Corona Pumpkin Farm

Before you run to Home Depot to buy lumber and chicken wire for your coop, there are a few things to keep in mind.  If you’d like to have backyard chickens, confirm with your city/county/HOA that they are allowed in your zoning.  In most situations, a chicken or two will go unnoticed.  Roosters on the other hand will announce their arrival all morning and night.

Chickens will eat anything, which sometimes includes your garden and prized flower bed.  In a large backyard, a chicken or two should not do too much damage.  However, you may want to screen off those plants you do not want the chickens snacking on.  Earlier this month our flock decided they wanted to eat our entire boysenberry patch which they had not touched for the previous five months!

Chickens are creatures of habit.  They must be trained from the beginning that the coop is their home for eating, drinking, sleeping, and laying.  If they decide to roost somewhere else, like the patio furniture, you will be left with a large mess.  We recommend locking them in their coop each night, for their protection, and yours.

Use caution and common sense with chickens and children.  As a general rule chickens are gentle.  However, most hens will protest when you collect their eggs.  This may be alarming to a young child.  Also, chickens (like all animals) can carry disease and bacteria.  Chickens spend the day scratching along the ground.  They step in everything, including their own waste.  Anyone handling chickens should wash thoroughly afterwards and change their clothes.  Although chickens have distinct personalities, we do not recommend keeping them as pets or allowing them inside the home.  Feel free to name them and enjoy them, but they do best when left to roam the backyard, not held, petted, or walked on a leash.

If you’d like assistance with your backyard chickens, please do not hesitate to contact us.