Raising Chickens on an Urban Homestead |
20 Comments |
| By Matt Mayer in Gardening, Organic | July 21, 2008 | |
Hello! Welcome to the first of many installments in my adventure of chicken raising. I recently just introduced 2 chickens to my urban palace and I thought it would be interesting to follow along with my trials and tribulations. Hopefully if I make mistakes it will help you avoid them if you decide to embark on this sort of thing on your own.
I was helped along in my chicken adventures by talking with many other chicken owners about what they’ve done, as well as the great website City Chicken. I read two great books which I would recommend, Chicken Tractor by Andy Lee and Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens. I thought both of these books were great, and while I didn’t think one book covered all the information I wanted, together they did cover a lot of what I was concerned about.
Let me say, I wasn’t born on a farm or really around animals. We had a cat and a dog at various times when I was growing up, but we didn’t have a steady menagerie of animals at my house. What I’ve learned has been from reading books and talking to others. I guess I tell you this to encourage you. Just because you don’t have the background in raising animals doesn’t mean you can’t do it. I’m just at the beginning of my adventure, as I write this, and I’m still nervous and scared as heck. Especially when they sort of dart around. It freaks me out, but I know there is plenty of information and help online and with people I know. I hope Groovy Green can be a resource for you if you are starting out on an eggcellent adventure!
* Future installments of this series will discuss coops. Can you scavenge materials? Are they hard to build? Are you happy that there aren’t code enforcers for chicken houses? I think perhaps a discussion about a few coops I know of would be helpful as well.
* Feeding chickens. Tips, tricks and things you can do to make them cheaper and easier to raise.
* Keeping chickens warm in the winter. (Or cool in the summer)
* Are chickens legal in your area? How to find out.
Stay turned for more information in the future.
xJane said,
Totally looking forward to this!!! I live in an apartment right now, but dream of having chickens when I get a yard. I’m even convincing one of my sisters that she needs chickens (she agrees, but only inasmuch as she agrees she needs cheap (cheep?), fresh eggs; free pesticide; and free fertilizer).
Catriona said,
Oh, I’m glad I found your site. I’ve been jonesing to get chickens for almost a month now. Thanks for sharing!
Chiara said,
I am really looking forward to the next posts on your chicken experience: who knows, maybe in the future I could imitate you. Wishing you the best.
Raising chickens in your garden « Ecohappy said,
[...] If you ever dreamed of introducing chickens into your urban garden, you may want to read Raising chickens on an urban homestead by Matt Mayer on Groovy Green as well as follow Matt’s ’s future posts on his chicken [...]
Carole said,
I have been raising chickens for a few year and have grown to enjoy it more and more each day. Good luck with your new flock and I look forward to reading about your episodes.
Thomas Kriese said,
So great to see you blogging your adventures in urban chicken farming! We’re about 15 months ahead of you in introducing two hens into our own backyard here in Redwood City, California (just south of San Francisco) and have been blogging our own adventures over at http://urbanchickens.net
Can’t wait to read how our experiences overlap!
Matt Mayer said,
Thank you all for the comments. It’s going great with them. I’m amazed at how much of the garden and kitchen waste they can put away in a day. The more I give them the more they eat it seems!
Anny! said,
Yippy for chickens.
I also just got my first chickens (4 lovely ladies) I live in Detroit Michigan in the city so it’s interesting to say the least. But should be fun.
PermaKent Permaculture Ideas of J. Kent Hastings » Blog Archive » Urban Raised Chickens said,
[...] Groovy Green recommends more recently published books about raising chickens in his recent post, “Raising Chickens on an Urban Homestead,” than I did in my post, “Eggs OK Twice Per [...]
kat khan said,
Was so excited 2 find your site, my daughter brought me home 6 5month old and 6 5 week old ladys , the younger are silver whyendot. I agree themore I feed them the more they eat. Havebeen away from the chicken taking care of, for awhile, but we just moved back to the country and I am excited about find folk of a like mind and relearning all I forgot over the years. Looking forward to all posts.
Be Blessed,
kat
chrissy said,
I really want to keep chickens – we currently live in the East Bay (Alameda) and am wondering how likely it is for a renter (like myself) to keep chickens. How do I find out if keeping chickens is legal where I live and if not where can I move so that I can keep chickens. Thanks!
Marty Evans said,
I live Burnaby B.C. and last July I got 2 laying hens. I caused quite a stir in my neighbourhood. One friend said if we couldnt afford eggs she would buy them for us.Most people could not understand why we got them. The reasons were varied, fresh eggs,educating my kids and not supporting the battery hen industry. Our experience has been great, fresh eggs and a fun pet. They are very easy to care for and eat almost anything. They had the run of the backyard for 8 months but now they have a fenced run. We had a couple of rats coming around but the combination of traps and a Jack Russell have taken care of the problem. The rats were here from before, fed by the bird feeders. The chickens were a year old when we got them…exbattery hens I think and were giving us 10 eggs a week. They have slowed down now and are only giving us 6 eggs a week. We will get a chick soon and keep the old girls.
Matt Mayer said,
Chrissy-Check out The City Chicken for possible info on laws.
http://home.centurytel.net/thecitychicken/
But the best thing to do is to check the city codes.
However, I believe this is might be allowed in Oakland, at least I’ve seen people who live in Oakland on the net with their animals.
Cheryl said,
I live in scotland half the year and raise chickens in my garden I love them so much they have given me eggs and soo many laughs I can’t tell, you as for keeping them warm we have 3 feet for snow right now and the chickens are shut in the house (their house) I open the door so they can get light but they don’t venture out and they are doing well they are pretty tough they are a light sussex and speckeled Humburg mix
Scot said,
Hi, I just moved to San Rafael, CA. Do you know where I can find laws or regulations regarding keeping chickens? I don’t know if it is allowed, and if so, what the parameters are.
thanks
chicken hatching eggs said,
Raising chickens is a great hobby but sometimes presents more of a challenge in urban areas. Make sure the local ordinances allow you to have chickens on your property. Good luck with your new enterprise.
Want: Urban Chickens | Runaway October said,
[...] Raising Chickens on an Urban Homestead [...]
Courtney said,
Ive been thinking of raising chickens but like you I dont have the experiance. Im excited to read more, good luck!
Deke welch said,
I too live in San Rafael, CA and would like to know if there are any prohibitions in this city against raising a few chickens. I have a niched fenced area (about 300 square feet) .
ted said,
I just moved into a new house that has a really nice chicken coop, I think there is room for about 6-8 chickens, and am really looking forward to it. Technically though it is illegal to raise chickens in the city where I live (detroit), so I hope my neighbors aren’t douche bags.