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[Pam Hartwell-Herrero]

What we have learned about raising backyard chickens for eggs and pets
This info provided from kitchen table wisdom of new chicken owners.
1. Chickens are legal in Fairfax as long as they are 25 feet away from
your neighbors window or door. For goats you need 200 feet. FYI. In
San Anselmo
2. You don’t need a rooster to get your hens to lay eggs. One of the
most frequently asked questions. Roosters can defend the flock but
they can also make a lot of noise and beat up on the ladies.
3. Chicken start laying when they are 5 months old and keep laying for
up to 5 years, the can live to be 8-9 years old.
4. A happy hen will lay one egg a day during the spring, summer and
fall. They slow down in the winter and when they molt-that means they
loose some feathers and look a bit raggedy.
5. Having less than three chickens is not ok for their social
structure. Chickens really love to free range-provide a secure place
for them to do so.
6. Baby chicks are high maintenance-they need a bigger box than you
think, really good temperature control, they constantly knock over
water and food and they can get out of any box without a lid. And you
have to check them for pasty butt. If they have it, you have to tear
it off, and they don’t like that. If you start at even 5-8 weeks you
get good chick time without much of the work.
7. Straight run means you will get a mix of hens and roosters, a
Bantam is a just a smaller chicken, and Pullet is a young lady
chicken.
8. A balanced chicken diet includes scratch grains, layer crumble,
oyster shells for strong shells, crushed granite for clearing crop. We
feed scratch on the ground and crumble in a tin attached to the wall
of the fence and mix the oyster and granite in a separate feed bowl.
Water must be available at all times.
9. Chickens need space to run free. Or they start pecking each other a
lot.
10. To stop them from flying over the fence you can clip the top 2-3
inches of feathers on ONE wing only-the point is to put them off
balance. Do this every 6 months.
11. Predator-Hawks will pick up young chickens, raccoons will dig
under a cop at kill chickens, bobcats and mountain lions can smell a
nice tasty chick from a mile away. Secure everything.
12. On hot days provide good shade and water- if they are panting give
more water and maybe ice blocks.
13. Learn to do a health check-From Kamin my 11 year old chicken
checker.
a. Feel their bellies to check if there are eggs getting bound up. If
you feel more three eggs, you may have to extract manually. Yep. We
have never had to. Offerings made to the Matron Saint of Chickens.
b. Feel around their crop or throat if it is bulgy or hard your chick
needs grit in the form of decomposed granite.
c. Check wings to see if they extend and flap normaly, check to see
how the clipping is doing-ie if feathers are growing out.
d. Look for any mites or buggies on the skin. Chickens need fluffy dry
dirt to dust bath in order to keep their skin healthy.

Resources-
Chickens in Your Backyard-A Beginner’s Guide by Rick and Gail Luttmann
Living with Chickens-Everything You Need to Know to Raise Your Own
Backyard Flock
www.mypetchicken.com pretty decent breed selector and how to guides
www.cyndilou6.com -some good FAQ’s
Purchase your supplies at Toby’s Feed Barn in Pt. Reyes Station, or at
Rivertown Pets in Petaluma-both sell baby chicks. Joan the Chicken
Queen of Petaluma on Craig’s list also has chicks and older birds.
Marin Tack and Feed in Fairfax carries some supplies.
Local vets who treat chickens- Central Marin Cat and Exotic Hospital
San Rafael 479-2287