You’ve probably noticed that there’s been a lot of talk about chicken coops lately. But why are chicken coops gaining so much traction? Not just in the countryside, they’re even being adopted in cities! There are several reasons for this, and we’re going to take a closer look at them.
Why should you have a chicken coop in your city garden?
Of course, if a chicken coop is increasingly considered, it is necessary to first obtain authorization to build one. This is why, and it is important to know, it is advisable to inquire with your local council. A building permit is not required for areas below 20 m2, but other criteria may be taken into account, including the neighborhood. Avoid the rooster in the city, and everything should go well!
So, what are the advantages of a chicken coop?
Of course, the first advantage of a chicken coop, and everyone knows this, is the delicious, fresh eggs you can collect every day. What a joy to enjoy your eggs and know exactly where they come from!
In addition, and this is also one of the reasons why families are increasingly interested in the chicken coop, is also the fun activity it offers for children. Children love to go and collect eggs, they get used to the chickens that they learn to know and above all, they participate in the tasks that a chicken coop also has to do. Eating a boiled egg that you went to collect yourself, well, that is priceless!
The chicken is also a real reducer of household waste on its own, so with two or three of you, you considerably reduce the quantity of your waste and that too is a good advantage and, without realizing it, a saving too!
Of course, just like eggs, knowing that a hen lays a lot, up to 300 eggs/year depending on the breed, especially the first two or three years, it can also be raised for its meat , and there again, a good roast chicken of which we know where it comes from and how it was raised, there on the other hand, children will appreciate it less, so you have to find the right compromise, be careful!
So for your household waste, peelings, leftover meals, for green garden waste, the chicken is very useful, it is also a perfect insecticide .
Furthermore, it can also be a pleasant ally for the land and garden. Be careful, however, not to let it run too much unattended, as it could quickly damage your plants and flowerbeds. But for the moss in your lawn and garden pests, it’s ideal!
Of course, if you want chicks, you will need a rooster, but you have to think carefully beforehand; the rooster can quickly become a source of trouble, especially if you live in the city. Moreover, given the well-known ardor of a rooster who needs at least eight hens per day, you must be able to meet the needs of a large chicken coop… It depends on your environment and the space you have available. In the countryside, it is still more feasible, but on condition of having good neighbors, because these days, some people seem to have trouble getting used to country sounds!
The chicken attitude and, to convince you even more…
Good fresh eggs, good meat, a good household and garden waste cleaner, a good air freshener and a good insecticide, company that children appreciate, so you are probably already convinced to adopt the chicken attitude too.
But, to convince you even more, make your own organic fertilizer using your chicken droppings. Collect the droppings every time you clean the coop—yes, the smell isn’t very pleasant—and make your fertilizer, which you can make into compost. We’re telling you, chickens are eco-friendly!
Finally, considering all the chicken breeds that are available, brighten up your gardens and bring life to your environment, and you will sometimes be surprised, a chicken can also pay attention to you because it is a much more sociable animal than you might think!
There are hardy breeds that are generally good layers, and then there are also bantam hens that are much more “fun” and still lay around 150 eggs per year. Of course, you should find out beforehand and depending on the climate of your region, which breed would be the most suitable, because some lay fewer eggs in winter.
Finally, you should also know that a hen hates humidity and drafts and likes to feel safe. Your henhouse should therefore not be considered lightly; you must consider all the needs of your chickens and carefully consider its location.
The chicken coop also has constraints, but these are mainly the cleaning of it, which must be done regularly and especially on the partial change of the litter, regularly and completely between two to three times a year. You must ensure that the habitat is healthy, not infested, especially by red mites, which are the enemies of chickens and chicken coops. You must therefore be considerate, vigilant, carry out the necessary treatments, but above all you must clean your chickens’ habitat regularly and correctly.
