4/21/2016. Who We Are. Disclaimers. Backyard Chicken Workshop 101. by Gary Sims

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Backyard Chicken Workshop 101 by Gary Sims 1 Who We Are Fowling Around SimsFarm, LLC Gary &

in 1989 Previously, nationally recognized Rabbit Breeders for 20 years Poultry Breeders Since

Flower Hens, Swedish Isbars, Barthuners, Old English Orpingtons, Marans, EEs, and OEs (25

Disclaimers Fowling Around SimsFarm, LLC Sell Poultry and Eggs Affiliate to National Company:

1 Backyard Chicken Workshop 101 by Gary Sims 1 Who We Are Fowling Around SimsFarm, LLC Gary & Jennifer Sims Married for 33 years with two grown children Moved to New Mexico from Colorado in 1989 Previously, nationally recognized Rabbit Breeders for 20 years Poultry Breeders Since 2005 in Corrales, NM Sell Poultry and Eggs German Bielefelders, Crested Cream Legbars, Swedish Flower Hens, Swedish Isbars, Barthuners, Old English Orpingtons, Marans, EEs, and OEs (25 breeds) Heritage Ducks and Turkeys plus Coturnix Quail Affiliated with National Company: 2 Disclaimers Fowling Around SimsFarm, LLC Sell Poultry and Eggs Affiliate to National Company: Rent The Chicken Gary is not a Master Gardner Advocates for Increasing Backyard Chickens throughout U.S. 3 1

for Increasing Backyard Chickens throughout U.S.

2 Albuquerque ranks No. 7 in the top 10 U.S. cities for urban farming Urban Organic Gardener 4 Disclaimers Fowling Around SimsFarm, LLC Sell Poultry and Eggs Affiliate to National Company: Rent The Chicken Gary is not a Master Gardner Advocate for Increasing Backyard Chickens throughout U.S. Never met a Chicken we didn t like because: They don t stink They do not carry disease They are not noisy Garden Philosophy: No Garden is Complete if it does not have a Chicken Coop Roosters are Song Birds 5 Chicken facts Always needs food, water, and shelter Babies are very fragile Will be lonely without another bird (Chicken Math) Quickly outgrows cute and fluffy stage But will not lay eggs for 6-8 months. Can live for 10 years. More easily trained than dogs? Over 60 different breeds Laying, Meat, & Fancy A kind for every personality. 6 2

(Organic) successfully Lower Grocery provides bills (200-300 a healthier eggs/yr) diet to

source closer to our Eggs tables are in important a time when part knowing of a Healthy where

facing our 7 Grams of Protein only 75 calories country Iron, Vitamins, and our Minerals, world.

fertilizer to take care of your entire vegetable garden and yard for the year.

) Poultry manure contains all 13 of the essential plant nutrients that are used by plants.

sulfur (S), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), chlorine (Cl), boron (B), iron (Fe), and

Fertilizer 8 Roughly 40 percent of the American harvest never reaches our mouths.

3 Why Are Backyard Chickens a Good Idea? Yard to Plate Higher Quality of Food Just Better as Control backyard of its Source gardening (Organic) successfully Lower Grocery provides bills ( a healthier eggs/yr) diet to Improved families, Health chickens bring an Teach Children Good Food Habits important food source closer to our Eggs tables are in important a time when part knowing of a Healthy where Diet our food comes from and how it was Cholesterol Debunked produced is a critical issue facing our 7 Grams of Protein only 75 calories country Iron, Vitamins, and our Minerals, world. Omega Gary 3 Sims Carotenoids that help prevent disease such as macular degeneraton FRESH - Taste better than Store SMILE! Good Food 7 Why Are Backyard Chickens a Good Idea? It s estimated that having between 5 and 10 chickens should produce enough fertilizer to take care of your entire vegetable garden and yard for the year. It s also great to add to your compost. (90 lbs/yr.) Poultry manure contains all 13 of the essential plant nutrients that are used by plants. These include nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), chlorine (Cl), boron (B), iron (Fe), and molybdenum (Mo). Fertilizer 8 Why Are Backyard Chickens a Good Idea? Roughly 40 percent of the American harvest never reaches our mouths. Fourteen percent of the contents of the average landfill is food that has been thrown away. Causes Over buying / growing Short Shelf-life Damaged (weather, insects, rodents) Not Ripened What steps can offset this waste? Crop share Composting CHICKENS EAT EVERYTHING! Compost Waste Waste Waste Share Destroyers 9 3

4 Why Are Backyard Chickens a Good Idea? Insects 10 Why Are Backyard Chickens a Good Idea? De-Stressed! SMILE! 11 How Do We Start? Is it Legal for me to have Chickens where I live? 12 4

Local laws and Prep work Most ordinances No roosters Limit the total number of chickens that you can have.

Housing must be clean, dry, odor-free, and sanitary.

Start? Is it Legal for me to have Chickens where I live? What kind of Chickens do I want? Good Egg-laying?

5 Local laws and Prep work Most ordinances No roosters Limit the total number of chickens that you can have. Require a coop setback from a property line. Odors not detectable at the property line. Housing must be clean, dry, odor-free, and sanitary. Look up your city & county codes plus HOAs Work with Council Members to Develop Reasonable Guidelines 13 How Do We Start? Is it Legal for me to have Chickens where I live? What kind of Chickens do I want? Good Egg-laying? Large eggs or small 150 or 300 per year Color of egg (white, brown, green, blue, olive, pink, beige, tan, chocolate, spotted ) Temperament Flighty, calm, friendly, standoffish, aggressive, sweet Breed of Chicken (many options) 14 Colorful 15 5

6 Or Plain 16 Large 17 Or Small 18 6

7 Fancy 19 Or Standard 20 Fluffy 21 7

8 Or Fluffier 22 Or Naked 23 Motherly 24 8

9 Or Groupies 25 Bearded 26 Or Broad 27 9

Friendly 28 Or Grumpy 29 How Do We Start?

olive, pink, beige, tan, chocolate, spotted ) Temperament Flighty, calm,

10 Friendly 28 Or Grumpy 29 How Do We Start? Is it Legal for me to have Chickens where I live? What kind of Chickens do I want? Good Egg-laying? Large eggs or small 150 or 300 per year Color of egg (white, brown, green, blue, olive, pink, beige, tan, chocolate, spotted ) Temperament Flighty, calm, friendly, standoffish, aggressive, sweet Breed of Chicken (many options) Age of Chicken (chick, pullet, layer) Rooster (breeding, flock protection, song bird or Pet or Conversation Piece 30 10

11 How Do We Start? Is it Legal for me to have Chickens where I live? What kind of Chickens do I want? What kind of Chicken Coop will I need? Should I build or buy? What size of Coop? How many birds will it hold? At what age? 31 Equipment Brooder Cage or Box sq ft per bird Draft free Roost bars Adjustable heat source Brooding Chicks (Hatch 10 Weeks FEATHERED) Daily Tasks Check feed and water Smell test Check for pasty-butt Adjust heat source if needed Supplies Starter/Grower Feed Chick waterer Bedding Vitamin Supplement (optional) What could go wrong? Pasty-butt Too hot/cold Dropped chicks 32 Equipment Coop sq ft per bird Draft free, Well ventilated Roost bars Outdoor run (optional but highly recommended) Supplies Starter/Grower Feed Waterer Bedding Growing Pullets (10 Weeks 6-8 months) Daily Tasks Let them out Check feed and water Smell test (Dust) Observation Close them in What could go wrong? Illness or Injury Predators Pet Dogs, Coyotes, Skunks, Raccoons, Snakes, Hawks, Owls, Cats, etc

12 Equipment Coop sq ft per bird Draft free, Well ventilated Roost Bars Nest boxes (1 for each 4 to 6 chickens) Outdoor run (optional but highly recommended Sun, Grass, Dust) Supplies Layer Feed Waterer Bedding Calcium supplement Sustaining Layers (6-8 months and on) Daily Tasks Let them out Check feed and water Smell test Observation Collect Eggs Close them in Nightly What could go wrong? Illness or Injury Predators Egg bound 34 Resource Needs Provided by the University of Missouri Extention, Bob Schultheis 35 How Do We Start? Is it Legal for me to have Chickens where I live? What kind of Chickens do I want? What kind of Chicken Coop will I need? Should I build or buy? What size of Coop? How many birds will it hold? At what age? How secure from predators? Is it easy to clean? Can I reach the eggs easily? Can I reach the chickens easily? Does it have good ventilation? Does it move easily? 36 12

13 Coop types Brooding - boxes for raising baby chicks. Coop For adult birds: Usually contains an attached run or free range space Chicken Tractor Portable coop: Sometimes used for growing meat birds. 37 Coop types Urban Coop Company Starter Coops 2 4 chickens Backyard Coop 6 10 chickens Walk-In Coop 10 or more birds 38 Coop types Chicken Tractors 2 6 Chickens 39 13

14 Coop types 40 Coop types 41 Coop types 42 14

15 Coop types 43 Coop types 44 Coop types 45 15

Coop types 46 How Do We Start? Is it Legal for me to have Chickens where I live?

What kind of Nest Boxes and Roosts should I provide?

Other info: Your coop design should have easy access to the eggs from outside of

That way you do not need to walk through chicken manure to get to the fresh eggs!

This will reduce the chance of a chicken eating its own eggs.

16 Coop types 46 How Do We Start? Is it Legal for me to have Chickens where I live? What kind of Chickens do I want? What kind of Chicken Coop will I need? What kind of Nest Boxes and Roosts should I provide? 47 Nests and roosts How many nesting boxes are needed? One nest for every 4 5 hens. Most hens will simply use the same nesting box as all of the other hens. Other info: Your coop design should have easy access to the eggs from outside of the coop. That way you do not need to walk through chicken manure to get to the fresh eggs! Nesting boxes need to be kept as dark as possible. This will reduce the chance of a chicken eating its own eggs. How much roost space does a hen need? Each chicken needs about 9 inches of roost space. Other info: We recommend that all roosts be the same level. This helps with pecking order. Some birds need to be trained to use roosts. Check the coop at night and reposition birds until they learn to sleep on the roost

How Do We Start? Is it Legal for me to have Chickens where I live? What kind of Chickens do I want? What kind of Chicken Coop will I need? What kind of Nest Boxes and Roosts should I provide?

Laying hens produce more eggs per week during longer daylight hours Laying hens will molt and stop laying eggs in fall / winter Can I use artificial light to trick the chickens into laying more eggs

During the winter, chickens do NOT need artificial heat on cold nights. A wild turkey roosts in a tree in the dead of winter. Canadian Geese fly on cold days as well.

17 How Do We Start? Is it Legal for me to have Chickens where I live? What kind of Chickens do I want? What kind of Chicken Coop will I need? What kind of Nest Boxes and Roosts should I provide? Should I provide lighting or heat? Laying hens produce more eggs per week during longer daylight hours Laying hens will molt and stop laying eggs in fall / winter Can I use artificial light to trick the chickens into laying more eggs during the week? 49 Lighting / Heat Yes; however, be aware of the following safety warnings. Artificial lights or heat lamps in chicken coops can catch fire. During the winter, chickens do NOT need artificial heat on cold nights. A wild turkey roosts in a tree in the dead of winter. Canadian Geese fly on cold days as well. Chickens can only lay so many eggs during their life. By making them unnaturally lay additional eggs you will decrease the number of years they will lay. If your chickens are pets you may not want to use artificial lights. Artificial lights can cause additional stress in the flock, especially if the lights do not turn off. 50 How Do We Start? Is it Legal for me to have Chickens where I live? What kind of Chickens do I want? What kind of Chicken Coop will I need? What kind of Nest Boxes and Roosts should I provide? Should I provide lighting or heat? Where in the yard should I place the coop? Protected from Predators Near the Garden Accessible from the house and driveway But not too close to the house 51 17

Chickens in the Garden You can incorporate your birds into your garden using wire tunnels,

52 Chickens in the Garden This well-designed garden plan makes it easy to put chickens to

You can give your birds direct access to deposit manure fertilizer into your beds and enlist

18 Chickens in the Garden You can incorporate your birds into your garden using wire tunnels, portable pens and uniformly sized permanent beds. 52 Chickens in the Garden This well-designed garden plan makes it easy to put chickens to work in the garden. You can give your birds direct access to deposit manure fertilizer into your beds and enlist your birds for organic pest control as needed. 53 Chickens in the Garden Chicken manure fertilizer is most effective when mixed into your garden beds right away. It provide a great source of Nitrogen to the soil

Chickens in the Garden Chicken tunnels and portable pens let your birds add

55 Chickens in the Garden Simple gates to connect portable pens will allow

56 Depending on the time of year and if the garden soil is filled with

19 Chickens in the Garden Chicken tunnels and portable pens let your birds add manure fertilizer directly to your garden beds. 55 Chickens in the Garden Simple gates to connect portable pens will allow you better control of chickens in the garden. 56 Depending on the time of year and if the garden soil is filled with refuse or is lying fallow, a Chicken Tractor is a great way of focusing the chickens on the task of refertilization. Chickens in the Garden 57 19

Family Dogs Coyotes Raccoons Neighborhood Dogs Hawks Skunks Stray Dogs Owls Bobcat Snakes, etc.

preferably dug into the ground to keep predators from digging under the wire Hardware cloth is recommended over chicken wire Weather Wet roost/nesting area Frozen water Heated water dishes Dry and

20 How Do We Start? Is it Legal for me to have Chickens where I live? What kind of Chickens do I want? What kind of Chicken Coop will I need? What kind of Nest Boxes and Roosts should I provide? Should I provide lighting or heat? Where in the yard should I place the coop? How do I protect the chickens from predators and hazards? Family Dogs Coyotes Raccoons Neighborhood Dogs Hawks Skunks Stray Dogs Owls Bobcat Snakes, etc. 58 Protecting your flock Threats Foxes, coyotes, dogs, opossums, owls, snakes, rodents, bird of prey, weasels Protection Covered runs help protect your flock from aerial predators Wire runs, preferably dug into the ground to keep predators from digging under the wire Hardware cloth is recommended over chicken wire Weather Wet roost/nesting area Frozen water Heated water dishes Dry and clean coop 59 How Do We Start? Is it Legal for me to have Chickens where I live? What kind of Chickens do I want? What kind of Chicken Coop will I need? What kind of Nest Boxes and Roosts should I provide? Should I provide lighting or heat? Where in the yard should I place the coop? How do I protect the chickens from predators and hazards? What do I feed the Chickens? CHICKENS EAT EVERYTHING! 60 20

21 How Do We Start? Is it Legal for me to have Chickens where I live? What kind of Chickens do I want? What kind of Chicken Coop will I need? What kind of Nest Boxes and Roosts should I provide? Should I provide lighting or heat? Where in the yard should I place the coop? How do I protect the chickens from predators and hazards? What do I feed the Chickens? Is there an easy way to start? Brooding baby chicks 63 21

22 Contact info Facebook.com/RentTheChicken Instagram.com/RentTheChicken Fowling Around SimsFarm, LLC Gary & Jennifer Sims

PRODUCTION BASICS HOW DO I RAISE POULTRY FOR MEAT? Chuck Schuster University of Maryland Extension Central Maryland

PRODUCTION BASICS HOW DO I RAISE POULTRY FOR MEAT? Chuck Schuster University of Maryland Extension Central Maryland cfs@umd.edu Jessie Flores University of Maryland Extension Lower Eastern Shore Maryland