Backyard chickens are becoming more popular as people are looking for ways to grow their own food.
Chickens are easy to keep pets and require less care than traditional pets.
Basic Chicken Care: Chickens don't require a lot of attention like a dog or cat.
They also don't need to go for walks.
So what does a chicken require? * Protection for predators.
You must provide chickens with housing so they will be safe from neighborhood dogs and cats.
* Fresh water.
Chickens need clean water.
This is easy to accomplish with an automatic chicken waterer.
Hook the chicken waterer up to hose and set it on level ground or mount it to a wall.
An automatic waterer will work in climates that aren't freezing cold.
* Feed.
Chickens are the ultimate garbage disposal.
The will happily eat all your kitchen scraps.
No more wasted foods! Chickens will also need access to some "egg layer" feed.
* Scratch.
Chickens need grit or scratch to help them digest their foods.
This is available at your local feed store.
It's basically grain and cracked corn.
* Bedding.
You should provide your chickens with a nice place to lay eggs.
Some straw or shavings will do nicely.
You should also provide a roosting area.
Chickens sleep up off the ground.
A simple dowel or pvc pipe will work.
Starting your own backyard flock of chickens is fun for the entire family.
Farm fresh eggs are a wonderful bonus.
Kids love collecting eggs.
You can add to the excitement of collecting fresh eggs everyday by getting chickens who lay eggs in a rainbow of colors.
Depending on the chicken breeds you choose, you can get eggs in blue, green brown and shades of white.
Before getting chickens you should confirm with your local zoning and make sure chickens are allowed in your area.