How hard is it to take care of chickens?

Question

I've been thinking that when I'm older and more financially secure, i'd like to have a chicken or two.. or three. i love birds.. and i love eggs.

no rooster.. i'd be afraid it would get stolen. my neighborhood used to be known for c**k fights..

anyway, would hens even care if they didnt have a rooster around them?

how difficult is it to take care of chickens?

i heard that they're very sensitive to temperature. but i live in hawaii so i dont think thats a problem.

i also heard they're feed can be expensive. is that true?

how do you take care of a chicken??

and dont bother answering the question if you're just gonna berate me saying that i have no business having chickens if i dont know how to care for them. thats why im asking.

Answer 1

I own many chickens. Someone stole my roo I had. After that I made a secure coop and had a lock on it that needed a key in order to open it. I have had no more stolen. SO I got me another roo adn have many chicks.

1.) I think that the hens feel more secure and protected if there is a roo with them. They dont need one with them. But if you have wild cats or coons I would get one. Get long thin plywood and put it around the bottom of the outside of the coop. Racoons, fox, and cyotes arent able to grab them through the coop. Have a roof on it too to keep out owls and hawks. As long as they have a friend they will be ok.

2.) It isnt difficult at all. Expecially if you will only have 2-3 chickens. My feed lasts about 2-3 months sometimes longer. I have 2 chickens. The feed costs from 9-11 dollars for a 50lb bag of feed. If you go to walmart, some have a metal pan for 3 bucks. You need straw for bedding thats 4 bucks a month or so. Depending on how much you use. So its not bad at all. 6 bucks for bowels, 11 for feed that lasts a while and 4 for beding. They also need a nesting box which can be made from wood. You can make them off the ground or on the floor of the coop. Here is pics of 2 disigns that are great. Depending on how many chickens you have 1 nesting box per 2 hens. http://www.poultryhelp.com/nest10.jpg

http://www.milkandhoneyfarm.com/sheep/ch...

3.)  It really depends on the chicken breed. The heavier breeds like Rhode Island Reds or Australorps can handle winter without problems. If its warm all the time or most of the time than any chicken will do. I prefer the hevier breeds because they can handle any climate and lay lots of eggs. They are the most popular are the australorps and the rhode island reds. Two of my favs and rhode island reds have a pretty redish brown and australorps have a glossy black color.

4.) It can. Depemding on what you get. The scratch costs 11 bucks thats a 50lb bag. A special brand can cost 15 cucks. If you only have a couple chickens than its not bad at all. I prefer the 11 dollar one. It also depends on how many times a day you feed them. I feed my 2 once a day and it last all day. They dont eat alot because they are loose eating bugs and vegitation. You can let yours out. If you have them in one area for a long period of time and open the cage thay will go and snoop around but befor its dark thay will come cback to the coop to roost.

5.) You need to make sure that they nave a safe coop with a roost, nesting boxes, and adiquate space. A roost can go across the coop. It can be a wooden rode which is best. A nesting box can be a lil doghouse or something home made.

You need straw or some lite type stuff to keep it smelling good. Weather it be straw or shavings. I prefer straw becaus it is easier to pick up. Clean it every month at least once a month. As many times as you like.  Let them out of the coop to roam. They will stay around and will come back to coop to roost. All you need to do it to lock up the coop after all are in.

I am glad that you are asking. At least you are not getting them and then asking.

!!! Good Luck !!!

Bethani

Answer 2

When they are chicks, you can't tell if it's a male or a female. You have to wait until it's older, there is a chance it could be a rooster. Roosters are beautiful but feisty. It's not that difficult to take care of them, you change their water everyday. They take dirt baths. If you have grass, they'll eat it all up, so whatever they are surrounded by they'll chow down. Big bags of chicken food is cheap, just make sure they have an inside hut to sleep in, even though it'll be covered in p**p in no time, but they cuddle up and sleep. Chickens are very tough to chase down if you have them in a big area, so get ready for a good exercise when you get them. That's all I could think of at the moment.

Answer 3

they are not very hard to take care of, I used to have some.

The are not expensive either, the feed is fairly low priced.

My only suggestion is that you get at least three they like to be in large groups so three is good one might not lay from loneliness.

heres a site on how to raise chickens

http://www.backyardchickens.com/raising-...

Answer 4

Chickens are not hard to care for.As long as you provide them food water and a safe place to sleep they are happy.As long as you only have a few ,food would not be too expensive.You dont have to have a rooster to keep your hens happy.They will lay eggs without one.One of the hens will take charge as the dominat chicken when there is no rooster and she will keep all the others in line.Research the different breeds online,some eat more than others so you can choose a breed that eats less to keep feed costs down.You can lower feed costs even more by free ranging you hens,just be sure they have a secure coop to sleep in at night so preditors dont get them.There is an occasional infection or parasite problem but as long as you keep all your feeders/waters/housing clean you wont have many problems.