Build a chicken Coop yourself
Q) Do hens need a rooster to lay eggs?
A) No, not at all. And some municipalities allow chickens, but say a big NO to crowing roosters. We don’t have that problem out here at Sherwood Ranch, but our city friends have chickens without roosters.
Q) How long do chickens generally live?
A) The average life of a backyard chicken is 8-10 years, with some living up to 15 years! Ours live with predators all around and as careful as we are, we have lost some to bobcats and owls. Otherwise, they have a great life for a good long while. The hen to the right is a barred rock or as the old feed store man said, “they’re barrocks.” I couldn’t understand what he was saying, but I looked ‘em up. Actually, her name is Roxie according to Ramona’s list of chicken names. She names all the Fantastic Chickens here at Sherwood Ranch. They live longer if they have good chicken houses. Chicken plans are just a good idea to house your flock in to keep them safe.
Q) Do you have to bath chickens?
A) Nope! They like to clean themselves. They will dig holes in the dirt and splash it up over themselves. Under normal circumstances you never need to clean your chicken — they take dirt baths on their own that keeps them clean and pest free. The first time you see this take place, your will laugh. They take their dirt baths serious. When you go over your chicken house plans, leave a room for a dirt bath area and not too close to the fence. Some of the holes get deep.
Q) Is it true that chickens should not be kept as singles?
A) Yes! Chickens are social animals, and as such that should be around a minimum of one other chicken. It’s best to own at least 2. Or a dozen.
Q) How much do chickens weigh?
A) Chickens weigh on average between 4-7 lbs for Standard Sized Chickens, and just 1-2 lbs for Bantam (Small) Sized Chickens. We don’t raise them to eat, but some do.
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Q) Do chickens make noises alllll day?
A) No. sometimes the Roosters crow at 3:00 or 4:00 A.M. Just kidding!
In fact, the roosters, (male chickens) can crow all day long and get very annoying, but hens (female chickens) will only make noise when they feel threatened or lay an egg. And many have their own distinctive sounds.
Q) Do chickens fly?
A) Yes and no! Some chickens can fly about 25-50 feet in the air, but others (if they’re heavier) will be limited in their flight capibilities. Our peacock on the other hand can fly straight up into a tree if the dogs get to close to him. Usually he just ignores them.
Q) How much do chickens cost?
A) Chickens can range in prices, usually around $1 – $5 each at the local feed store, depending on the breed. In rare circumstances the breed may cost $50 or more, but the average price you can expect to pay is around $1 – $5 each for regular breed chickens.
Q) Are Back Yard produced eggs healthier than store bought eggs?
A) Yes! It’s been proven that backyard hen eggs from free-roaming chickens contain less cholesterol, as well as higher Omega-3 fatty acids (which are good for you!).
Q) Should I order the book on how to build a chicken coop?
A) It’s a good book and there are lots of plans in there that can be adapted to help you become a back yard chicken farmer. And, we built a lot of our coop using recyled materials. It’s a decision you will have to make, but we found it was worth the money. 
