Suburban Backyard Chickens — FarmPal

Contact city/county for poultry ordinances. Common rules: hen-only, setback distances, maximum flock size, coop requirements.

• 💡 Many cities updated ordinances post-2020 to allow backyard hens
• 💡 If not allowed, consider quail often unregulated and quieter
• 💡 Get permits if required fines are avoidable

Needs: 4 sq ft/bird inside, roost bars, nest boxes (1 per 3-4 hens), ventilation, and predator-proof run with 1/2 inch hardware cloth.

• 💡 Elevate coop 12-18 inches for predator protection
• 💡 Deep litter method creates compost in place
• 💡 Automatic door closer prevents forgetting lockup at dusk

Buff Orpingtons (gentle, cold-hardy), Australorps (record layers), Easter Eggers (colored eggs), Barred Rocks (all-purpose).

• 💡 Mix breeds for egg color variety
• 💡 Heat-tolerant: Leghorns, Andalusians
• 💡 Cold-hardy: Wyandottes, Chanteclers

Morning: open coop, refresh water, provide feed, check eggs. Evening: treats, secure coop. Weekly: clean waterers. Monthly: deep clean.

• 💡 Fresh water is the single most important thing
• 💡 Fermented feed improves nutrition and reduces waste 30%
• 💡 Supplemental light in winter (14 hrs total) maintains production

Collect daily. Unwashed eggs keep 2 weeks on counter. Monitor for lethargy, pale combs, abnormal droppings.

• 💡 Bright red comb = healthy; pale or blue = illness
• 💡 Apple cider vinegar in water (1 tbsp/gal) supports digestion
• 💡 Hens lay best years 1-3 plan for flock succession