So You Want to Keep Chickens

The Starter Park

By Laura Testa-Reyes (AKA Chicken Lady)

Welcome to the world of backyard chickens! If someone was to ask me for advice on what they should know before keeping chickens, my first answer would be to make sure they have a coop that can’t be broken into. The second bit of advice I would give is to get the coop before the chickens. 

I have been keeping chickens for over a decade and have learned many things the hard way. You can raise them by hand and initially keep them in the house, but you have to remember that they are very dusty.

Another consideration: tell your neighbors. Because chickens are noisy. They talk to the other chickens when they find something good to eat, and they announce when they have laid an egg… as if they had never laid an egg before. We all think roosters are noisy, but chickens can make just as much ruckus. 

Secure Your Brood

The outdoor coop and run should be covered and secure. Predators abound and will make quick work of your flock if left unprotected. During the day we have hawks. At twilight time, we have bobcats, and at night foxes and owls. Make sure your chickens have a secure place to sleep at night, and that you put them to bed by twilight. You get to know when the sunsets are all year round, once you have chickens. I can tell you that the sun sets at 8:32pm during the Summer Solstice, and at 4:56 pm for the Winter Solstice. And you get to time your comings and goings on when it’s time to put them to bed.

A Well Tempered Coop

Chickens don’t like to be too hot or too cold, though there are breeds that tolerate heat and cold better than others. Barred Plymouth Rocks, Easter Eggers, Leghorns (better in heat), New Hampshire Reds, Orpingtons (better in cold), and Rhode Island Reds are known for their ability to adapt to climate swings. Fortunately, in the Santa Cruz Mountains we don’t have to worry about snow that often. But even if we did, you likely won’t need a heater for your chickens. They keep themselves warm enough in the coop. When we had snow a couple of years ago, the chickens came out and just sort of shrugged their shoulders about it.

Sometimes in the summer, it is a good idea to put diatomaceous earth in your run to keep the mites and fleas away. I water the ground on hot days so the chickens can stay cool, but chickens themselves don’t like getting wet. I once thought they’d like a wading pool so they could dunk into it when they got too hot, but they only used it to drink from. And don’t be surprised when you see them flopping around in the dirt. Chickens love dirt baths. It helps to keep their feathers clean. 

It’s All About the Eggs

All hens are hatched with as many eggs as they are going to lay in their lifetime. Nothing is going to increase that supply. Most hens lay the majority of their eggs in their first two years, and after that, they slow way down. Hens live, and they die, much faster than most pets; you can expect the average hen to live a good five years until they begin to decline. 

The following books are really helpful for getting started with backyard chickens. 

• Hentopia by Frank Hyman
• The New Rules of the Roost by Robert Litt and Hannah Litt
• Chicken DIY by Samantha Johnson and Daneil Johnson
• Backyard Chickens by Pam Freeman
• Beginner’s Guide to Raising Chickens by Anne Kuo
  

Born and raised in captivity in Los Angeles, Laura Testa-Reyes has since escaped and now is free-range in the Santa Cruz Mountains, with her partner, her cat, and her flock of chickens. Email your questions: laura.rinaldi@gmail.com

(Featured photo by Hans Isaacson)

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