How To Keep A Chicken
I have received many questions and comments on how to keep a chicken, generally focusing on daily care and the simple things that make chickens such unique ‘pets’. I decided to generate a list on a few of the many things that are involved in caring for chickens and I do hope you find it informative. Here is my take on how to keep a chicken.
How to Keep a Chicken – Things to Consider
One of the first things to consider will be the space needed to keep your chickens. You could let them run around your house, but I would definitely advise against that as they are VERY messy and clean up would not be as easy as it is with your standard pets such as dogs or cats. You need to have a ‘house’ for your chicken. More commonly referred to as a chicken coop.
A few things to consider as far as a chicken coop is concerned would be how many chickens you are planning on keeping, the area in which you intend on placing this chicken coop, and the environmental factors such as warmth and ventilation to keep your chicken comfortable.
If you are wondering what a good size for your chicken coop may be, multiply the number of chickens you intend on caring for by 4-5 square feet. This is a decent standard to stick to as it will provide plenty of comfort for your chickens.
Another thing to consider in how to keep a chicken would be feed. If you live in the city, you can get chicken feed from a local pet store these days, but if you live out in the country, these are generally called feed and seed stores. Live stock stores will also have a great selection of feed options for laying hens and table hens.
You should consult a veterinarian if your chicken has some sort of health issue and requires additional nourishment, otherwise, what you feed your chickens will depend on long term intentions. Meaning, if you are raising chickens for the eggs, the will require a much higher calcium content in their feed.
If you are merely keeping your chicken as a pet, lower calcium content will do just fine. It will probably cut down egg production significantly. For table chickens, you should ensure a higher level of protein in their diet to ensure denser muscle growth and less fat.
Another consideration for how to keep a chicken is to ensure they have daily access to weeds, vegetables, or grass. Oddly enough, chickens need their vegetables too. Ensure your chickens have access to fresh water to keep them hydrated and healthy. Be sure to change it out often to keep bacteria from forming and spreading among your chickens.
The final thought on how to keep a chicken should actually be more like ‘how to keep a chicken happy’. Keep your chickens living areas clean from feces and bacteria. A good practice would be to clean your chicken coop out every other day. This keeps the coop from becoming disease infested and possibly risking your chicken’s life.
How To Keep A Chicken – Summary
Well, you now have a basic understanding of how to keep a chicken. We covered the most basic topics of chicken care from the chicken coop, to chicken feed, to chicken health and happiness. I do hope you found this post informative and if you have any questions of how to keep a chicken, please feel free to ask.
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