Everything You Need to Know About Owning Laying Hens
Everything has gotten more expensive, especially in the last few years. In times like these becoming more self-sufficient is more and more essential. Making your own cheese or butter, growing your own veggies, or even keeping chickens for their eggs or meat.
Not everyone has the room to keep laying hens, but if you do then these birds can be a game changer. Fresh home-grown eggs that come from birds you KNOW have been cared for. I must admit, having fresh eggs and knowing that the chickens are free-range and happy really put a smile on my face.
But, there are a few things you need to know about owning laying hens. So, in this article, I am going to go over everything you need to know about owning these delightful feathered fowl.
Let’s dive right in and get started!
Why Should You Keep Chickens?
Chickens not only make great pets and keep your yard free from bugs, but they can also be extremely useful birds. Once you get used to caring for them, they are relatively easy to keep. The obvious reason to keep chickens is that they will give you fresh eggs every day.
The reason I like keeping chickens is largely due to the eggs. But it is more than that. Knowing that my feathered friends are well cared for, happy, and healthy takes a mental load off me. I have read far too many horror stories about battery hens and the cruel conditions those birds are kept in.
Keeping chickens allows me to rest easy knowing that my eggs are coming from happy and healthy birds that I know and love. Not to mention, free-range eggs are just delicious and so much better than shop-bought eggs.
What Do You Need to Consider?
If you intend to keep chickens there are some things you need to consider first. In this section, I am going to go over some of the main things you need to think about before you get yourself a little flock of laying hens.
Are You Prepared for a Long-Term Commitment?
Chickens are not the kind of animal you can get and just leave for extended periods of time. They are prey animals and easy targets for cats, foxes, dogs, and other predators. Not only that but these birds can live long lives.
I have heard of hens living up to ten years of age. Because of this, if you get chickens you need to be prepared to keep them for their lifetimes.
Do You Have Enough Space to Keep Chickens?
Chickens need space and a safe place where they can escape predators. As such, if you want laying hens. You should ensure that they have enough room to roam and live their happy chicken lives and also a coop where they can rest, feed, lay eggs, and be safe from predators.
Are You Ready for the Ups and Downs?
Chickens are wonderful birds, they are easy to care for and far more intelligent than people give them credit for. While it is mostly a wonderful experience to keep chickens it is not always sunshine and roses. These birds can get ill and die quite quickly.
As such, you should always be prepared to help them when they get ill or are infested with parasites. But don’t be put off, these birds are mostly super easy to look after. Just be prepared for the ups and downs of owning chickens.
Preparing Your Chicken Coop
Building or purchasing a chicken coop can be a pricey endeavour, but it is essential. This shelter will provide your hens with a safe place to go when it gets too cold, or it starts to rain, offer a safe haven from predators, and more.
The question now is what should you do to get your chicken coop ready for your hens? In this section, I am going to go over the basics that you should have to make the best chicken coop for your feathered fowls.
Ensure there is Ventilation
Your chicken coop is more than a decorative building for your hens to roost in and lay eggs. It is a home and as such there should be ventilation. This will ensure that the air stays fresh and free of ammonia. If the ammonia from droppings and urates builds up it can harm your hens’ and permanently damage their respiratory systems.
I recommend getting a high-level vent so that warm air can easily escape the coop. Additionally, a side vent that is adjustable will also be beneficial as it can help regulate air circulation depending on the weather.
Pick a Material
In most cases, you will have the option of either a wood or a plastic chicken coop. With a plastic coop, you will be restricted to just purchasing one while a wooden coop offers you the option to purchase or build your own.
I personally love the option of building and designing a quaint coop of my own. Which is why I have built my own. There are countless design options out there, so you can really make it your own.
Paint or Varnish Your Coop
If you do intend on building your own chicken coop with wood, I highly recommend ensuring that it is preserved. Make sure to paint or varnish so that it lasts longer and can weather the elements. The paint or varnish you use should be animal-friendly, so choose carefully.
Not only will your chicken coop be protected from the weather and last longer, it will also look fabulous. There is nothing stopping you from painting your chicken coop bubblegum pink and creating a pink Barbie palace for your chickens.
Get the Right Features
Your coop has to be more than a mere empty box to keep your chooks dry. There are essential features that should be included to make your chicken coop the perfect environment for your feathered friends. Firstly, there should be vents, as I have said already. But on top of that, you should have perches so that your chickens can properly roost.
Nesting boxes would also be a good investment so that your hens can be comfortable while they lay, and you will be able to easily find the eggs. I also recommend that you get a droppings board and a large door for easy access. Both will make your life significantly easier down the line.
Bedding is Essential
To ensure that your chickens are extra comfy at night, You should consider getting begging materials. Wood shavings, straw, and cardboard are all good options. But it is to you to decide what will suit your tastes. Remember that bedding should be changed regularly as it will get soiled. So make sure that your chosen bedding is easily accessible and does not cost an arm and a leg.
Prepare Your Chicken Run
Despite what you might think a chicken run and a chicken coop are not the same thing. Both are essential for the health and happiness of your chickens. These birds need a coop which is a little house where they can seek shelter, roost, and lay eggs. But a chicken run allows them to have space, fresh air, and sunshine. All of these are essential to keep your fowl friends happy.
There are two main options when it comes to chicken runs. The first is a small area that is covered and attached to the coop. You can usually purchase these with your chicken coop. So if you are not building your own chicken coop or chicken run, make sure to get one that has a chicken run attached.
Your second option is to fence off an area so that your chickens have a safe area to roam outdoors. If you have an unused area at the end of your garden, this would be an ideal spot for your chicken run. Alternatively, you could free-range your chickens and allow them to roam your whole garden. Just make sure that they are safe from predators, and you can get them back into a safe enclosed area at night.
Watch Out for Predators
If you have ever watched a movie like Chicken Run or Fantastic Mr Fox you will know that predators are a huge problem for chickens. In the UK for example, foxes are the biggest natural predator of chickens while in the US you might see a little more variety in predators.
The point here is that predators like foxes, raccoons, or even cats are nocturnal and will likely hunt at night. That does not mean that they will not attack during the day though.
So how do you protect your chickens and reduce the risk of them becoming an easy meal for a fox? Well, you will need a safe area for your birds to stay, especially during the night and evening hours.
I recommend getting wire netting to make enclosures and burying this netting about twenty centimetres so that predators are deterred from digging under the fence. You should also make sure that there is a roof on the chicken run so that nothing can climb in and grab a quick chicken snack.
It is important that you lock your chickens up at night to reduce the risk of them being killed by a fox or other predators. This way you should avoid any untimely deaths.
Feed for Your Chickens
You will obviously need chicken feed. Despite your chickens scavenging for little bugs, they will still need chicken feed. There are plenty of great options that will contain everything your chickens need to thrive. In this section, I am going to go over a few things you need to know about chicken feed and what your chickens might enjoy. Let’s do this!
Opt for a High-Quality Layer Pellets
I recommend giving your chicken good-quality layer pellets. These foods are made with the right balance of vitamins, nutrients, and minerals to keep your chickens in pique condition. As such you should absolutely make this a part of your chicken’s diet if you want your birds to stay healthy and produce good-quality eggs.
For a Treat Try Mixed Corn
Mixed corn is a fantastic treat for your chickens. But you should not feed too much of it to your chooks. This is a low-protein and high-energy food. I recommend only giving a maximum of a handful to each bird per day. But you should aim for less. This is a treat after all.
FAQ
You probably have a few questions about owning laying hens. In this section, we are going to answer some of your most frequently asked questions in regard to owning these birds. Let’s do this!
How Many Hens Should You Start With?
It is not a good idea to get just one chicken as they are flock animals and will do well without at least a small group of like-minded fowl friends. But if you are a beginner, you do not want fifty hens on your property.
So what number should you start with? I recommend getting between three and six laying hens to start. Even with three, you should get about a dozen eggs.
Is it Hard Raising Laying Hens?
Chickens are not actually that hard to raise. They can be finicky depending on the weather conditions. But if you know how to care for them and what they need, you should not have any issues raising these amazing birds.
Do Laying Hens Need Full Feed?
I recommend switching your laying hens to a layer feed at about eighteen weeks of age or when they start to lay. A complete feed should include all the essential nutrients a hen needs to stay healthy and produce good eggs. Once you have a good feed, I recommend you transition your chickens to the new feed over about a week.
How Many Eggs Will Ten Hens Lay in a Week?
If your goal is to get about a dozen eggs per week you should get between three and five laying hens. If your goal is closer to two dozen eggs per week, you should get between six and ten hens. So, to answer your question, ten hens should give you about a dozen eggs per week. But these numbers can differ slightly.
What Should You Expect When Your Hen First Start Laying Eggs?
Once a laying hen has developed and starts laying, the first thing you need to know is that the early results can be unpredictable. But at the hen ages, they should enter a twenty-four to twenty-six-hour cycle.
This should get you one egg per day. Another thing to note is that the egg size can differ wildly, but over time you should get a classic and normal-sized chicken egg.
How Long Do Fresh Eggs Last?
If you properly store your eggs, they can last for between three and five weeks. If you freeze your eggs they may last even longer at about one year. The longer your eggs are stored the more runny the egg becomes. But do not toss them out, you can still do quite a bit with an older egg.
Do You Have to Check on Chicken Every Day?
Yes. At the very least you should give your chickens fresh water and food each and every day. You should also make sure that the coop is clean and that your birds are safe from predators.
Final Thoughts
I hope that you have enjoyed reading this article and learning about laying hens and how to keep them happy. At the end of the day, it is not that hard to do as long as you have the space and meet their basic needs. It can be so rewarding to keep these birds. Fresh and delicious eggs and of course you get to admire these cuties wandering around your home. What could be better than that?!
If you have enjoyed reading this article you might enjoy reading some of our other pieces. We cover a range of topics about self-sustainability and how to do things yourself. From how to make Bone Broth to Which Popular Herbs You Should Grow at Home and more.
Thanks for reading!