There is much to learn about selecting and caring for your chickens, but they are a fun and low maintenance pet. In fact they are the only pet that can provide you with fresh ingredients for fluffy omeletes and yummy cakes and quiches. We have a wealth of information to share and have included some of it here. Check in with us often to find out when and where we will be appearing with our fun and informative presentation - Household Hens!
Why Choose Chickens?
They are fun, quiet and clean.
Enjoy fresh eggs without a trip to the store.
They bring a bit of the country to the city.
They produce the best garden fertilizer around.
Children can learn about farm life and caring for animals.
They are a natural component of sustainable living.
Things to know:
Look up codes and regulations on your city’s website.
Most municipalities do not allow roosters.
You do not need a rooster for your hens to lay eggs.
Be sure your chickens are safe from predators.
Keep the peace with your neighbors by offering them eggs and keeping a tidy roost.
Basic supplies include:
The coop
A run or outdoor area
Feeder and waterer
Chic chicken décor to suite your taste
Feed appropriate to your hens developmental stage
Kitchen scraps make a great supplemental feed.
You can get most everything you need for keeping chickens at your local feed or farm store. Here are a few we know of, check local listings where you live.
D&L Farm and Home in Aubrey, Celina, Denton, Gainesville and Sanger; and D&L AgMart in McKinney
Boyce Feed and Grain in Waxahachie
Southland Farm Store in Dallas
Southwest Feed Mills in Dallas
Roach Feed and Seed in Garland
Wells Brothers Farm Store in Plano
Collin County Feed and Seed in McKinney
McKinney Grain in McKinney
Master Made Feeds in Grapevine
Russell Feed and Supply in Fort Worth
Marshall Grain in Fort Worth
Some great books about chickens:
Storey’s Guide to Raising Poultry by Leonard S. Mercia
Keep Chickens! Tending Small Flocks in Cities, Suburbs, and Other Small Spaces by Barbara Kilarski
Chickens: Tending A Small-Scale Flock For Pleasure And Profit by Sue Weaver
The Chicken Health Handbook by Gail Damerow
Chick Days by Jenna Woginrich
Pocketful of Poultry by Carol Ekarius
The Backyard Homestead Guide to Raising Farm Animals edited by Gail Damerow
Chickens in children’s literature:
The Little Red Hen
Chicken Little / Henny Penny
Rosie’s Walk by Pat Hutchins
Louise: the Adventures of a Chicken by Kate DiCamillo
Tillie Lays an Egg by Terry Golsom
Minerva Louise by Janet Morgan Stoeke
Daisy Comes Home and Hedgie’s Surprise by Jan Brett
Visit your local book seller or public library for these titles and more.
A new magazine just for chickens:
Chickens from Hobby Farms
Check out some creative coops at these chicken coop tours, check local listings to find out if there is one in your area.
A Peep at the Coops in Dallas in May www.apeepatthecoops.blogspot.com
Oak Cliff Coop Snoop in Oak Cliff in October www.oakcliffcoopsnoop.blogspot.com
Big thanks to the following for their support and helpful information:
D&L Farm and Home in Aubrey, Celina, Denton, Gainesville and Sanger; and D&L AgMart in McKinney.
The Boyce Feed & Grain Corp. in Waxahachie, TX
(972) 937-1541
Mobile Chicken Coops in Burnet, Texas
512-756-7537
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