Chapter Six: What Chickens to Get

In this chapter we will learn about:

So far we have checked local rules and regulations, planned out the land, the hen house and chicken run, decided on our feed, planned out our maintenance and now it is time to get our birds.  While one of the easiest is to get some fertilized eggs, incubate them and then take them out to the henhouse, this is only for the experienced and even then it is a crapshoot as to whether you have hens or roosters. 

We have another choice and available at your local feed store or online, sexed chicks.  These chicks have had an expert actually tell what their sex is and you get chicks of all the same sex.  They will still need to be raised and for that they will need protected from the elements and kept warm until they hit about 6 months. For more money you can get birds that are six months old and ready to lay eggs.

Chickens come in different varieties and what you are looking for in them help determines the breed.  For example you want green eggs with your ham, (Sorry Theodore Geisel AKA Dr. Seuss), think Ameraucana as they lay a greenish tinted egg, (Though feed has a bit to say about this also).  Want something that grows fast for meat and egg production is also important, think Rhode Island Red, meat more than eggs think Plymouth Rocks.  All are quite friendly with people and very resilient to disease. Your county Ag agent, (And yes almost every county has one including Los Angeles and NYC), can help you with a mix tailored to your needs or your local feed store owner or manager, (A great info source for everything chicken as he/she would know what works locally).

Chickens are social creatures with each other and it is recommended that as you are getting chickens get at least three at one time of the type.  This keeps them engaged with each other and eliminates any sort of aggression where one chicken gets picked on or bullied by the others or acting out on those who are from a different generation or group. Do not be surprised if you have several different types or generations that in your chicken run they tend to separate out and stick with their group.

If you have checked your local regulations and zoning, (Remember chapter one?), you will know if you are allowed roosters.  Roosters are important as it will your hens to lay fertilized eggs which can be incubated into new chickens.  They also to a point act as protectors of the hens, which may be important if you have some lovers of raw chicken in your local animal inventory, (Coyotes, wolves, wild dogs, are some of the most common). Roosters are fast growers in bulk so make excellent meat birds.

If you decide to grow your own from scratch, you will need an incubator which is a chamber with a fairly warm temperature, controlled humidity and safety that allow your eggs to hatch and keep the chicks alive until they can fend for themselves.