Raising Chickens in your Backyard: a sustainable food source

Overview of this section. Honorable mentions: Should you buy or build a coop? Whether to keep birds "cooped up" or let them out.

What do you need when you first get your chickens? Do you need to have a coop before you hatch or get chicks? How many coops do you need? Different types of shelters for different purposes.

A run-down of different features that a coop needs, such as roosts, food, water, nest boxes, ventilation, security features, etc.

Henrietta, my cover image model and favorite 3 year old hen, basically ignores me while I use her as an anatomy model for our next lesson.

Many flockmasters swear by dangling shiny objects around the property to deter hawks. Apparently they also can deter other wild birds and critters. I take you through making your own -- it's a quick and easy project if you happen to have old AOL CDs or old software CDs you no longer need.

Supplies:

• Many pairs of useless CDs
• drill
• A 3/16" drill bit (preferably an auger bit, it has a self-piloting tip to avoid cracking the CD) or a bit that will allow your CD to swing freely on the cable ties
• a package of cable ties, any color or length
• twine or acrylic yarn
• scissors or yarn snips
• Someplace sturdy & safe to drill into (a piece of scrap wood, for example)
• safety goggles
• broom or shop-vac to clean up - this project leaves long nasty strings of CD plastic around -- you don't want your chickens to eat it.

If you're not familiar with handling tools, please take extra caution. In any case, I'm not responsible for your safety. You can try this project with someone who has experience in safely handling a drill, etc. This lecture is only to convey ideas for how you can create something similar, feel free to use your discretion, knowledge and skill.

Depending on the size of the buckets and the size of your chickens, these food-safe containers can be modified into inexpensive portable nest boxes that accommodate laying and even setting hens. Recommended for small and medium breeds.

Supplies:

• Icing container from supermarket or grocery store's bakery department, washed and dried
• a lid with gasket that securely fits the icing container, washed and thoroughly dried
• scrap wood (2x2, 2x4, plywood or shelving)
• 6-8 screws deep enough to secure wood scraps to the shelving or plywood
• a pilot drill bit
• a razor knife, or linoleum knife, sharp enough to easily cut the container lid
• measuring tape
• drill
• saw (circular saw or table saw preferred)
• straight-edge, t-square, square, or some other way to draw straight guide lines

If you're not familiar with handling tools, please take extra caution. In any case, I'm not responsible for your safety. You can try this project with someone who has experience in safely handling a drill, saw, etc. This lecture is only to convey ideas for how you can create something similar, feel free to use your discretion, knowledge and skill.

A general reminder of the choices you can make about how you deal with chickens, how you set up your flock, and so on -- so that you can minimize your chicken habit's impact on your lifestyle.

Here's a handy tool and a way to help you weigh different priorities when it comes to having chickens.  What's most important for you and your flock?  You'll end up with a list of your priorities so that you can choose the right breeds, the right size, the right coop, and whether you want roosters, etc.

This lecture is optional!

Chickens are a livestock animal, and while we can treat them as pets and some are quite friendly, there's a certain responsibility I feel a need to explain regarding the life and death of chickens. Culling is the act of selecting & removing birds from your flock for any reason, and by any method. Rehoming and slaughter are discussed.

Warning: I'm discussing death in this lecture. I'm trying to keep it matter-of-fact, with only the essential details.

Transcript is available as a lecture resource.