Hatching a scheme to gather 含羞草研究社渇ree含羞草研究社� eggs with backyard chickens costs time and money and isn含羞草研究社檛 for everyone.

In theory, it含羞草研究社檚 possible to save money having backyard hens, but gathering eggs shouldn含羞草研究社檛 be a main motivator, says the farm animal manager for the BC SPCA.

含羞草研究社淚f you含羞草研究社檙e looking for a companion animal that has a bonus of making eggs, hens are awesome,含羞草研究社� 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.

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When purchasing chicks, folks didn含羞草研究社檛 know or just didn含羞草研究社檛 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.

含羞草研究社淭here are homes out there for roosters, it含羞草研究社檚 just a little more tricky than with hens,含羞草研究社� Speirs said.

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

含羞草研究社淗aving backyard hens is a lot of work,含羞草研究社� Speirs said.

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

But they含羞草研究社檙e not easy 含羞草研究社� and it含羞草研究社檚 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 含羞草研究社� again that deals in animals other than traditional pets 含羞草研究社� and appropriate feed.

含羞草研究社淵ou can含羞草研究社檛 just give them scraps from the kitchen, they do need feed to make sure there含羞草研究社檚 a balanced diet,含羞草研究社� Speirs said. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 not something I would jump into without doing some research.含羞草研究社�

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
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