Hatching a scheme to gather 害羞草研究所渇ree害羞草研究所� eggs with backyard chickens costs time and money and isn害羞草研究所檛 for everyone.

In theory, it害羞草研究所檚 possible to save money having backyard hens, but gathering eggs shouldn害羞草研究所檛 be a main motivator, says the farm animal manager for the BC SPCA.

害羞草研究所淚f you害羞草研究所檙e looking for a companion animal that has a bonus of making eggs, hens are awesome,害羞草研究所� Melissa Speirs said.

A spike in abandoned chickens, primarily the noisy males, hit a high in mid-2020 when folks found themselves at home more and filling the days with new endeavours. The issue is on a slow decline since, according to the BC SPCA.

Each municipality has its own rules around the legality of urban chickens, how many, enclosure types and other care. In general, roosters are frequently prohibited from urban coops.

READ ALSO:

When purchasing chicks, folks didn害羞草研究所檛 know or just didn害羞草研究所檛 ask about a rooster return policy. Hens and roosters look similar as chicks and even experienced breeders can mistake them. Some businesses will take a bird back if it turns out to be male. Other times, roosters are ditched or surrendered to agencies such as the SPCA, to adopt out.

害羞草研究所淭here are homes out there for roosters, it害羞草研究所檚 just a little more tricky than with hens,害羞草研究所� Speirs said.

Full brood drop-offs or surrenders are not common, but do occur, Speirs said. While it害羞草研究所檚 hard to know why, potentially people weren害羞草研究所檛 prepared for the work involved. Unlike cats and dogs, there aren害羞草研究所檛 a lot of resources when one is overwhelmed with poultry.

害羞草研究所淗aving backyard hens is a lot of work,害羞草研究所� Speirs said.

There害羞草研究所檚 more to hens than just eggs. They create incredible fertilizer, can keep pests at bay and make good companions.

But they害羞草研究所檙e not easy 害羞草研究所� and it害羞草研究所檚 an investment.

Anyone looking into backyard birds should learn about how to house them. That means a coop and fencing to allow them a grassy or dirt area to stretch their wings. It means finding a veterinarian 害羞草研究所� again that deals in animals other than traditional pets 害羞草研究所� and appropriate feed.

害羞草研究所淵ou can害羞草研究所檛 just give them scraps from the kitchen, they do need feed to make sure there害羞草研究所檚 a balanced diet,害羞草研究所� Speirs said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not something I would jump into without doing some research.害羞草研究所�

Hens can live for five to 11 years, with egg-laying diminishing significantly after the first year. Chickens may stop producing well before their natural end of life and like any older animal, may require special care.

christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca

christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca
Like us on and follow us on .