Chicken Poop
The Subtle Art of Raising Backyard Chickens
Chicken Poop
The Subtle Art of Raising Backyard Chickens
by
Guenevere MacDonald
Contents
Introduction.11
Chapter 1 What do chickens need22
Chapter 2 Set up...39
Chapter 3 Dont keep chickens47
Chapter 4 Which Birds.61
Chapter 5 Getting started with Vocabulary..87
Chapter 6 Getting started with Chicks.....92
Chapter 7 Getting started with Laying Hens..109
Chapter 8 What not to do with your birds122
Chapter 9 Cleaning up after your birds.125
Chapter 10 Winter Basics..141
Chapter 11 Dealing with Predators150
Chapter 12 Know before they Crow..158
Chapter 13 Training your Chickens165
Chapter 14 Daily Task List.171
Chapter 15 Chicken Diseases.178
Conclusion..............187
Copyright 2020
BY Guenevere MacDonald
All rights reserved
In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permissions from the publisher. All rights reserved.
The information provided herein is stated to be truthful and consistent, in that any liability, in terms of inattention or otherwise, by any usage or abuse of any policies, processes, or directions contained within is the solitary and utter responsibility of the recipient reader. Under no circumstances will any legal responsibility or blame be held against the publisher for any reparation, damages, or monetary loss due to the information herein, either directly or indirectly. Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher.
Legal Notice:
This book is copyright protected. This is only for personal use. You cannot amend, distribute, sell, use, quote or paraphrase any part or the content within this book without the consent of the author or copyright owner. Legal action will be pursued if this is breached.
Disclaimer Notice :
Please note the information contained within this document is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Every attempt has been made to provide accurate, up to date and reliable complete information. No warranties of any kind are expressed or implied. Readers acknowledge that the author is not engaging in the rendering of legal, financial, medical or professional advice.
By reading this document, the reader agrees that under no circumstances are we responsible for any losses, direct or indirect, which are incurred as a result of the use of information contained within this document, including, but not limited to , --- errors omissions, or inaccuracies.
Introduction
Every good chicken book starts with the question Why keep Chickens?.
The answer tends to always be pretty much the same list every time.
Farm Fresh eggs for starters. Who wouldnt love firmer, deeply colored, more nutritious eggs? Eggs are probably the number one benefit of having backyard chickens. From the different colors that are laid by different breeds to the different sizes and laying patterns of the hens, eggs are a much anticipated and celebrated part of chicken rearing.
Then there is the hormone free meat. Since you control what goes into your birds you control what comes out of them too. You control the meat process start to finish. By raising your own meat, you also help reduce the carbon footprint left by grocery store deliveries.
Organic compost and fertilizer. Like your meat and eggs, you control what goes into your compost. Chicken poop is a particularly good organic fertilizer and contains high levels of nitrogen which is good for the garden and house plants. Just remember that chicken poop is a hot compost meaning it must compost for a minimum 6 months (preferably longer) before it can be applied to gardens. Mixing your chicken waste with other organic materials will ensure a rich nutrient based compost that will make your garden flourish.
Pest control. Ahh how chickens love bugs, from beetles to ticks to fleas they will eat all the bugs they can catch. They will also catch and eat mice, voles, moles and frogs and toads and in some instances small snakes.
And of course, this is where amusement is also added to the list. Chickens are fun and relaxing to watch and often get themselves in some stupid circumstances which just makes pure entertainment fodder.
It is pretty much an industry standard list. But there are somethings that are not found on regular run of the mill lists. For starters, chickens are the closest living relative of the tyrannosaurus rex. Who would not want a bunch of tiny dinosaurs roaming the back yard?
Chickens also have their own social network... they were tweeting before twitter came on the scene. They have their own language, which is quite extensive, and they start talking in the egg. They even purr when they are happy.
Chicken eyes work independently of each other, they can watch you and their food at the same time. They also see movement 20x faster than humans so they can spot predators faster and make a run for safety. Chickens are quiet sociable animals that can be trained to come when their name is called. They can be trained to do tricks as well. And while there is work involved, raising chickens is a relatively easy affair. A small coop can be kept in a backyard in the city allowing for 3 to 12 birds depending on ordinances. In the country you can have larger flocks free ranging your front yard. Nothing is quite as enjoyable as watching chickens at play in the yard. There really is not a good reason not to keep chickens if you can. So how do you get started? I am so happy you asked...
Chapter 1 What do Chickens need?
Space - a typical quarter lot can keep as many as 12 chickens without issues. If they are free ranging only. 3ft of space for the average medium bird in a coop and 8 to 10 ft outside if penned. These are the recommended numbers however depending on your chickens size and needs, 2 ft in the coop may be sufficient. Odds are they wont even use their full 2ft of space but having it there is good. Outside birds tend to explore their surroundings while staying close to safety. After they have eaten and explored, they usually come back closer to their coop or the door of the run to sit and observe things. Having sufficient space allows them to fill their curiosity and stretch and dust.
Ventilation . I cannot stress this point enough. Ventilation is necessary year-round. Every coop should have at least 1 to 2 inches along the ceiling where the roof meets the ceiling that is fenced in but open to air circulation. Having ventilation above the birds heads allows for ammonia and heat to rise and escape in the summer and for moisture, and ammonia to escape in the winter preventing frost bite and respiratory issues. Often, its thought that birds need heat and to be sealed in completely but that actually is the worst possible thing that can happen in a coop especially when its really hot or really cold. Ventilation is an absolute must for chicken health and wellbeing.
