Not everybody can live on a farm, but some people are raising backyard chickens in the city anyway, dang it!
We live on an acre of land, and within our city laws we are allowed to have a variety of farm animals. For others, they have to make do with lots of 1/8 acre or even smaller. The good news is that chickens don’t need a lot of land to be happy. They are simple animals, really.
Raising backyard chickens in the city is becoming more and more popular, and city laws are slowly changing to adapt to this new “chicken lifestyle”. (well, with the exception of Michigan. C’mon Michigan!)
So, how can it be done? How can you raise backyard chickens in the city and produce eggs for your family while keeping your backyard clean and smelling fresh?
It’s easier than you might think, and Kelly Liston from the blog Oh Lardy, is doing just that. Together, with her husband and 3 adorable kids, Kelly is living the dream by enjoying the perks of the city and farm all in her backyard!
From raising them holistically, to increasing egg production & health through fermented chicken feed, Kelly is the queen of raising a gorgeous flock of chickens in a limited amount of space!
I had a blast interviewing Kelly laughing about the hilarious experiences with chicken-raising and learning her successful tips on raising them holistically.
Click here to learn about Kelly’s tips for working with city laws, choosing chicks or pullets, & creating superpowered egg-layers through her fermented feed!
Yeah, you are right about these birds, they are simple and manageable. I’ve been having them for over 5 years now and it is all benefits. One thing you need to make sure is that they won’t become prey to anything. Last year, we started noticing that eggs went missing and shocked to notice it was the coons who did it. I was shocked and tried many ways to keep them away. As a last resort we had to call in humane raccoon control service, Hawkeye Birds & Animal Control (Toronto). They captured and relocated those bandits and now the chickens are all safe now.
I too am a farm girl wanna be and until we can actually afford the land of our dreams we are making do with what we are allowed. This has been very generous considering we are renting in a urban setting and currently have 3 dogs, a rabbit, 3 geckos and 5 backyard chickens. The chickens are a new acquisition as of 16 mo ago. This past January each of the chickens ended up with balled spots. I have asked anyone I can think of to help out but no one seems quite sure what is going on. At first I thought they were molting but this has been going on for 8 months now. I have tried dusting for mites, applying anti-cannibalism lotion to dye the skin, even dug out their entire coop and scrubbed and sanitized every surface. Every now and then I will see new feather sheath starting to grow and feathers fill in but never for long. It appears that when a chicken develops as area of concern that area remains a problem and It is not always in the same location on a different bird. Anyone have ideas? We have become so attached and they really are a sorry looking flock that started off so beautifully. I am also concerned that they could get frost bite on those areas once the cold weather moves in again. I am open to any suggestions. Thanks!
I am a birdwatcher and i have read about mites causing bald spots here is a link about chicken mites http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/laura_e_john/ hope this helps ! !
I’ve wanted chickens for so long, and we have the land for it, but we’re renting a house, so I don’t know if the laws will let us or if the landlord will let us. 🙁