do it yourself

Author

Britt Carlson

Homestead Chicken Farmer

In 2005, my neighbor ordered twelve small, light brown and blue chicken eggs from an online auction. Each day she and her son diligently turned the eggs, with as much care as a mother hen. After 21 days, the chicks hatched from the bantam-sized eggs. The mother and son were able to keep six of the chicks, but needed to find a home for the others. At the time, I knew little about chickens, but I was up for the new hobby when they asked.

I had to do several things to prepare for my chicks.

Resources

On the Web!: 

Raising Backyard Chickens

Choose a breed (search for "chicken chart")

Twin Cities Information

Read Up!: 

Hen and the Art of Chicken Maintenance: Reflections on Keeping Chickens, by M. Gordon, The Lyons Press, 2004.

Keep Chickens!: Tending Small Flocks in Cities, Suburbs, and Other Small Spaces, by B. Kilarski, Storey Publishing, 2003.

Chickens in Your Backyard: A Beginner's Guide, by R. Luttman & G. Luttman, Rodale Press, 1976.

Living with Chickens: Everything You Need to Know to Raise Your Own Backyard Flock, by J. Rossier, The Lyons Press, 2002.

Act Locally!: 

Organic Chicken Feed:
Stillwater Farm Store
401 South Main St.
Stillwater, MN, 651-439-6143

Coop supplies: ReUse Center
2801 21st Ave. S, Suite 180
Minneapolis, MN
612-724-2608