While it might be challenging to protect your hens from everything, there are a few things you can do when it comes to predators. The most effective and efficient way of protecting your birds is to keep your birds in a safe run and coop. Chickens are practically defenseless against majority of predators. And not because they are not intelligent (in reality it is quite the opposite, chickens are very smart), but because they are truly unable to hide, outrun or defend themselves. Your chickens therefore have to rely on you to protect them, day and night. Here are a few precautions you can take to keep your flock secure.

#1 Move your Chickens

With their eyes closed and still, chickens become easy prey after the light of day fades. Nighttime is also when most of the predators are active, which makes this the best time to relocate your chickens to a more secure location. To catch your bird and move her, quickly lift her with one hand gripping her two feet together firmly yet gently and have one hand holding her breast.

#2 Use Dogs as Guards

Livestock guardian dogs are arguably the most commonly utilized and well-known animal for chicken protection. Dogs are clever, trainable, and excellent friends. But to some species of predators, they are terrifying - and that's of course a good thing. Just keep in mind that you may also need to train your dog to avoid the possibility, however small, of your guardian dog turning into a predator. Some of the most well-known dog breeds known to offer good company and protection to chickens would be Akbash, Kuvasz and Great Pyrenees.

#3 Roosters

A rooster is a traditional chicken protector, and many free-range farmers maintain one for this purpose! Their natural function is to guard hens against predators, and many will risk their lives to do so. It may be prudent to select a large breed rooster, such as a Brahma, or even a more belligerent rooster, such as a game cock.

However, roosters may be hostile against humans and other animals, including domestic cats, dogs, and even other livestock. They can also exhaust the hens if their wants outweigh those of the hens, which is why it's critical to choose one that is kind and respectful toward your flock.

Additionally, you will need to replace the rooster if killed, as some roosters opt to self-save. Even if a rooster gets killed, a predator may pursue the hens. While getting inexpensive or even free roosters is straightforward, locating one that has all the traits of a strong protector while also being kind to birds, or a rooster of a particular breed, may be more difficult.

#4 Electric Fencing

Electric fence is a viable option for poultry security. It can be built in two main ways. The first one would be to construct a static coop and wrap an electric wire around the bottom of it, preventing even burrowing predators from entering.

Another approach would be to safeguard your hens using a full fledged electric net fence. Painted mild steel, galvanized steel, stainless steel, and aluminum are common materials for electrified palisade fences.

#5 Traps

Traps can be very effective against predators, but be sure to investigate the safest type for the animal you're attempting to capture. This is an option to use sparingly if all other efforts fail as it may also end up incurring more damage than benefit. Just imagine some other undeserving animal falls into the trap which was not intended for it.

#6 Predator Lights

Acutely aware of their surroundings, wild animals that hunt or eat at night have heightened senses. To avoid being spotted, they will only feed in a safe environment. Predator lights generate a bright flash of light through twin red LED lights, which animals mistake for the eyes of a larger predator, therefore deterring them from attacking. Wild animals are forced to escape the area due to this inducing the flight reaction in them. It appears to be a straightforward notion, yet it is very effective!

Conclusion

Predators are here to stay, but of course nobody wants them around their chickens. Find out what the most common predators in you area are and decide which of the above options (or some others) would be the most suitable to protect your flock. It is very saddening to lose chickens to predators so putting in place a few of the methods concurrently is really something that you should consider. You also need a peace of mind knowing your hens are safe! 

The two main and broad reasons why we keep backyard chickens are economics and simple enjoyment derived from raising an animal. From a purely economic perspective, chickens give us food and in some cases, if you have a surplus of eggs, you may even make a little more money on the side if you choose to sell the eggs your chickens produce. There is also the option of using chickens to fertilize your garden. Economics aside, there is a lot of joy in learning about and caring for other animals. There are many psychological benefits as well, provided of course that the job of caring for chickens isn’t too stressful (and it really shouldn’t be once you understand the basics of chicken keeping).

Perhaps it is all of us trying to stay sane in these crazy times or a movement toward self-sustainability that is driving the backyard chicken keeping trend nowadays. One thing is certain, backyard chicken keeping community is exploding in popularity! Flocks are growing up across towns, the countryside, and everywhere in between—wherever you look, where there is a backyard, there's a chicken! So, how much does it cost to maintain a small scale backyard flock? 

Before you do anything else, check with the local authorities and community that you comply with local chicken keeping rules. In majority of cases, you will need to apply for a permit to keep chickens. Usually the permit fees would consist of a one-off fee, followed by annual renewal fees. For reference, initial application to keep chickens in Saint Paul, Minnesota will set you back $26-76 and subsequently $16-28 for renewal (based on the number of chickens). In Grand Rapids, Michigan, you'll have to pay $50. Then, every year, you'll have to pay $10 to renew your permit.

When you have your permit, here’s what else you should be thinking of before becoming a fully fledged chicken keeper:

#1 Chicken Coop

There is a vast difference in the coops available and how much they cost. Those with the DIY gene may want to build their own coop from the ground up. For the rest of us simple mortals, there is a range of prefabricated coops that can house flocks of 1 to 50 birds and more!

So you have two options at this point; you may build your chicken coop or buy a pre-built one. Here are the differences and the advantages and disadvantages between the two:

a) DIY Chicken Coop

If you're very handy, you might be able to build a coop out of recyclable materials for relatively little money. Old wood, sheet metal, and fence all create excellent chicken coop components. You can even use an old washing machine! If you utilize recycled items, be sure they don't contain anything harmful to your hens. Sharp edges, loose wires, and rusted nails are all risks to be aware of while constructing an animal shelter out of repurposed materials.

b) Purchase a completely assembled chicken coop

If you're unsure of your ability to build a coop yourself or lack the necessary time and energy, a prefab chicken coop is definitely the way to go. When buying a chicken coop, look for one made by a business that knows birds and their requirements. Nesting boxes, roosting places above ground, and enough ventilation are all features of a high-quality coop. Keep in mind who the predators in your area may be and ensure that the coop provides protection against those predators. Most chicken coop’s price range is from $249 - $2000 and they are suitable for those with only a few chickens all the way to those with a sizeable backyard flock of up to 40-50 hens or more.

#2 Chickens

The exact price varies considerably based on the bird's breed and age at purchase. For day-old chicks of common breeds (common in the US at least) like Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Rock, and Australorp, the typical cost is roughly $2.00-$5.00/bird. Chicks of rarer varieties, such as Easter Eggers, may cost up to $30 per bird.

Chickens are frequently sold at four ages: day-old chicks, pullets, point-of-lay birds, and mature hens. If you don't have much experience yet, start with point-of-lay birds. Since starting off may be difficult overall, it's nice that you get a confidence boost at least in terms of eggs being produced almost right away. Later on you can explore getting younger birds, as you become more familiar with the needs of chicks. 

#3 Feed

Feed is obviously a recurring expense. You can get away with letting your birds free range and rely on kitchen scraps to feed them but it is always a good idea to have a standard layer feed and some treats available just to fill up any nutritional gaps. A 50lb layer feed would cost about $30 and for a 5 bird coop fed only on layer feed, this can last for more than a month. A good estimate is that a chick needs between a half-cup to a full-cup of feed on a daily basis. Our black soldier fly grubs are an excellent choice for extra calcium and protein and you can save by signing up for a monthly delivery of grubs.

#4 Bedding

This is an additional recurring expense of chicken farming and you are likely to find many arguments for and against each but the options are quite a few, from shavings, sand to straw and others. Straw is often priced between $5 and $10 per bale (14"x18"x36") and other options will set you back for about the same. If you are getting an average size coop, count an additional $20 per month for bedding.

#5 Others

Apart from the primary expenditures associated with backyard chicken farming, there will always be those small extras that tend to pop up from time to time or that are an extension of the most basic setup such as heat lamps, feeders and waterers, electric fence, shade mesh and other items.

Conclusion

To sum up, the costs of chicken keeping vary depending on the equipment, size of the coop and the chickens you will choose. A minimum starting price would be around 700$ for 3 to 7 hens but it can go up to a couple of thousand if you want to splurge. Yes, it may sound a bit pricey, especially if you are on a tight budget but remember that your hens, your chicken coop and many other items can last for years. This also means that you should not rush into starting your chicken coop, since once you have them, your chickens are here to stay. But you will benefit from the fresh supply of eggs, your garden from a natural fertilizer and your family and you from an extra company.

We all know the typical saying that the more, the merrier. But it's hard to know what to do if your chickens are laying more eggs than you can use. What do you do with all the extra eggs your hens are laying?

The egg is, undoubtedly, a fantastic food. As a budget protein source, it can't be surpassed for its health benefits, taste, and price. You can prepare eggs in various ways, whether it be baking, boiling, scrambling, poaching, or frying. They also add a rich flavor to waffles, crepes, quiches, egg bakes, custards, pies, cakes, and popovers, among other dishes. But if you have too many eggs produced by your hens and you are tired of eating eggs every day, fortunately, there are several ways to deal with a surplus of eggs (and we will exclude the idea of expanding your family so that more eggs can be consumed 😃)

Here are a few ideas on what you can do with those extra eggs made by your birds:

#1 Sell the eggs

If your birds produce more eggs than you consume, the simplest and most economical way to deal with the surplus is to sell the extra eggs. Put up a simple signage in front of your house and advertise your eggs to those who drive or walk by. And if you don't like the idea of a physical signage, why not put up an ad on Craigslist? Besides the general public, you can also sell eggs to friends and relatives, or take them to work and offer them to your co-workers. 

You may be amazed at how easy it is to sell your eggs, since more and more folks are re-discovering the benefits of local grown produce and farm-fresh taste! Ultimately, the main driver for this option isn't to make a ton of money but to ensure that whatever nature and your care for chickens has given you is not going to waste. As a side benefit, you may also pickup some commercial knowledge and use it in other areas of life.

#2 Gift the eggs

It's a nice feeling when you give to others. Giving eggs to your neighbors is an excellent way to get acquainted with them and make some friends. In addition, you can provide eggs to homeless or people who need them directly or indirectly by donating them to charities. They will surely appreciate it, and you will be spreading much needed kindness, something we all should strive for.

#3 Feed them back to the birds

Feeding eggs back to the birds is also a good option. Some people may not be comfortable with this idea, however in the wild, chickens eat their eggs, which are a fantastic source of nutrition. If you include the shell, you also got yourself a natural and rich source of calcium which the birds, especially hens, always require.

When you have too many eggs to consume, boil the eggs for fifteen minutes, then mash them all with a potato masher. You can give this mashed snack to the birds, while also clearing up room in the refrigerator. The only "problem" is, you are likely to be rewarded with even more eggs in the weeks to come 😃.

#4 Use those eggs!

There is a delicate balance of various high-quality nutrients in a chicken egg, many of which have a very high biological availability, or in other terms, get easily absorbed and used by our body. Because the egg provides a wide range of health advantages to consumers, it is classified as a functional food by the World Health Organization.

We can find eggs in many dishes. If you're seeking to branch out from your usual breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon, you should try one of these equally tasty and simple egg recipes. 

Many are afraid of egg's cholesterol content. And while nutrition science is rarely unanimous, large part of scientific community is of the view that dietary cholesterol is not the main cause of chronically raised blood cholesterol. To stay on the safe side, general guidelines are to avoid too much dietary cholesterol for those who already have high blood cholesterol. However, if one does not have high blood cholesterol to start with, and is leading a healthy life with a varied and healthy diet, egg cholesterol should not pose any problems and may in fact be beneficial. As with anything, practice moderation and talk to your doctor for advice on how many eggs may be too many.

Conclusion

Overproduction of eggs can make some of us worried so we have provided a few options in the hopes of helping you use up some of those extra eggs from your backyard chickens. Please take advantage of your overflowing egg baskets and don't think of it as a problem but nature's gift to be shared, sold or gifted!