Q. Do chickens lay eggs in the winter?
A. Yes, if they are kept warm.
Q. How often do chickens lay eggs?
A. It takes 26 hours for a hen to make 1 egg, so about 1 egg per day.
Q. Do hens (females) need a rooster (male chicken) to lay eggs?
A. No
Q. How long will a chicken live?
A. About 4-6 years.
Q. Are chickens noisy?
A. Females aren’t , while males are. Keeping only females guarantees eggs and a relatively noise-free environment (just some mild clucking)
Q. Where do you get chickens, and how much do they cost?
A. Buy them locally from farms or online for $5 -$15 each.
Q. Will they tear up the garden or yard?
A. Chickens love grass, seedlings, bugs and slugs so they will scratch at the lawn looking for these items but the damage is minimal.
Q. Do they lay eggs their entire life?
A. Hens are most productive in their 1st year. Egg production decreases slowly every year, but the size of the egg increases.
Q. How do you protect them from predators like foxes, raccoons and hawks?
A. A well designed, secure henhouse and run with fencing buried at least 12 inches will keep chickens safe.
Q. Do chickens smell?
A. Only if there henhouse is not cleaned on a regular basis. Replace their bedding and your set. Their poop is great fertilizer, just compost it first.\
Q.Are chickens disease carriers?
A.Chicks are vaccinated and no more carry diseaes than cats or dogs.
Q. Will chickens get along with my dogs and cat?
A. Full grown chickens can take care of themselves quite well but cats and dogs can take chickens down quite easily, though this would be the exception not the norm. If you have a cat that regularly brings home squirrels and birds, you'll need to be extra vigilant.
Building a proper, well-ventilated chicken coop is key to raising healthy, stress free birds.
Here is an ebook I recommend: (click the picture below)
Other Resources:
Chicken Coop Instructional Plans
Step By Step Plans on How to Build a Chicken
Coop-Easily$29.95.
www.BuildABetterChickenCoop.com
