Thinking about getting chickens?
Egg prices are skyrocketing, and your first thought may be, “I’ll get some chickens!” Even though baby chicks are cute and inexpensive, consider the following before you take the plunge:
- Chickens live anywhere from 4 to 10 years. Their peak of lay is the first 2 to 3 years of life. And it takes 5 to 6 months before they start laying.
- You’ll need a solidly built coop to keep them safe and happy. It’s best to build it yourself of quality materials, rather than buying a cheap prefab coop.
- Like other animals, chickens get sick. Vet care is the most humane option and is part of responsible animal ownership. It is also expensive.
- Chickens are a 24/7 commitment. If you go out of town, you’ll have to find someone to tend them morning and evening.
- Laying hens need proper nutrition to keep their bodies healthy. This includes specially formulated feed.
- You’ll need to take precautions to prevent lice and mites, as well as rodents, from finding your birds and your coop.
- There are few farms that want to take chickens when they no longer fit their owners’ lifestyle.
- Chickens are different from dogs and cats; they’re a prey species, and they’re birds. Their bodies work differently from those of mammals, and they think about the world differently.
Before bringing chicks home, educate yourself on what’s involved in chicken keeping: Take a class, read books, watch YouTube videos. Be prepared for this commitment to ensure those chicks have a safe forever home.
Home to Roost LLC offers in-home consultations as well as classes at local libraries. Contact us to schedule an in-home consultation or join us for one of our library classes!
April 12, 2–4 pm
Chicago Public Library, West Belmont
3104 N. Narragansett Ave.
Chicago, IL 60634
Register here
May 10, 1–3 pm
Homewood Public Library
17917 Dixie Hwy
Homewood, IL 60430
Register here
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