Self sufficiency
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Barter food scraps for eggs with neighbors or local farmers to save on feed costs.
It saves money on buying feed.
- Monitor egg production; scraps may not provide enough nutrition.
one person who lived it
Use chicken bones and skin to make stock at home.
The skin and bits make the stock good, and one chicken yields a significant amount of stock.
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Supplement chicken diets with crushed shells for calcium.
It helps their calcium levels.
- Crush eggshells thoroughly; seeing intact eggshells may teach them to eat each other's eggs.
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Use a rooster to guard against predators like hawks and alert hens to food sources.
Roosters watch for predators and call hens when they find food like worms.
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Consider raising rabbits for meat production in small spaces as an efficient alternative to cattle.
A single doe can produce a large amount of meat annually using far less land than a cow.
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Prevent predators from digging under the coop by burying barriers like railroad ties or running steel wire underground.
Secure a movable chicken coop with sandbags or rocks to prevent wind from blowing it away.
A strong gust of wind can blow an unsecured coop away.
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Prevent predators from digging under the coop by burying barriers like railroad ties or running steel wire underground.
To withstand coyotes, raccoons, and other animals that try to dig underneath.
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Elevate nesting boxes off the ground to protect eggs and hens from snakes.
Chickens can attract snakes from a wide radius; elevating nests was found to be the best design after testing several options.
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Use a date stamp with egg-safe ink pads or a food coloring marker to track egg freshness.
It helps keep track of when eggs were laid.
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Elevate chicken feeders and waterers or use treadle feeders to prevent rats from accessing the food.
Easy access to food attracts large numbers of rats.
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Build a secure coop with a lockable door to prevent predators from killing chickens at night.
Without security, you risk nightly massacres until no chickens remain.
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Treat raising backyard chickens as a hobby rather than a money-saving venture.
It is not cheaper than buying eggs commercially.
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Check local animal shelters for chickens before buying new ones.
Many chickens show up at shelters.
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Do not rely on chicken wire for predator protection; use stronger materials instead.
Chicken wire often fails to protect flocks from being wiped out.
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Do not keep a rooster if you only want eggs, as it is unnecessary and can harass hens.
Hens are easier on without a male harassing them daily.
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Ensure chickens have daily access to fresh water.
They will stand in and poop in existing water sources.
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Acquire roosters for free from suburban backyard chicken owners who cannot keep them due to noise ordinances.
Suburban folks often can't keep roosters due to noise ordinances and are willing to give them away.
- Roosters never shut up.
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Buy cheese, meat, and wine from a grocery store for picnics instead of eating at expensive restaurants.
Restaurants can be very expensive.
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Avoid using chemically treated wood or pallets for coops or garden beds to prevent toxins from leaching into soil.
Chemicals can leech into soil; check pallet stamps for treatment status.
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Be aware that mules may not protect against smaller predators like raccoons or rats.
Raccoons kill many chickens, and rats are suspected of killing chickens in suburban areas.
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Consider raising quail instead of chickens if you are concerned about space, noise, or local regulations.
Quail make almost no noise, can be kept as pets, and may fit into regulatory loopholes.
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Allow roosters to turn compost piles to add nitrogen and aerate the pile.
Roosters shred and turn compost while searching for food, adding nitrogen in the process.
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Buy layer pellets that include calcium to avoid issues with thin eggshells.
Layer pellets with calcium prevented thin shell problems in one experience.
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Reinforce the coop structure and secure latches to prevent predators from opening doors or reaching inside.
Raccoons have been observed jimmying open doors and reaching in to attack animals.
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Dry roast eggshells before feeding them to chickens to kill harmful bacteria.
It eliminates harmful bacteria.
- The process produces a strong, unpleasant odor.
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Use redwood for coop construction to deter termites.
One person used it to deter termites.
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Avoid petting hens if you wish to avoid them interpreting the interaction as mating behavior.
Chickens may interpret pressure on their backs from large two-legged beings as rooster mating attempts.
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Use catch buckets filled with scraps to grow fly larvae for feeding chickens.
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Use hardware cloth instead of chicken wire for night enclosures to prevent predators from entering.
Hardware cloth provides necessary protection against raccoons and other nighttime predators, whereas chicken wire does not.
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Compost chicken waste to create excellent fertilizer for gardens.
Well-composted waste is an excellent fertilizer.
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Provide shade for chickens living under structures like trampolines.
Living under the structure provides ideal darker shade.
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Check local regulations regarding free-ranging before starting, as some cities prohibit it; plan for poultry fencing if free-ranging is not allowed.
- Some cities technically do not allow free ranging.
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Borrow fishing poles from libraries in coastal areas to save on equipment costs.
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Let cooked chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting to keep it juicy.
It keeps the meat juicy.
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Dry chicken droppings for about a year before using them as fertilizer.
This allows bacteria to die and prevents sulfur from burning plants.
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Isolate injured chickens immediately to prevent the flock from pecking them to death.
Flock members will peck at bleeding people until they die.
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Use an extra sharp knife when breaking down chickens to avoid injury.
Dull knives require excessive force, which leads to people hurting themselves.
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Eat chicken innards like gizzards and hearts, particularly breaded and fried.
They can be really yummy.
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Avoid using external lights to stimulate laying in winter so chickens can rest.
Giving their bodies a break during winter is helpful.
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