicken wire below your coop, or having an elevated coop, can prevent animals from digging under, and having doors with intricate latches can prevent craftier animals, like raccoons, from breaking in. If near waterways, ensure that all openings to the coop larger than the size of a quarter are sealed with hardware cloth to prevent mink, rats, or weasels from slipping in.

Once everything is set up and ready, it can be occupied by chicks or adults. If deciding to get chicks, be sure to select pullets. Pullets refer to young female chicks that have been sexed, determining the sex of the bird, whereas straight-run chicks are a mixture of males and females. Even though the pullets have been sexed, it is not uncommon for a male chick to slip through, so make sure you have a plan for a stray rooster, as you may end up with one. The chicks will require a heat source, such as a heat lamp, as they cannot maintain their own heat at a young age. A brooder refers to a small enclosure that can be kept warm and also keeps the chicks confined close to the food and water sources. Getting adult hens is a great way to ensure a rooster is not selected; however, older birds should be checked and treated for parasites such as mites, feather lice, and scaly leg mites, as well as implementing a de-worming protocol. When adding new birds to the flock, keeping new additions quarantined for at least 30-60 days will help to prevent the introduction of disease to the existing flock. Adult birds should be treated for endo- and ectoparasites (parasites found inside and on the surface of the body, respectively) several times a year to keep them healthy. Finding a veterinarian in the area that treats chickens can be a challenge, so calling around to see if local clinics are comfortable treating farm animals, including chickens, is important. Having a vet who is comfortable providing medical care for the flock will be vital for the management and treatment of parasites, illnesses, and injuries.

Hens can stop laying eggs for a multitude of reasons, but the most common instances are when they go into molt, during the winter months, and when they reach old age. Molting refers to the physiological occurrence when a bird loses all their feathers and grows a new set. This is a very energy-intensive activity for the body, so egg production will stop during that time. Molting typically takes 2-3 months to complete and the hens will start laying after all of their new feathers have grown in. Chickens are stimulated to lay by photoperiods or the length of daylight hours to night hours. Because the daylight hours reduce in the winter, there is not enough light to stimulate them to produce eggs. This can be remedied by placing a light in their coop to expose them to at least 12 hours of light per day. This will stimulate them to continue to lay, despite the shorter winter days. Lastly, it is important to remember that chickens can live upwards of 10 years. While hens can live over a decade, they will likely not be productive into their old age. This is important to keep in mind for good egg productivity with a limited amount of space.

Raising chickens can be a fun activity for those looking to get started in backyard farming. They are intelligent, interactive, and can also be very affectionate animals. Tending to a personal flock can have its challenges but can also be incredibly rewarding!

For more information about HPAI and other poultry diseases and ways to implement biosecurity measures to protect your backyard flock, please visit the following sites:

https://extension.umn.edu/poultry/poultry-health

https://extension.umn.edu/poultry-health/avian-influenza-basics-noncommercial-poultry-flock-owners

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian

 

References

  1. Food Price Outlook, 2023: Summary findings. USDA ERS - Summary Findings. (2023, February 23). https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-price-outlook/summary-findings/.
  2. USDA APHIS | 2022-2023 Confirmations of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Commercial and Backyard Flocks. (2023). https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-2022/2022-hpai-commercial-backyard-flocks

About the author: Dr. Mary Cope is an Analyst at BSM Partners. Dr. Cope received her B.S. in Avian Biology and her Ph.D. in Monogastric Nutrition from the University of Georgia Department of Poultry Science. Dr. Cope has raised a variety of poultry, including chickens, guinea fowl, turkeys, ducks, geese, quail, and pheasants for over 20 years.

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