Frequently Asked Questions About Chickens

How many chickens can I keep in my coop?

The size of the coop, and the run, should be determined by the number and type of birds you keep (or plan to keep in the future). Five square feet per bird is a good rule of thumb for determining coop size. Overcrowding in the coop is not only uncomfortable for your flock, but If your coop isn’t big enough, it will likely require daily cleaning to manage odors and decrease the risk of disease.

When deciding on the size of your coop, we recommend going as large as you can, even if you free range, because of these two words: 'chicken math' (it is a thing, ya’ll)! Starting out, we all say our goal is to have 3-5 birds, but then we see all the cute chicks at the feed store and discover all the awesome chicken breeds that are available. And then inevitably, chicken math happens.

Outside the coop, your chicken run should be a sufficient height to allow your chickens to play and flap about as they please, and it should measure at least 25 square feet per bird - but again, bigger is always better when it comes to your flock accommodations. Not only is this a key for daily cleaning and maintenance, but it is also important for reducing the chance of boredom and bad behavior that is often caused by crowded conditions.

 

What is chicken math?

Chicken math - chik’-uhn. māth (noun) - is the bizarre and unexplained phenomena of chicken multiplication. It starts with a modest coop and a few hens. The influx in chickens is shortly followed by the spontaneous generation of other fowl- ducks, peafowl, guinea fowl, turkey, etc.

Starting out, we all say our goal is to have 3-5 birds, but then we see all the cute chicks at the feed store and discover all the awesome chicken breeds that are available. And then inevitably, chicken math happens.

 

Will owning pet chickens put me in violation of town ordinance?

Maybe. Some municipalities allow residents to keep poultry and some do not. To make sure you aren’t breaking any ordinances, the best thing to do is check with your local municipal, zoning, and health boards.

 

How many nesting boxes do I need?

Trust me, the hens can share. You don’t need a box for each bird. And even if you did, you would find that they would probably all use the same box anyway. I find that one nesting box for every three hens works great.

 

Why can’t I use chicken wire to safety proof my coop?

Chicken wire is great for keeping birds in, but extremely poor at keeping predators out!

Hardware cloth is usually what experienced backyard chicken owners use when building their coops. It’s very sturdy and, when installed correctly, is harder for predators to rip through. It also doesn’t stretch out of shape like chicken wire, so predators can’t maneuver through it as easily.

You can buy hardware cloth with larger openings, but typically, the ½ and ¼ inch sizes are best. These sizes are impossible for backyard chickens to fit through – so they’ll remain in your coop – and most predators can’t fit their fingers/paws through the holes.

Raccoons in particular like reaching through chicken wire to grab a free meal. Hardware cloth makes it harder for them to grab a pullet’s leg and rip her apart. It’s also harder for predators to get a grip on the wire and rip it off.

 

How much do chickens cost?

Baby chicks typically cost between $3-$25 each, depending on a variety of factors, including the sex (females are more expensive than males) and the rarity of the breed. Started pullets (young hens that have just started laying eggs) typically cost $15-$50 each.

 

How much care do pet chickens require?

Chickens are fairly easy as far as pets go. They don’t require daily walks or grooming, no baths (other than dust baths) and they only need to be fed once per day. With the proper housing and safety, they're a very low-maintenance pet.

Chicken keeping requirements include:

- Daily: check in on your birds and inspect the coop and run for predator tampering, provide food and fresh water (refill water as needed, especially in hot weather), collect eggs, and close the coop each evening once the hens are safely inside.
- Monthly: change bedding and remove fertilizer (chicken poo) so it can be put to good use!
- Twice a year: perform a thorough cleaning and disinfecting of the coop.
Read our Chicken Care Guide for more information about the ongoing care chickens require.

 

Can I leave my chickens?

Although chickens require daily care, you can leave your chickens alone for a couple of days, provided they have enough food, water, and space for the duration of your absence. Fresh eggs keep for several days without refrigeration, so the eggs they lay while you are gone should still be good to eat.

Just so you know, hens lay an average of 10-12 eggs per "clutch" (the group of eggs that a hen sits on to incubate). They lay one egg per day and at the end of a 10-12 day laying period, they roll all the eggs together to incubate them. That means the egg laid on day 1 is still good enough on day 12 to become a living, breathing baby chick - so it should be good enough to eat too!

 

When can chicks live outside?

Chicks can spend a little time outdoors when they’ve reached two weeks. A large wire cage or some other type of portable enclosure can be placed outside for a few hours a day, but only if it’s at least 65F and not too windy, and definitely not rainy! The chicks will need food, water and shade, and shouldn’t be left alone for very long. Predators are everywhere when you’re a small chick!

Once they’ve reached four to five weeks, the chicks can be moved permanently into the outdoor chicken run.

 

Do I need a rooster to get hens to lay eggs?

No. This is one of the most common misconceptions about chickens. Hens will lay eggs just as well in the absence of roosters. If roosters are present, however, the eggs may be fertilized!

 

How often do chickens lay eggs?

That depends on three main factors:

1. The breed of chicken: Some chickens are bred for meat production and lay few eggs; some are bred for egg production and can lay as often as once a day; some are bred as "dual purpose" and are good for both egg-laying and meat, although not optimal for either.

2. The hen's age: Hens start to lay at 4-6 months of age and lay best during their first year. Each year after, their production decreases.

3. The season: In the winter (with fewer daylight hours), egg production drastically decreases. High laying season is summer.

A healthy, young hen bred for egg-laying can lay almost an egg a day!

 

Why can’t I clean the eggs?

While your eggs often have slight traces of dirt or chicken feces on them, resist the urge to scrub them clean. Outside the egg is a delicate membrane called the "bloom" that wards off bacteria and other foreign matter and cleaning or scrubbing will damage this membrane. If you find it impossible to resist the urge to clean the eggs, you can rub them with your fingers very gently, under warm water. Then, wash your hands thoroughly.

 

Why do chickens lay different-colored eggs?

They just do! Different breeds lay different-colored eggs. Eggs come in many different colors - light brown, deep chocolate brown, white, off-white, pinkish and even green and blue. Some also lay speckled eggs.

A few cool egg facts:

- An individual bird's eggs will remain basically the same color all the time.
- There can be variation in the shade of egg colors amongst individuals within a breed, but not the base color (brown, white, blue, etc.).
- While it’s not an exact science, one general way to tell what color egg a chicken will lay is to look at her earlobe (yes, chickens do have earlobes!). A hen with a white earlobe will always lay white eggs, whereas hens with red earlobes, can lay brown, blue, or green eggs.
- Araucana, Ameraucana and Easter Eggers are famous for laying varying shades of green and blue eggs.

 

Are brown eggs healthier than white eggs?

No, the color of the egg has no effect on how healthy the egg is. However, how chickens are kept DOES influence the healthy benefits of the eggs.

 

Will the eggs from my pet chickens taste better than store-bought eggs?

Without a doubt. Your backyard chickens will lay eggs unlike any you've ever tried before. A good rule of thumb: the more orange the egg yolk, the healthier and better-tasting the egg. Plus, research shows that if you allow your chickens to roam your yard freely (which we highly recommend) the eggs will be higher in Omega-3 fatty acids and lower in cholesterol.

 

Can a hen be house-trained?

A tame hen will quickly get used to human activity, and will want to be involved in daily activities. They can become a nuisance, begging for food similar to other pets. Unlike a more intelligent pet, they don’t "get the message" very quickly and are hard to train to any degree. While there are stories of hens learning to use litter trays by watching potty-trained kittens, they appear to have little control over their bowels and will happily deposit poo wherever they happen to be, indoors or otherwise.

Dedicated fans of house-hens use chicken diapers, a strange but effective solution for your incontinent feathered lodger. Diapers are often used when a delicate hen needs to be kept indoors after an injury or illness.

 

Can chickens fly?

Flight is limited, but smaller breeds can manage about 25-50 feet and can fly high enough to clear the top of a nine foot-high fence, if they’re really determined. Some bantams and small breeds can even roost in trees if given the opportunity. Bigger breeds can only fly short distances and will only do so if panicked by someone or something. Clipping their wings will keep them grounded.

 

Do chickens really come home to roost?

Yes, chickens will come back to the same place to sleep every night, which means you can let your chickens roam your yard during the day and when it starts getting dark, they will return to their coop to catch up on their beauty rest. Any hen left out in the dark for any reason will be helpless, and can easily be lifted up and brought back to safety.

Chickens prefer to sleep on a perch or "roost" rather than sleeping on the ground, so be sure your chicken coop is properly equipped.

 

Are chickens noisy?

Roosters are VERY noisy, and contrary to popular belief, they don't just crow in the morning - they actually crow all day long, which can be an issue for neighbors. Hens are much quieter and you typically only hear significant noise if they have just laid an egg, or if they're being threatened. Chickens do make a variety of noises and most experienced chicken keepers are familiar with the language of clucking, squawking, and bawking – so mush so that they feel like they can communicate with their birds – or at least know the meaning of the different sounds their birds make.

 

How big are chickens?

The size of the chicken depends on the breed. Standard chickens weigh 4-7 pounds, depending on the breed and the sex (roosters weigh more than hens). Bantam chickens, which are the same as standard chickens, only smaller, weigh 1-2 pounds.

 

Can I have just one chicken?

You really should not have just one chicken. Chickens are social creatures, and they will not do well alone. We advise a minimum of two at any time.

 

Is there really such a thing as a "pecking order"?

Yes, a pecking order is a very real phenomenon. All chicken flocks have a well-defined pecking order, which is their way of preventing mayhem.
Basically, the lucky chicken at the top of the pecking order gets to push everyone else around. She gets first access to food, water, and prime roosting spots and if she doesn't like what anyone else is doing, she has full pecking rights to set things straight. On the flip side, the unlucky chicken at the bottom of the pecking order is in the exact opposite situation, which means everyone in the flock can peck her and she has last rights to food and other resources. The other chickens in a flock fall somewhere between these two extremes. Pecking order is established at a very early age and usually remains unchallenged until death.

It is important for chicken keepers to keep an eye on the social activities of the flock, to make sure weaker or sick chickens aren’t being harmed by the flock, and it is especially important to monitor behavior when introducing a new bird to the group.

 

Do chickens need baths?

While you don’t have to give your chickens a water bath, you do need to provide them with a place where they can take a dust bath. Chickens love to take dust baths, which also keep them clean and free of pests.

 

Why do chickens dig up the ground?

Chickens naturally forage for food, scratching the ground with their feet and then pecking at whatever they find. They also dig themselves hollows in the ground for dust-bathing.

Chickens eat all kinds of greenery, making them a fussy gardener’s worst enemy. However, if your plot tends towards the informal or wild flower meadow-type, hens are actually very beneficial. Their scratching aerates the soil, while their droppings fertilize it. They also eat the ticks and crop pests that you don’t want there in the first place.

 

How long do chickens live?

This largely depends on the breed. While some breeds only live to around 3 years old, it is common for others to live to be eight to ten years old, although they will typically only lay eggs for the first three to four years. Protecting your chickens from illness and from predators are key to allowing them to live long, happy lives.

 

What if one of my pet chickens gets sick?

If you have a sick chicken, we recommend taking it to a veterinarian who specializes in avian medicine or farm animals. While many experienced chicken keepers learn to treat minor injuries and illnesses, if you are new to chickens, it is safer to solicit the help of a veterinarian when needed.

 

Do you have any chicken questions not answered here? Feel free to send your questions to info@violetandbee.com.