Dion Rosser - Backyard Chickens: A Comprehensive Guide to Raising Chickens for Beginners, Including Tips on Choosing a Breed and Building the Coop

Backyard Chickens

A Comprehensive Guide to Raising Chickens for Beginners, Including Tips on Choosing a Breed and Building the Coop

Copyright 2020

The content within this book may not be reproduced, duplicated, or transmitted without direct written permission from the author or the publisher.

Under no circumstances will any blame or legal responsibility be held against the publisher or author for any damages, reparation, or monetary loss due to the information within this book, either directly or indirectly.

Legal Notice:

This book is copyright protected. It 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 publisher.

Disclaimer Notice:

Please note the information within this document is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Every effort has been made to present accurate, up to date, reliable, complete information. No warranties of any kind are declared or implied. Readers acknowledge that the author is not engaging in the rendering of legal, financial, medical, or professional advice. The content within this book has been derived from various sources. Please consult a licensed professional before attempting any techniques outlined in this book.

By reading this document, the reader agrees that under no circumstances is the author responsible for any losses, direct or indirect, that are incurred as a result of the use of the information contained within this document, including, but not limited to, errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.

Introduction

S elf-sufficiency, especially when it comes to your food sources, can be extremely liberating. No one wants to spend hours reading labels trying to figure out whether or not something is healthy. While you may not be able to control where all your food comes from, raising backyard chickens is one way to make sure that you are getting healthy and wholesome eggs from your own flock.

Chickens are pretty low maintenance, and this is probably the reason raising backyard chickens has become a popular hobby. After all, who would not want a pet that also provides fresh eggs? However, it is not all about the eggs. Chickens are not just a source of eggs, but they also make interesting family pets that your whole family can enjoy.

While you may have an interest in raising chickens in your backyard, you probably do not know where to start or even how to do it. That is why we have compiled a simple and straightforward guide for beginners who want to raise chickens. Some people may have no experience at all with raising chickens, but that should not deter you from taking up this rewarding hobby.

This book gives you detailed information on how to start your backyard flock. We want you to be able to take care of the chickens once you have them, so this book also gives you in-depth insights into how to raise, care for, and maintain your backyard chickens. From building a coop to equipping it will all the accessories you need to take proper care of your chickens, you will get all the information you need to get started.

A significant part of the book is dedicated to the proper care of chicks and how to raise them from day-old baby chicks to adult hens that lay eggs. We understand that caring for pets is a delicate process, and this book aims to equip you with all the knowledge you need to raise a healthy and happy flock.

We have a section devoted to understanding chicken behavior that is geared to help you bond better with your flock. That part of the book is designed to help you pick up on any distress signals in your flock or any signs of illness. If you have thought about raising backyard chickens for a while, this is the book that will guide you on how to do it. You need not be a farmer in a rural setup to raise healthy chickens. With the right tools and information, you can transform your backyard into a safe haven for chickens.

Naturally, the first place to start on your journey to raising backyard chickens is understanding why you need to do it at all.

Chapter 1: Why Raise Chickens at Home?

R aising chickens is no longer just the preserve of people with rural farms. An increasing number of people are turning to raising chickens in their back yards. You have probably thought about it yourself, but, like any other venture, you may still wonder whether the pros outweigh the cons. If the allure of fresh eggs is not enough to convince you, there are still plenty of reasons to raise chickens in your backyard.

Whether you are looking for a fulfilling hobby or, like many others, just want to have more control over what's on your dining table, chickens are a great place to start. For most people who consider raising pets or livestock of any kind, space is usually one of the main deterrents. The beauty in choosing chickens is that they do not take up a lot of room. If you have a small backyard, you can still comfortably accommodate a small flock of chickens. For a modest flock of about six chickens, you would need approximately 110 square feet of space. This is why more and more people have taken up raising chickens in their backyards. With just a modest amount of space, you can have your own supply of fresh eggs readily available and a rewarding hobby to boot.

Another key concern that you may have when deciding to raise chickens is how much time and maintenance is required. Pets come with their fair share of maintenance, and chickens are no different. However, chickens are pretty low maintenance, and this is not one of those pursuits that will take up hours of your time. Keeping chickens will require some effort on your part, but for the most part, these birds are pretty self-sufficient and do not require round-the-clock care.

As long as you have a secure coop to keep your flock safe from predators, you will find that chickens require little attention. Most people find that the daily care required for chickens takes up less than half an hour a day, so this is not one of those hobbies that will turn out to be time-consuming.

If you have a dog or a cat, you will realize that chickens are easier to care for than either dogs or cats. Chickens do not need as much human attention as other household pets. Provided they are well fed and housed, you will find that you can pretty much go about your business without needing to keep checking on your chickens all the time. Most people who keep chickens will tell you that they are easy to keep because they are pretty independent.

For people with children at home, getting pets that your children can be around safely and also help care for is always a plus. As far as pets go, chickens are mostly non-territorial, and most are not aggressive. This means they make great pets that your children can also enjoy taking care of. Nothing teaches young children about responsibility better than having them help out in caring for a pet.