Backyard Chickens and small chicken farms are on the rise in South Africa. With food prices rising, and many people seeking healthier foods the number of people who keep a few chickens at home for eggs is on the increase. A number of families are keeping chickens as pets. Poultry farming is a big business, but small farms and plots are putting up hen houses or chicken coops.
Don't keep a rooster when raising chickens at home
Keeping chickens at home is such an easy thing to do – it is a wonder that many more people do not do this. While traditional African villages have many, seemingly wild, chickens wandering around, it is not something that urban dwellers consider. The practise of rural people keeping chickens is not ideal. The eggs are laid randomly, making egg collection a problem, and not knowing how old the eggs are puts many people off. The other downside is that most of the rural chickens also include a rooster or three – this means that the eggs are fertilized – which is also off putting, nothing like cracking open an egg to fry only to find a baby chicken inside! The upside of keeping chickens at home is that if you feed them correctly the eggs will be organic, and free range.
When keeping chickens at home – for eggs to eat, you should only keep hens (female chickens). The hens should have a small chicken coop or hen house – this means that they will lay their eggs in one place, which means that you can collect eggs daily and know that they are farm fresh. Not having a rooster or cock means that the egg will definitely hold no surprises. Cockerels are also very noisy – not something you want in the suburbs – your neighbors will not be impressed. Poultry farming is not difficult, and small scale chicken farming is a breeze. A few backyard chickens will easily keep a family in eggs, and you know your eggs are fresh, healthy and happy. Back yard chickens require little maintenance – you will need to buy some chicken feed – but if they are allowed to free range the chickens will supplement their diet with bugs and insects. Garden chickens will eat almost anything – so if you have a vegetable garden you will need to keep them out for most of the time - letting them into the vegetable garden now and again can be a good thing – they will eat any bugs they find - unfortunately they also love carrots and spinach. If you have kids. keeping chickens as pets at home is a good way for them to learn, chickens make good pets – they will come when called and if petted regularly, can become very affectionate. They are much more intelligent than most people give them credit for and have a highly structured social life. Give it a try, the poultry equipment is not expensive, and what can be better on a Sunday morning than the newspaper and home grown eggs on toast!
