Got Chicken?

When I first moved to my current house, keeping chicken was not allowed but I just noticed that the regulation changed a couple of years ago and I'm allowed to have chickens (hen only) in my backyard. I've done some research online last couple of days and I see some contradictions on recommendations of keeping chickens. I'm guessing it's because people live it different climate. I'm in Sac area so the it gets very hot during the summer. I have pretty good idea on the climate tolerant breeds and will providing lots of shade and other measures that will chickens comfortable as possible. This might be something I might have to learn from trial and error but I'm trying yo figure out the best substrate for the chicken run for my area. I'm leaning towards pine shaving deep litter method for affordability and low maintenance. I want to hear from central valley chicken lovers what you use for substrate and any other recommendations on keeping hens in central valley area. Thank you in advance.

I have to respond to chicken issues where I work so I can give some tips to stay out of trouble with the city/county where you are located.

When ever there is an overwhelming rat infestation in a neighborhood it is almost always due to someone keeping chickens. It is imperative that chicken food is cleaned up at the end of everyday. Once a rat colony builds up to a certain point they will feed during the day as well.

Noise is the other issue that can get you in trouble. Do not keep any roosters. If you get chicks it can be hard to tell the gender so if you notice a rooster in the group as they age get rid of it.     

My In laws raised chickens commercially in Lodi, and they did fine with a roof over the big barn. So I don't think heat is an issue to worry about as long as there is shade.

come up here. My daughter in law has 68 chickens and needs to get rid of some. Use sand and rice straw in their yard. kid pool with dirt and some pebbles for them to bath and pick up rocks for their crops to grind food. Automatic waterer and secure sleeping area (automatic solar doors are awesome) Lay pellets and they will be happy. eggs every day!!!

I have to respond to chicken issues where I work so I can give some tips to stay out of trouble with the city/county where you are located.

When ever there is an overwhelming rat infestation in a neighborhood it is almost always due to someone keeping chickens. It is imperative that chicken food is cleaned up at the end of everyday. Once a rat colony builds up to a certain point they will feed during the day as well.

Noise is the other issue that can get you in trouble. Do not keep any roosters. If you get chicks it can be hard to tell the gender so if you notice a rooster in the group as they age get rid of it.     

My In laws raised chickens commercially in Lodi, and they did fine with a roof over the big barn. So I don't think heat is an issue to worry about as long as there is shade.

Thanks for the advice. I'll either put the food away at night or invest in a rodent proof chicken feeder.
Rooster are not allowed in my zone so I won't be keeping any. Some breeds can be, almost 100%, sexed by the fur pattern. I'll be purchasing baby chicks that are almost 100% guaranteed hens or adopt a grown hen. I'm limited to only 6 hens in my zone so I'm thinking about getting 2 at a time to reach 6 chicken in the course of 2 years.

come up here. My daughter in law has 68 chickens and needs to get rid of some. Use sand and rice straw in their yard. kid pool with dirt and some pebbles for them to bath and pick up rocks for their crops to grind food. Automatic waterer and secure sleeping area (automatic solar doors are awesome) Lay pellets and they will be happy. eggs every day!!!

Hey Ron, I might take you up on your offer. I need to get a permit first (don't know how long the process is) and set up the chicken coop (hen house/chicken run) and get other necessary items first. I'll hit you up when I'm ready to adopt some chickens.

When we lived on 3.5 acres in Shasta County it was fun and great for the kids… now that I live in a residential neighborhood in Sonoma County I blame the increase in the rats running the fences every time someone get chickens. The chicken feed keeps those rats fat. More blue stains on roofs…

I used straw.  I lived in Concord, so it got hot as well.  HOT!!  the birds found shade quickly.  I had the "red" birds since I was told they are heat tolerant.  rhode island reds, I think.

rats and roaches.  I did make a pit fall trap and I got lots of live roaches which the chickens ate up like Cheetos.   tough to do, since roaches are nocturnal.  but my trapped made them available. 

I used the straw so  could put it into my Compost bin.  chickens and having a compost system just made sense. 

if I could do it again, I wouldn't.  hahah...the rats were a problem. 

Moo, don't tell my wife you got chickens.  My wife had an interest, but I told her it was too much work.
Some of my neighbors have them and were visited by a hungry bear.

Paul

come up here. My daughter in law has 68 chickens and needs to get rid of some. Use sand and rice straw in their yard. kid pool with dirt and some pebbles for them to bath and pick up rocks for their crops to grind food. Automatic waterer and secure sleeping area (automatic solar doors are awesome) Lay pellets and they will be happy. eggs every day!!!

Let me know. Probably set you up with 6 layers 6-8 months old. Instant fresh eggs! Get it done! old dog house on 3foot stilts and they will be happy

Hey Ron, I might take you up on your offer. I need to get a permit first (don't know how long the process is) and set up the chicken coop (hen house/chicken run) and get other necessary items first. I'll hit you up when I'm ready to adopt some chickens.

chickens! She needed to get the flock down to a manageable level.  Well, due to overwhelming interest, All the chickens have been picked up!  :smt044they flew the coupe!

Fresh eggs are amazing but eggs are the cheapest form of animal protein. Even expensive free range organic eggs are less than $.75 each. Having kept chickens as a kid and cleaning out the pine shavings every week, I would not do it again, even though I’ve been tempted by some of the cool breeds available these days.
If you’re doing it, definitely combine with a generous veg garden to use the compost.

Fresh eggs are amazing but eggs are the cheapest form of animal protein. Even expensive free range organic eggs are less than $.75 each. Having kept chickens as a kid and cleaning out the pine shavings every week, I would not do it again, even though I’ve been tempted by some of the cool breeds available these days.
If you’re doing it, definitely combine with a generous veg garden to use the compost.

I’m getting them more as pets than layers. My family raised chickens when I was growing up and I loved them. I have a pretty good size backyard and want some outdoor pets so why not chickens.

I’m getting them more as pets than layers. My family raised chickens when I was growing up and I loved them. I have a pretty good size backyard and want some outdoor pets so why not chickens.
[/quote]

That's cool. There are so many cool varieties available now that it is tempting. But we already have the dog, cat, outdoor water feature with Sacramento Perch, 2 fish tanks and a small turtle breeding project. So chickens would overwhelm.

We have 3 chickens in SF with a small yard. 

Built a coop for them and then fenced off a small area of the yard with wire fencing and a little gate.  They were hopping on the coop and then jumping over our fence into the neighbor's yard so we had to use some of the wire fencing to stop that.

I strongly recommend getting your full flock at once, when we added the third one it took weeks for them to get along.  It was really loud, annoying, and we had to spend time separating them.  Lots of fighting, whining, etc.  Chicken pecking order is intense and they are really mean to new chickens.

We use wood shavings and about once a month my wife and I clean out the coop completely and bury the wood shavings.

Make sure to use Diatomaceous earth (I just sprinkle it in the coop) and there is a pesticide we user I forgot the name.  This prevents chicken mites which we've had a few times.  I spray inside and all over the coop area when we clean it out.

I use large rat bait stations along with traps for rats.  We get some every once in a while.

The best thing we did was automatic doors that open and close at sunrise and just after sunset.  Daily is super easy, go pick up the eggs, sprinkle some wood shavings, give them some treats, check food and water.  Takes a few minutes.

I'm looking at getting an automatic feeder that opens and closes too which should prevent rats eating at night.