Backyard chickens provide food - and fun

Think of it as a return to our rural roots. Lately, lots of folks in Sisters Country have been getting into raising chickens in their backyard.

Christine Cole of Sisters Feed & Supply has raised many an award-winning chicken. She says backyard chickens are "a good source of food, where you know what they've been eating - much safer, much fresher food."

Fresh eggs are the golden nuggets of chicken-raising, but there are other benefits as well.

"Most are doing it for the eggs, but it seems like in the last year especially, people are warming up to the idea of raising them for meat..." Cole says.

"Some people get them for companionship as well."

Whatever your interest in backyard chickens, you need to do some work to make the experience of raising them healthy and happy. First, check your local regulations to see if raising chickens is allowed by your local government or homeowners association.

If you have the green light, Cole says you need to provide about five square feet of space per bird, and your coop should provide at least two square feet per bird.

"The more space the better," she says.

And yes, you need to build a coop.

"Depending on how resourceful people are, you can turn almost anything into a coop," Cole notes. She says she's seen people make coops out of freight crates, doll houses, camper shells or an unused pumphouse. Or there's the option of the stick-built coop.

The coop is necessary to protect the birds from the elements and from predators, which can range from birds of prey like hawks and owls to raccoons, weasels, dogs - even skunks.

A coop needs to be draft-free, yet still provide good ventilation, and be proof against predators.

What kind of egg production can you expect from your chickens? Cole says it's reasonable to expect two to four eggs per day.

"A lot of it is going to depend on breed and age of the bird," she says. "Whether you get it from a hatchery or a hobby breeder is going to make a difference, too."

Hatchery chickens are not selectively bred for anything in particular and "it's a crapshoot whether the breed you choose will perform, look or act like it's supposed to," Cole says.

(Behavior is important, especially if you have young kids. An inappropriately aggressive chicken can be a menace. No joke.)

Cole recommends finding a good hobby breeder and selecting birds that have no hatchery breeding in their line.

"That is going to be the best that you can get," she says.

"What works best for Central Oregon are the cold-hardy breeds. Breeds that are bred for both eggs and meat are my favorites."

Some breeds are valued for being calm and gentle around children.

You can mix breeds (cold-hardy and Mediterranean) for year-round egg production. The cold-hardy breeds' production will tail off in hot weather months, while the Mediterraneans are producing, while the Mediterraneans will be off in the cold months. If you do bring in Mediterraneans, you must keep the coop warm.

Quality feed is critical to good-tasting eggs and meat, so feed the best you can afford.

Raising chickens in your backyard puts you close to your food source and can be a lot of fun. There is a multitude of online resources dedicated to the backyard chicken lifestyle. Decide what you're after, do your research and go for it. Don't be chicken.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

• Email: editor@nuggetnews.com
• Phone: 5415499941