Breeding chickens, more than a trend

Having chickens is no longer reserved for the countryside. Urban people also want theirs to be assured of eating organic eggs, but also in an ecological approach. And yes, the hen has become green *! Some towns and cities even offer a couple of gallinaceous to their citizens to reduce the amount of organic waste produced.   

Greet chickens, it's within everyone's reach! To begin, adopt at least two chickens, they hardly support loneliness. Alone, she would be constantly on the alert and wither. At three, they feel much safer. You must know that a hen can lay between 150 and 300 eggs per year depending on the breed. You should know that two hens provide enough eggs for a family of four. In autumn and winter, as soon as the cold is there, the hens lay much less, if at all, do not be surprised.   

Installation of the essential hen house. The henhouse is the place where the birds sleep and lay.
You have to find the ideal place, sheltered as much as possible from the wind and bad weather and slightly shaded so that your chickens find a little freshness in summer.
Also think of your neighbors (if you have some) before installing it, they should not suffer the noise and odor nuisance, ditto for you. But do not move too far from your house so that it is not a constraint to go feed them, bring them fresh water and look for eggs.   

For a "comfortable" henhouse Count at least one square meter for 3 or 4 hens of medium size. It is better that he is too tall than too small. The hens stress quickly.
It must include:
- a cozy nest made of straw and or wood shavings, sawdust or a nest egg for that they serenely convent.
- a feeder to stock daily (wheat, corn, granules, food waste: eggshells , oysters, vegetable peelings, meat rest, fat, bread ...)
- a drinking trough : they need clean water at will, summer and winter alike.
- a perch, positioned about one meter above the ground, is essential for your chickens to sleep serenely. By atavistic reflex, they always sleep high thus feeling more protected during their sleep.   

A protective enclosure. To secure their habitat, install a small mesh fence around the henhouse to protect them from predators and prevent them from roaming where they should not.
Plan it big enough for your birds to have space to frolic and to scratch the ground for insects, which they particularly like.
In an ideal enclosure one has to find: grass, soil, scratches ...
Count at least ten square meters of outdoor space per hen. Bury the fence sufficiently to prevent pests from going underneath and attacking your hens. For the same reasons, think about the height (2 meters) but not only; some chickens are able to fly.     




* You should know that two hens are able to eat up to 150 kilos of organic waste per year.