The chicken is one of the most popular and widespread household animals. It is also one of the easiest to rear. Chickens may be raised for their eggs, meat, pest control, weed control as well as for supply of manure. You need to identify the reason as to why you want to keep chickens so that you organize for the right breeds and equipment needed. Raising chicken can be very cost effective since you do not have to spend so much on the feed as chicken can look for insects and seeds on the ground on their own. Chicken raising is not a big bother and as long as you have the will and the right knowledge; it should be a worthwhile practice.
If you are considering starting to raise chickens, you may start with the young chicks so that you raise them on your own from scratch and this probably will ensure that you get the best flock. Feed the young chicks properly until they are able to feed themselves. Provide fresh water at all times and ensure the heat is right in the brooder to keep them warm. If you are using a light bulb as a source of heat, make sure you keep it at a favorable distance from the chicks as it might burn them, reducing the heat in the brooder each week until it gets to outside temperature
When the chickens are older, provide them with a good house that meets their needs. A chicken house that protects them from rain, wind and unfavorable temperatures is good. Make the house well ventilated as the chickens too need good circulation of air and accessible so that it is easy to provide fresh food and water at any time. Chickens like to rest on something hence provide them with enough perches so that they can perch comfortably when they want to. Since chickens eat well about anything, you can let them walk around in the back yard to find insects and other farm wastes to eat instead of keeping them closed in their house all the time,
When some of the chickens start laying eggs, make special housing for them. Nesting boxes are highly recommended. Eggs should be removed from the boxes regularly to maintain cleanliness of eggs, prevent breakage and also to prevent the hens from brooding early once they see many eggs. You may put an egg into the nesting box to encourage a hen to use it to lay eggs as the hen will feel that the conditions in the box are favorable for laying eggs.
Prevent diseases in you chicken to minimize loss as well as ensuring cleanliness to get rid of parasites. Keep the chicken and their house dry as this prevents parasites. Egg-eating and cannibalism is a habit in chicken that you may also encounter. Egg-eating leads to loss of eggs while cannibalism may lead to unnecessary deaths and hence loss of flock. You may consider cutting off the beaks your chicken to prevent cannibalism.