By Chrissy Roesner Seyerle

 

My husband and I began raising chickens 15 years ago as a fun experience for our then 2 year old daughter.  Since then, we have grown from 10 to 150ish egg laying birds.  We continue to raise chickens for the amazing eggs they produce.

Raising chickens is an excellent way to dip your toe into the farming world.  When comparing raising animals, chickens require less space, eat less food, and produce eggs daily as your reward.

Prior to getting chickens, always review any restrictions for raising livestock animals that your city, township, or village may have.  There are several other things to consider before getting chickens.

 

Housing

Any structure can work as a chicken coop.  The coop needs to have ventilation but should be draft free and dry.

 

Having an indoor space that can be closed off at night is highly recommended.  This is to prevent predators from getting to the birds while they sleep.  Chickens benefit highly from being outdoors as much as possible during the day. Outdoor spaces can be enclosed if predators are a concern or the birds can roam free.

 

Winter Concerns

Having electricity in your coop can make Ohio winters easier to tolerate for you and the birds.  Heating the coop is not necessary but having a heat source for your waterer is very helpful.  Providing a dry, draft free indoor area is a must to keep the birds safe and healthy during the cold months.  The birds do spend more time indoors during the colder months, so providing them with enrichment is beneficial.  We use feeds blocks and other food scraps to keep them entertained.

 

Choosing Your Birds

We have tried several different breeds over the years.  We have always ordered “day old” chicks direct from a hatchery (We prefer Mt Healthy Hatcheries in Cincinnati).

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can choose the breed(s) that fits your needs best.  They ship them to you via the USPS.  Baby chicks will remain in a brooder, requiring heat, until they are fully feathered (at least 4-6 weeks old). It’s always a fun spring watching them grow from baby peeps to feathered young ladies!

 

Feeding

Chickens are omnivores, who when free ranging, will eat bugs, worms, weeds, grasses, and much more.  Providing them with free access to a balanced, nutritious feed will allow them to remain healthy and produce wonderful eggs.  We choose to feed Kalmbach Feeds chicken food to feed our girls and get great results from it!

Chickens are a fun way to experience farm life in a limited space. There are hundreds of breeds, each with varying looks and personalities.  Find what fits your family best.

With raising chickens for so many years, we enjoy it more and more every year! It is fun to interact with the chickens and they reward you with farm fresh eggs daily!

 

PHOTOS courtesy of the Seyerle Family