COOPERATIVE KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY FACT SHEET
Information about the Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Program 2020
Jerusha Lay, DVM, Assistant Professor of Animal Health Steven Skelton, Poultry Extension Associate
Getting laying hens for personal use may provide a source of fresh eggs for many families. Several things need to be considered before purchasing chickens, including facilities and equipment, local regulations and ordinances, type of chickens to purchase and basic needs of caring for chickens.
Before purchasing chickens, you should check with any ordinances from your local government about planning and zoning. Each city will have a slightly different definition of “farm animals.” Some will allow hens but not roosters due to the noise disturbances.
Young chicks will need to be protected and kept warm. Chicks may be kept in either a brooder or an isolated area within a coop. They should be kept out of any rain or cold temperatures. Heat lamps are often helpful. If heat lamps are used, you should make sure that the young chicks have an area to get out from under the direct heat in case they get too warm. Heat lamps may also be a fire hazard, so placement should be done carefully to avoid the hot bulb causing fire.
As chicks develop into mature adults, they will need more space. Chickens should have a shelter to protect them from not only the weather and elements but also from predators. Chickens will generally have a natural instinct to return to the shelter in the evening or at nightfall. If chickens are allowed to “free range,” they should be locked into the coop at nightfall and turned out in the mornings, since most of their natural predators are nocturnal (hunt at night). Shelters or coops may be purchased or hand built. Things to consider when selecting or building are the ease of cleaning and access for gathering eggs, space in case you choose to increase capacity, and having proper ventilation. As chickens sleep, they prefer to be on an elevated board or box. Each chicken needs about a foot of area, so depending on how many chickens you will eventually want to have, make sure you will have adequate space. Hens will also need nesting boxes. They will share boxes with other hens; however, you want to have a minimum of one box per six hens. You will have to be able to get into shelter and nesting boxes to collect eggs. Chickens can be very messy animals as they defecate frequently, which may often build up in areas in which they roost. The shelter will need to be cleaned often, so it should be considered when designing how manure build-up will be removed. In between cleaning, the ammonia odor from the manure can be very irritating to the chickens’ airways, so proper ventilation will keep the air in the pen fresher as well as decrease heat in the summer months. Other options for shelters are
Things to consider when selecting or building are the ease of cleaning and access for gathering eggs, space in case you choose to increase capacity, and having proper ventilation. As chickens sleep, they prefer to be on an elevated board or box. Each chicken needs about a foot of area, so depending on how many chickens you will eventually want to have, make sure you will have adequate space. Hens will also need nesting boxes. They will share boxes with other hens; however, you want to have a minimum of one box per six hens. You will have to be able to get into shelter and nesting boxes to collect eggs. Chickens can be very messy animals as they defecate frequently, which may often build up in areas in which they roost. The shelter will need to be cleaned often, so it should be considered when designing how manure build-up will be removed. In between cleaning, the ammonia odor from the manure can be very irritating to the chickens' airways, so proper ventilation will keep the air in the pen fresher as well as decrease heat in the summer months. Other options for shelters are