If you’ve got neighbors who might find noisy chickens a nuisance, opt for calmer breeds like Orpingtons or Australorps.
Chickens produce a lot of smelly poop, far more than you might expect for a relatively small creature. This poop quickly develops an odor which, as well as being unpleasant, will attract flies.
It would be nice to think that our chooks would neatly gobble up all the tasty treats we feed them, but unfortunately, their instinct is to scratch and scatter food everywhere.
To minimize the risk of predators, you’ll need a super-secure coop and run and may need to invest in specialist deterrents such as motion-activated lights.
Escaping chickens are a constant problem on our homestead! If they’re not flying over fences, they’re squeezing through tiny gaps or digging their way out of the run.
Most breeds lay efficiently for 2-3 years but can live up to 10 years or more. This leaves us no option but to continue feeding unproductive hens through their ‘retirement’, but some homesteaders find it necessary to cull older birds on financial grounds.
Chickens don’t tolerate extreme temperatures well and need extra care and attention during heat waves and cold spells.
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