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chickenrunrescue.org Page 3 9/14/15
<br />
<br />
<br />BASIC
CHICKEN
CARE
INSTRUCTIONS
<br />
<br />
<br />CONSIDERATIONS
BEFORE
ACQUIRING
A
CHICKEN
<br />lifespan
<br />-‐
Chickens
can
live
as
long
as
a
dog
or
cat-‐
up
to
14
years
or
longer.
<br />-‐
Egg
laying
for
a
hen
generally
starts
at
6
months
old,
peaks
at
18
months
and
declines
with
<br />development
of
reproductive
disease.
<br />cost
<br />-‐
Start
Up
costs
for
coop,
maintenance,
tools,
cleaning,
equipment,
heating
/
cooling
appliances,
dishes,
<br />nets,
food
storage,
scale,
fencing,
security
locks,
lighting,
motion
detectors,
monitors,
cameras,
permit
<br />application
($2-‐3,000)
<br />-‐
Annual
supplies
per
bird
for
food,
bedding,
nutritional
supplements,
hygiene
supplies,
permit
fee,
<br />utilities
($300)
<br />-‐
Vet
care
per
bird
per
service
(office
exam
$66,
fecal
test
$28,
plus
other
services
as
needed
for
illness
<br />or
injury).
Are
you
able
to
provide
the
birds
with
proper
veterinary
care
needed?
<br />time
<br />-‐
Average
1
hour
per
bird
per
day
minimum
for
cleaning,
parasite
control,
grooming,
physical
exam,
<br />travel
time
to
purchase
supplies,
construction,
repair,
medication,
feeding,
supervise
free
time
out
of
<br />pen.
<br />-‐
Chickens
need
to
be
tended
to
twice
daily.
Will
you
have
a
person
ready
to
substitute
for
you
when
you
<br />have
reason
to
be
absent?
<br />space
<br />At
least
a
6’W
x
12’L
x
6’H
space
in
a
yard
is
needed
for
a
coop
and
pen
for
4
birds
in
addition
to
a
larger
<br />fenced
area
for
regular
exercise.
<br />location
<br />Coop
and
pen
should
be
located
in
an
area
that
provides
shade,
direct
sunlight,
good
drainage
and
<br />protection
from
prevailing
winds
and
will
not
present
a
problem
to
neighbors.
<br />uninvited
guests
<br />Chickens
will
attract
bird
mites
and
lice,
mice,
yard
birds,
squirrels,
raccoons,
dogs,
coyotes,
fox,
mink,
<br />opossum,
rats,
owls,
bobcats,
hawks,
snakes,
weasels,
ferrets,
fisher,
marten
and
humans.
<br />
<br />ACQUIRING
A
CHICKEN
<br />ADOPTION
OR
PURCHASE/BREEDING?
<br />The
recent
interest
in
having
chickens
has
overwhelmed
animal
rescue
organizations
with
inquiries
from
<br />people
wanting
to
give
up
chickens
who
are
no
longer
wanted.
Like
all
other
animals
surrendered
to
<br />shelters,
rescue
organizations
cannot
help
them
all.
There
are
never
enough
homes
for
displaced
<br />animals
so
adoption
of
birds
who
need
homes
is
always
the
kindest
choice
instead
of
purchase
from
a
<br />breeder
or
hatchery.
<br />adoption-‐
By
adopting
from
a
rescue
organization
or
a
private
individual,
you
can
know
what
to
expect
<br />with
regard
to
the
bird’s
health,
sex,
behavior
and
personality.
Reputable
rescue
organizations
can
<br />provide
advice
on
selecting
the
right
bird,
care
information
and
generally
have
a
generous
return
policy
<br />to
insure
that
bird
will
be
happy,
compatible
and
well
cared
for.
<br />purchase/breeding-‐
The
identification
of
the
sex
of
chicks
by
feed
stores,
breeders
and
hatcheries
is
<br />often
wrong
and
not
apparent
until
the
bird
is
6
months
old.
50%
of
the
chicks
hatched
are
roosters
who
<br />are
killed
or
otherwise
discarded
of
as
waste.
Newborn
chicks
shipped
through
the
postal
service
are
<br />deprived
of
their
mothers,
warmth
and
food.
The
younger
the
bird
the
more
fragile
and
difficult
they
are
<br />to
care
for.
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