Raising Chickens Part One; Introduction

Let me begin this topic by saying I am not a poultry expert, what I do know about them I have learned by getting my hands dirty, making more than my share of mistakes, listening to people who raise chickens, and reading books from people who really are experts. Every chicken farmer and every backyard fancier has their own opinion about how to raise chickens. If you get ten of us together, and ask a question, you will probably get ten different answers. That being said, you may disagree with me on several things, but that's alright, the main thing is that we share a common passion for raising them, and that is what's important.

Before we can learn how to raise chickens we need to learn a little about Gallus domesticus, That's science mumbo-jumbo  for chicken. All chicken breeds originally came from one breed; the wild jungle fowl. These birds looked a little like a brown leghorn only scrawnier and with less eggs. In 1868 there where only 13 breeds of domestic chickens, fast forward to today we have a whole lot more, and the number is still climbing.

   Chickens are Omnivores like pigs and humans. They eat meat; including insects, and worms. Chickens have even been known to eat small animals like lizards and salamanders.Chickens also eat grass and other vegetables, as well as grains. In fact it would probably be easier to tell you what chickens don't eat, but come to think of it I can't think of anything at the moment. When you go to the store to buy your feed if you look at the label you will see it contains everything a omnivorous chicken needs; protein, fiber, and grains, hence the name complete feed.

   Chickens are gregarious creatures, meaning they like company. A chicken should never be raised alone because everybody needs a buddy. Your birds will form a flock, and in that flock they will establish a pecking order, in other words its the hierarchy of the flock. If you have a rooster that is lower in the pecking order than a hen, that rooster is said to be hen-pecked, he don't wear the pants no more if you know what I mean. Sometimes this process can seem violent to you, but its neccesary to keep the peace and its not as bad as it may seem. Every time you add a new bird to the flock, the process will start over. Oh, and one more thing about the flock hierarchy, make sure you are at the top, your the head honcho, not some jack leg rooster.

    The important thing I want you to know is that raising chickens is fun, it's very enjoyable for the whole family, they are very gentle, content creatures. The great thing about raising chickens is that it does not have to cost a lot of money, chickens are very inexpensive and easy to care for, we will talk more about this in a later chapter. I get a great deal of satisfaction from taking care of my flock; watching them interact with me and each other, listening to the happy hen sounds, and the roosters crowing in the morning, feeding them, collecting the fresh eggs for my family, and yes, even stocking my freezer with fresh poultry.    
    
     If you are considering buying a few chickens for you back yard, then go for it. If you wait untill you know everything there is to know about chickens you will never make it. Go ahead, dive in and get your hands dirty... Just make sure you wash them when you are done, hehe.