Frequently Asked (chicken) Questions Don't you need a rooster in order to get eggs? No, a hen will lay eggs regardless--they just won't be fertile eggs.They still have the same nutritional value as fertilized eggs. Most of the eggs you buy in the store are unfertilized. A White Wyandotte hen in her nesting box, waits for some privacy before laying her egg. Are chickens dirty animals? Do they smell? That will depend on the caretaker. Just like any other pet or animal, they need care--cleaning out the dirty bedding in the coop, keeping it dry and having a clean/dry area of sand or dirt for the birds to take dust bathes in. These practices will all help to keep your birds happy, healthy and odor free. Will having chickens in my backyard attract rodents? It is food that attracts rodents, not the birds. If you have wild bird feeders in your back yard, you run the same risk. Keep all feed in metal garbage cans, with secure lids. Feed birds in small doses, so as not to have a large amount of food left over. If you feed your birds scraps/ protein, make sure it is eaten and not left in the bedding. Do hens make a lot of noise? Ask any child "What does a rooster say?" and they will throw their head back and give you all they've got! But the hens, they are a different story. They usually make a soft, contented clucking sound--until they lay an egg. Then they get very excited and proud and will squawk for a few moments and then settle back down. They do not make a ruckus in the morning like their male counterparts and they are fast asleep in their coop by the time the sun goes down. Unlike the neighborhood dogs or cats! What are the regulations for the City of Madison,WI ? Up to 4 domestic fowl allowed per single-family dwelling No Roosters No Slaughtering Poultry shall be kept within a secure enclosure and not allowed to run free Enclosures shall be located no closer than 25' from nearest neighbors residence A $10 permit* is required (per household), to be renewed annually Read the City of Madison ordinances (type in "chickens" in the search box) Any other regulations? New legislation has been passed regarding premises registration. What does this mean? It means that registrations will be required for anyone housing livestock, including poultry, regardless of number of animals as of November 1st, 2005. You can get more information at http://www.wiid.org For any questions, please contact Marcus Gordon, DVM, Homeland Security Veterinarian, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Health at: 608-224-4904 or marcus.gordon@datcp.state.wi.us How do I find out if it is legal to have chickens in my town, and if not, how do I change that? Christine Heinrichs of Madison, Wisconsin, has written a book on Raising Chickens. She has allowed us to share her chapter on legal and zoning issues, with chickens. To read, go to: "Chapter 14 Legal Aspects" Do I need to be worried about Avian Flu? Ron Kean, UW Extension Poultry Guy, has given us information on this topic: There has been a great deal of news about avian influenza recently. Stories have ranged from doomsday predictions to those who say it is allbeing overblown. So, shouldyou be concerned, as a poultry owner or just as a human being? Yes, you should be concerned. Will something happen? Let's hope not, but it could be very bad. Currently, there is an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Asia and Eastern Europe. This influenza virus, which is of H5N1 type, is highly pathogenic to most domestic birds, that is, it kills many of thosethat become infected. It has also infected some people, and has killed about half of those who are known to be infected. (H and N types refer to the specific strain. There are several different types of avian influenza,and they are identified by these H and N components. For more informationon this, see web sites below.) It is likely being spread by migratory birds, which can carry the virus without showing symptoms. Fortunately, this virus is currently not present in the United States. Concern for poultry If the virus comes to the U.S., it likely will be devastating to thecommercial poultryindustry and hobbyists alike. It might get here in migratory birds flying in, in birds smuggled in, or in bird manure onsomeone's shoes, etc. The virus can remain stable forfairly long periods in the environment. The standard method for dealing with an outbreak like this is to depopulate all birds within a certain range of an outbreak. So, if it's found on a farm in Wisconsin, for example, all birds within some distance of that farm would be euthanized. If things are caught in time, and the virus does not spread, that would be great. Unfortunately, this virus spreads easily from bird to bird. Outbreaks in the past have taken some time and the destruction of many birds before they were eliminated. There is also the temptation to hide birds or take them from the area, and this greatly increases the risk of spreading the disease. As an example, an outbreak in Mexico in 1992 took more than 3 years to eradicate. Costs Export markets would immediately be closed so sales would decrease drastically. Depending on the location of the outbreak, many birds might have to be depopulated. Rare breeds and varieties might be lost. Time and money spent euthanizing and destroying the birds also adds up quickly. While you can't be infected with avian influenza from eating properly cooked eggs or poultry products, many people would stop buying these products out of fear. It would be very, very expensive for the poultry industry. Concern for humans Currently, most of the people who have been diagnosed with this influenza (in Asia) have had direct contact with poultry. In many cases, the people were either sleeping in the same building as the birds, or living in very close proximity. The virus doesn't seem to be easily transmitted from one human to another, if at all. A big problem with the avian influenza virus, however, is that it can mutate very easily. The concern is that it will mutate into a contagious virus in humans. If that happens, then it can, and most likely will, spread throughout the world very quickly. This is what happened in 1918, when there was a global outbreak. That outbreak killed an estimated 40 to 50 million people. Even with an improved health care system, there is still the potential for a huge loss of life world-wide. What is our government doing, you may ask? Currently in the U.S., flocks are being monitored for signs of avian influenza. Customs and immigration officials are watching closely for anyone attempting to smuggle birds into the country, or for anyone who has recently been in contact with poultry in countries with known outbreaks. Vaccines for the birds could be developed, but they aren't available at this time, and since this virus mutates so often, any vaccine that is made now might not be protective in the future. It would also take quite some time to produce enough vaccines to combat a widespread outbreak. So, should you as a poultry grower, be concerned? The answer is yes, although I wouldn't suggest you panic or get rid of your birds because of this. Good biosecurity measures are important to protect your flock. Don't allow your birds to mingle with wild birds. Don't borrow other people's equipment. Clean your shoes and clothes if you have contact with other people's birds. If you purchase birds, or if you bring your own birds home after a show or swap meet, keep those birds isolated from your regular flock for at least 2 weeks, while watching for any signs of illness in the quarantined birds. Tend to your home flock before taking care of the new or returning birds. Common-sense principles are very important to help prevent the spread of this disease as well as other poultry diseases, and should always be followed. The potential for a serious AI problem just emphasizes the importance of biosecurity. Again, it's important to note that one cannot be infected with AI by eating cooked poultry products or eggs. For more information, visit the websites of the WHO and the CDC. How many eggs will a hen lay in a week/year? When do they start to lay eggs? A typical hen will start to lay eggs at about 6 months of age. The eggs will start out small, then get increasingly larger. During the first year of laying, the hen (if she is a good egg producer) will lay one egg, almost every day. The birds will then go through a "molt" in the late fall/ winter months and stop laying. Then they will start again in the early spring. You can encourage egg laying through the colder months by keeping a light on, inside the chicken coop. As the birds get older, they will start to lay fewer and fewer eggs. I had a chicken that was at least 5 years old, and she would give me 1 or 2 really big eggs a week. How long do they live? Well I guess that depends on who you talk to--Most farmers who are in the egg producing business will say 2 years. Those who are in the meat producing business will say 6 months--Those who keep birds as pets (with names) or who are not interested in maximum production of eggs, will find that chickens can live up to 8 or 10 years. It is your choice whether you want to keep a bird that long, and if not, there are local farmers willing to take in older birds (or there is always the "stew pot"). Do they need a lot of space? Poultry Coops can fit into just about any size backyard. For 4 hens, a 3'x4' Coop plus a "run" (a place for them to scratch around) that is roughly 3'x8' is more than adequate. Most commercial birds are placed in cages (6-8 to a cage) where they can not turn around. You, on the other hand, will have very happy birds. "Chicken Tractors" are another option. They are portable coops that can be moved over the yard or garden plots, to give birds fresh bugs and greens--this also is a great way to mow the lawn! Can I use the chicken manure in my garden? Chicken manure is high in nitrogen, so it is considered "hot". It will need to be composted before putting it directly onto your garden. once it has broken down, it then becomes perfect food for the garden. A Polyphemus moth rests on the outside of the coop. Good thing! If it were on the inside, it would make a tasty snack for one of the hens. What do chickens eat? They will eat just about anything! There are commercial poultry foods available at local feed stores, or you can make your own mix. People feed chickens corn, oats, wheat, rye, soy, fresh greens from the garden (weeds as well), table scraps (they love spaghetti!), worms and other bugs. The local grocery stores and markets often have vegetable scraps available. Variety is the key to good health, just like us! What do you do with them in the winter? They can live quite happily, through the coldest winter, if they have an insulated coop or a light inside their coop. The smaller the coop, the easier it is for them to keep it warm. Birds can get frostbite. Birds with large combs tend to be more susceptible. Also, some breeds are just hardier than others. What do I do about freezing water in the winter? Cherrie Nolden has several suggestions: (I'm sure other people have other good ideas but these are all things we have used successfully) get a small heated dog dish use a bird bath heater in a dish use a tough rubber 2qt feed pan. Stomp the ice out twice a day or put the bird bath heater in it make your own small heater base with some heat tape and an old pot wrap heating tape around the lid of a metal water font shine a heat lamp on the water container Are chickens safe from cats and dogs? The key to safe chickens is a sturdy, impenetrable coop. Raccoons should be more of a concern, they are such clever, determined critters. .Make sure the structure is secure (enclosed top, fencing buried below ground under the sides, secure latches on doors or other entryways), keep all birds locked in at night, letting them out into the run or "tractor" only during the day. My cats have always been interested in the birds, but with a healthy respect for them--Dogs will chase the birds, if they are left to roam. If you let your birds out, please keep them under supervision at all times.