Welcome back to the blog! This is the third and final (maybe) part of my “How to Raise Chickens” series. At this point, the chickens should be no less than six weeks old (ah yes the dreaded puberty stage), and it is finally time to move them outside of the house. After all, animals tend not to like staying confined, and the currently implemented cleaning process might be too overwhelming to bear at times. With that being said, let’s just jump right into it!
First and foremost, it should be noted that in general, much like with raising a human child, as the chickens grow, different issues will begin to require either more or less attention. Keep this in mind for the future as in terms of diet and living conditions, there is no need to be too worried about involving yourself in – or actively changing – the already established norm. Ensure that food (now store-bought formula) and water are always accessible, it’s just that simple.
An example of something to worry about altering is shelter, obviously. Now that the flock will be exposed to the elements, it is vital that they all live in a much safer permanent residence than before! Shown on the right side is the coop that I bought, assembled, and used for a couple of years for my largest flock of five chickens. In addition to providing a sturdy and safe area, as long as your whole group is able to comfortably fit inside at one time, the coop should be fine. Furthermore, consider whether or not egg-laying areas, perching areas, or a basic camera/light are necessary to have. Placement of the coop is important. It should be in a place with plenty of grass nearby while also being easily accessible and monitored by both the chickens and owner. It is also a good idea to situate it under a backyard deck if possible as it will help to block out the worst type of weather: rain. As per usual, remember to clean the interior of the coop regularly. Thankfully, the weather should not be a major issue even without the coop, especially for hardy breeds of chicken! There are only two main weather-related consequences to worry about. One of them is frozen water in the winter that should be monitored. The other will be touched on later in this post.
Another problem that arises is predators. From snakes to neighborhood felines, raccoons, opossums, foxes/wolves, and other avian hunters, predators are perhaps the most significant obstacle to be aware of when raising poultry in general (speaking from my own experience) as they will singlehandedly determine the success of the flock. Chickens are not only domesticated, but also near the bottom of the food chain, so unless there is a large flock of adults and/or a rooster of considerable strength, awareness, and intimidation, fighting back is never an option. Chickens will value safety in numbers and will almost always resort to fleeing, typical. Name any animal larger than them with some type of natural weaponry and the chickens are likely screwed. Everything out there wants a piece! What is the next step now that I’ve made the danger clear? Fear not! Those predators are no match for a proper plan made with human intelligence!
There are many ways to mount a defense on the fort in order to ensure safety. Personally, I set up a fence to isolate the roaming area and draped a curtain of chicken wire around the deck. Furthermore, I installed motion sensor lights, a door (with a lock) to access the coop underneath the deck, and a tunnel made of fencing for an extra layer of protection. Even with all of this, nothing can stop a starving animal from scheming for its next possible meal, and despite the powerful setup, there is little reason to relax, especially near sunset. Take no risks, and lock the chickens up for bedtime. Their senses, especially eyesight, are significantly weaker when it is dark, so if there does happen to be an sudden ambush, it will likely be game over for at least one of the chickens. The rest may be sent into shock (and must recover quickly) due to the fear of seeing a family member being dragged away. Only the predator wins. Nothing is safe, and predators are always watching. Keep in mind that if the ground is covered in snow, the chickens’ vulnerability spikes, for snow limits potential cover to hide under and makes chickens especially noticeable. Now that’s just a meal waiting to happen! Being vigilant and aware of potential nearby predator attacks is a critical make-or-break aspect. In the end, human presence trumps all. Predators dare not throw hands with me, a 6′ 2″ monster boasting a twelve pack!
Thank you for reading through this series, and thank you to all of the feedback/questions in the comment sections! Although the journey of raising chickens is – for the most part – over, there is still more to be discussed about having them as pets in general along with other miscellaneous – but still notable and important – information to know that I have simply failed to mention or discuss thus far. Join me next time for extra series entries with even more bonus content. Stay safe as always!
Daniel, loved this series. Honestly thinking about getting some livestock when I’m older, so it’s interesting to hear you talk about your experience. I’m wondering if you could do a quick post on gathering eggs once the chickens become hens? Also, out of curiosity, where does one buy a chicken coop such as the one pictured? I’m assuming they aren’t just laying around in an Ikea, and if you really put that all together yourself I got to imagine you’re pretty handy, handy enough to keep those predators away, that’s for sure!
Hey Liam! Glad to hear the feedback. You read my mind about the next post! The chicken coop came from Tractor Supply Company. You can either probably buy one in person at a local store if they exist around, or just go to the link under the picture in the post and shop online. My father actually worked together with me to assemble it. When I inevitably retire to the fields, I may also once more raise chickens.
Hi Daniel. This is a great series! I loved learning about how to raise chickens, and this post was especially interesting! I wish I had a large enough backyard to be able to grow chickens. Do you eat the eggs produced by your chickens? They must be really good cause of all the care you put into them. I heard that chickens that aren’t stressed produce the best eggs, is that true? What are your tips to keep chickens relaxed and unstressed?
Hey Nandini! Thanks for the feedback. It makes sense that relaxed chickens will produce the best eggs, but even I may have to look into that more myself to learn! I did eat the eggs that were produced by my chickens, and I plan to touch more on eggs in general in a future entry/post to this blog series, so stay tuned.
I absolutely love the intense and focused run-down you give on raising these chickens! I have never seen such passion and care for chickens and I am fascinated! I can relate to the predator part because there was a man that lived down the street from me at home that we used to buy the best eggs from. Unfortunately, a few years ago, a fox came in and killed all the chickens. I felt horrible and the eggs were no more. Keep up the great work!
Aw man, that’s terrible! I had a similar situation which I may or may not choose to discuss in one of my future blog posts, but it is also why I cherished the chickens while I had them! There is a man who lives close by to me, and he somehow trained all of his chickens not to go onto the road; to this day, I still don’t know how the mad lad did it.
Hi Daniel!
Great article as always.
Best, Jason
Salutations Mr. Wang! Thank you for reading, and stay tuned!