Hen Facts & FAQs
The Arlington Egg Project is fortunate to have the support of the Virginia Cooperative Extension. Click here to read a presentation from Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent Kirsten Conrad Buhls, dispelling some of the myths and providing important facts about backyard hens.
If you are particularly interested in learning more about health related issues concerning hens, please click here.
FAQs About Hens
Q: Do you need a rooster for eggs?
A: No. Hens lay eggs with or without a rooster present. Roosters are needed only for hens to produce fertilized eggs. The eggs typically available in farmers markets and in grocery stores are unfertilized.
Q: Aren't chickens noisy?
A: Roosters are noisy. Hens are not. The Arlington Egg Project seeks for Arlington residents to be allowed to keep backyard hens, not roosters.
Laying hens typically produce about the same decibel level as a human conversation. Hens generally make a soft chuckle or cluck. They go to sleep promptly in their coops at or before sundown.
Q: Don't chickens smell?
A: Just like properly kept household pets, properly kept backyard hens will not smell bad at all. It is, of course, important to regularly clean the hen coop, but the amount of chicken manure produced by six hens is roughly equivalent to the waste produced by a 40-pound dog. And, unlike dog or cat "waste," hen manure can be easily composted into fabulous garden fertilizer.
Q: Will chickens attract predators or pests?
A: Many natural predators already live in Arlington, including foxes, coyotes, hawks, snakes, owls, and raccoons. People keeping backyard hens would need to keep their hens in predator-proof enclosures. Raccoons in particular are clever and determined, so it is important to ensure that the enclosure is locked, with an enclosed top, fencing buried below ground, and secure latches on entryways. The Arlington Egg Project envisions that revised County ordinances permitting backyard hens would also ensure secure, proper, and humane enclosures. So long as hens are kept safely enclosed, predators will not be any more prevalent than they are today.
Regarding rodents, they are attracted by food, not hens. By keeping all feed in secured containers and by feeding hens in small doses, so as to avoid leftover food, hen owners will avoid an influx of rodents. This is the same kind of good practice that people should follow when, for example, feeding wild birds with a bird feeder.
Q: What about diseases?
A: Keeping any kind of animal requires knowledge and common sense, such as hand-washing, to reduce and eliminate risks.
Salmonella is one of main concerns often associated with chickens and eggs. However, this is an issue of cleanliness. Small numbers of properly kept backyard hens are unlikely to cause any such problems. On the other hand, Consumer Reports magazine reports that 71% of all supermarket chicken and eggs are contaminated with salmonella. Eating your own backyard eggs, where you have control over sanitation, significantly reduces your chance of exposure. Good hand-washing practices are always important after handling any kind of animal.
The type of Avian Flu that is contagious to humans has not been found in North America. Any type of avian influenza is spread by contact with the contaminated feces of other birds, primarily migratory waterfowl. Therefore, the main issues revolve around sanitation and contact with wild birds. Unlike chickens living on rural farms, which "free range" and might, for example, come into contact with Canada Geese, enclosed urban hens would have little or no contact with migratory birds. Should avian flu reach the United States, it is much more likely to affect large commercial "factory farms," where chickens are kept at a much higher density and often in unsanitary conditions.
In contrast to cats and dogs, which are vectors for rabies and tick-borne diseases, pet hens actually reduce such risks because they eat ticks and other insects.
Q: Can hens survive a winter in Arlington?
A: Yes. By choosing breeds that are known for their cold-hardiness, such as one of the many Heritage Breed chickens bred in New England in the 1800s, hens can easily survive a winter in Arlington. Here's a good breed-selection chart. Less hardy breeds are susceptible to frostbite, especially of the combs. It is also important to insulate the hen house and ensure that their water does not freeze, which may be accomplished with a heated dog-bowl, a bird-bath de-icer, a heat lamp, or an ordinary light bulb over the water container.
Q: What do hens eat?
A: They will eat just about anything! Commercial poultry foods (regular and organic) are available, or you can make your own mix. People feed their backyard hens corn, oats, wheat, rye, soy, fresh greens from the garden (weeds as well), table scraps (they love spaghetti!), worms and other bugs. Hens will "mow" your grass if allowed to peck in a portable, enclosed chicken run that can be rotated throughout the yard. The more greens hens eat, the yellower the yolks will be, and the higher the Omega-3s in the eggs!
Q: Can I use the chicken manure as fertilizer in the garden?
A: Absolutely! Hen guano is some of the best manure you can find and people often purchase it for their gardens. The 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.
Q: How many eggs can we expect?
A: A typical hen will start to lay eggs at about 5 months of age and will continue for 4-6 years. The eggs will start out small, then get increasingly large. During the first year of laying, the hen will lay one egg almost every day until winter. The birds will then molt in the late fall or winter and stop laying temporarily. They will resume laying eggs again in the early spring. As the hens get older, they will start to lay fewer eggs, but the eggs will be much bigger.
Q: Aren't chickens mean?
A: Just like any animal, it's all in the upbringing. If you took a bunch of parrots, cockatiels, kittens or puppies and stuck them in a pen with minimal human contact beyond food and water, they probably wouldn't be very good pets. Just like these animals, chickens that are hand-raised from chicks can be wonderful pets. They come when they are called, enjoy being held and are beautiful and even affectionate pets. Check out the links area for websites like "My Pet Chicken" and "City Chickens" for more information.
**Thank you to http://www.sailzora.com/SoPoChickens.htm for providing some of this information!
If you are particularly interested in learning more about health related issues concerning hens, please click here.
FAQs About Hens
Q: Do you need a rooster for eggs?
A: No. Hens lay eggs with or without a rooster present. Roosters are needed only for hens to produce fertilized eggs. The eggs typically available in farmers markets and in grocery stores are unfertilized.
Q: Aren't chickens noisy?
A: Roosters are noisy. Hens are not. The Arlington Egg Project seeks for Arlington residents to be allowed to keep backyard hens, not roosters.
Laying hens typically produce about the same decibel level as a human conversation. Hens generally make a soft chuckle or cluck. They go to sleep promptly in their coops at or before sundown.
Q: Don't chickens smell?
A: Just like properly kept household pets, properly kept backyard hens will not smell bad at all. It is, of course, important to regularly clean the hen coop, but the amount of chicken manure produced by six hens is roughly equivalent to the waste produced by a 40-pound dog. And, unlike dog or cat "waste," hen manure can be easily composted into fabulous garden fertilizer.
Q: Will chickens attract predators or pests?
A: Many natural predators already live in Arlington, including foxes, coyotes, hawks, snakes, owls, and raccoons. People keeping backyard hens would need to keep their hens in predator-proof enclosures. Raccoons in particular are clever and determined, so it is important to ensure that the enclosure is locked, with an enclosed top, fencing buried below ground, and secure latches on entryways. The Arlington Egg Project envisions that revised County ordinances permitting backyard hens would also ensure secure, proper, and humane enclosures. So long as hens are kept safely enclosed, predators will not be any more prevalent than they are today.
Regarding rodents, they are attracted by food, not hens. By keeping all feed in secured containers and by feeding hens in small doses, so as to avoid leftover food, hen owners will avoid an influx of rodents. This is the same kind of good practice that people should follow when, for example, feeding wild birds with a bird feeder.
Q: What about diseases?
A: Keeping any kind of animal requires knowledge and common sense, such as hand-washing, to reduce and eliminate risks.
Salmonella is one of main concerns often associated with chickens and eggs. However, this is an issue of cleanliness. Small numbers of properly kept backyard hens are unlikely to cause any such problems. On the other hand, Consumer Reports magazine reports that 71% of all supermarket chicken and eggs are contaminated with salmonella. Eating your own backyard eggs, where you have control over sanitation, significantly reduces your chance of exposure. Good hand-washing practices are always important after handling any kind of animal.
The type of Avian Flu that is contagious to humans has not been found in North America. Any type of avian influenza is spread by contact with the contaminated feces of other birds, primarily migratory waterfowl. Therefore, the main issues revolve around sanitation and contact with wild birds. Unlike chickens living on rural farms, which "free range" and might, for example, come into contact with Canada Geese, enclosed urban hens would have little or no contact with migratory birds. Should avian flu reach the United States, it is much more likely to affect large commercial "factory farms," where chickens are kept at a much higher density and often in unsanitary conditions.
In contrast to cats and dogs, which are vectors for rabies and tick-borne diseases, pet hens actually reduce such risks because they eat ticks and other insects.
Q: Can hens survive a winter in Arlington?
A: Yes. By choosing breeds that are known for their cold-hardiness, such as one of the many Heritage Breed chickens bred in New England in the 1800s, hens can easily survive a winter in Arlington. Here's a good breed-selection chart. Less hardy breeds are susceptible to frostbite, especially of the combs. It is also important to insulate the hen house and ensure that their water does not freeze, which may be accomplished with a heated dog-bowl, a bird-bath de-icer, a heat lamp, or an ordinary light bulb over the water container.
Q: What do hens eat?
A: They will eat just about anything! Commercial poultry foods (regular and organic) are available, or you can make your own mix. People feed their backyard hens corn, oats, wheat, rye, soy, fresh greens from the garden (weeds as well), table scraps (they love spaghetti!), worms and other bugs. Hens will "mow" your grass if allowed to peck in a portable, enclosed chicken run that can be rotated throughout the yard. The more greens hens eat, the yellower the yolks will be, and the higher the Omega-3s in the eggs!
Q: Can I use the chicken manure as fertilizer in the garden?
A: Absolutely! Hen guano is some of the best manure you can find and people often purchase it for their gardens. The 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.
Q: How many eggs can we expect?
A: A typical hen will start to lay eggs at about 5 months of age and will continue for 4-6 years. The eggs will start out small, then get increasingly large. During the first year of laying, the hen will lay one egg almost every day until winter. The birds will then molt in the late fall or winter and stop laying temporarily. They will resume laying eggs again in the early spring. As the hens get older, they will start to lay fewer eggs, but the eggs will be much bigger.
Q: Aren't chickens mean?
A: Just like any animal, it's all in the upbringing. If you took a bunch of parrots, cockatiels, kittens or puppies and stuck them in a pen with minimal human contact beyond food and water, they probably wouldn't be very good pets. Just like these animals, chickens that are hand-raised from chicks can be wonderful pets. They come when they are called, enjoy being held and are beautiful and even affectionate pets. Check out the links area for websites like "My Pet Chicken" and "City Chickens" for more information.
**Thank you to http://www.sailzora.com/SoPoChickens.htm for providing some of this information!
Backyard Hens and Health
Backyard Hens Can Lay More Nourishing Eggs
Most grocery-store eggs – even those labeled “cage-free” or “free-range” – come from hens that eat only prepared chicken feeds. Backyard hens can eat a more varied diet that includes grass, weeds, bugs, and kitchen scraps. Not surprisingly, this makes them lay more nutritious eggs.
Studies show that compared to ordinary eggs, eggs from hens with access to plants and bugs have less cholesterol and saturated fat, but several times more beta carotene, Vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids. They also have much more vitamin A, vitamin B-12, and folic acid.
Cooks notice the brighter color, firmer texture, and improved tastiness and digestibility of fresh eggs from their own back yard.
For more information:
Mother Earth News article, “Meet Real Free-Range Eggs”: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/2007-10-01/Tests-Reveal-Healthier-Eggs.aspx#ixzz1QbnnAyG6
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems article, “Vitamins A, E and fatty acid composition of the eggs of caged hens and pastured hens”:http://www.apppa.org/Egg%20study.pdf
Keeping Hens Lets the Consumer Control Disease Risks
People who keep their own hens can make sure their birds are living in clean, low-stress conditions.
Commercial egg producers are supposed to protect consumers from disease -- but sometimes they don't. After the 2010 salmonella outbreak that sickened 1,900 and prompted a recall of 500 million eggs, the Food and Drug Administration did its first-ever inspection of the egg producers involved. Inside hen houses, they found rodents, wild birds, and piles of manure up to eight feet tall. Salmonella infected the water used to wash the eggs.
Researchers don't fully understand why salmonella infections have surged in U.S. poultry since the 1970s. However, the stresses of industrial egg production are a suspected factor. Commercial laying hens live closely packed together in enormous flocks, with their lighting and feed manipulated to make them lay as many eggs as possible. Backyard hens are free from these stresses.
Chickens, like other domestic animals, can carry some diseases that infect people. But the risk of infection is low and easily controlled. Washing eggs removes fecal contamination. Properly cooking eggs kills salmonella. People with compromised immune systems should avoid handling birds, and anyone who handles birds should wash hands afterward. Someone who stirs waste and feathers into the air should wear a face mask.
For more information:
Centers for Disease Control web page, “Tips to Reduce Your Risk of Salmonella from Eggs”: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/SalmonellaEggs/
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences extension service article, “Avian Diseases Transmissible to Humans”: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps019
Backyard Chickens Do Not Spread Avian Flu
The Centers for Disease Control says that keeping a small flock of chickens is safe: “In the United States there is no need at present to remove a flock of chickens because of concerns regarding avian influenza.”
Right now avian flu is not a threat to people in the United States. Parts of Asia harbor the high-mortality H5N1 avian flu, which has some ability to infect people. Scientists are watching in case H5N1 mutates and is able to more successfully spread from birds to people, or from one person to another.
If a dangerous form of avian flu reaches the United States, everyone who keeps birds or comes into contact with birds will need to take precautions and follow the advice of authorities. This includes people who keep backyard hens, workers who care for or slaughter farm-raised chickens, owners of pet birds like parakeets, hunters who shoot birds, and even domestic cats and dogs. Such steps could range from careful hygiene to slaughtering entire flocks.
However, with the forms of avian flu that now exist, bird-to-human transmission has been rare and has only occurred in parts of Asia. Human-to-human transmission has been extremely rare – just a handful of cases, most involving transmission within a family. As of mid-May 2011, confirmed human cases of avian flu in the entire world totaled 553.
For more information:
Centers for Disease Control Q&A on avian flu: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/qa.htm
CDC update, “Avian Influenza: Current H5N1 Situation”: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/outbreaks/current.htm
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service brochure on biosecurity for backyard birds:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/USDA_BioGuide_Eng_8-2006.pdf
Most grocery-store eggs – even those labeled “cage-free” or “free-range” – come from hens that eat only prepared chicken feeds. Backyard hens can eat a more varied diet that includes grass, weeds, bugs, and kitchen scraps. Not surprisingly, this makes them lay more nutritious eggs.
Studies show that compared to ordinary eggs, eggs from hens with access to plants and bugs have less cholesterol and saturated fat, but several times more beta carotene, Vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids. They also have much more vitamin A, vitamin B-12, and folic acid.
Cooks notice the brighter color, firmer texture, and improved tastiness and digestibility of fresh eggs from their own back yard.
For more information:
Mother Earth News article, “Meet Real Free-Range Eggs”: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/2007-10-01/Tests-Reveal-Healthier-Eggs.aspx#ixzz1QbnnAyG6
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems article, “Vitamins A, E and fatty acid composition of the eggs of caged hens and pastured hens”:http://www.apppa.org/Egg%20study.pdf
Keeping Hens Lets the Consumer Control Disease Risks
People who keep their own hens can make sure their birds are living in clean, low-stress conditions.
Commercial egg producers are supposed to protect consumers from disease -- but sometimes they don't. After the 2010 salmonella outbreak that sickened 1,900 and prompted a recall of 500 million eggs, the Food and Drug Administration did its first-ever inspection of the egg producers involved. Inside hen houses, they found rodents, wild birds, and piles of manure up to eight feet tall. Salmonella infected the water used to wash the eggs.
Researchers don't fully understand why salmonella infections have surged in U.S. poultry since the 1970s. However, the stresses of industrial egg production are a suspected factor. Commercial laying hens live closely packed together in enormous flocks, with their lighting and feed manipulated to make them lay as many eggs as possible. Backyard hens are free from these stresses.
Chickens, like other domestic animals, can carry some diseases that infect people. But the risk of infection is low and easily controlled. Washing eggs removes fecal contamination. Properly cooking eggs kills salmonella. People with compromised immune systems should avoid handling birds, and anyone who handles birds should wash hands afterward. Someone who stirs waste and feathers into the air should wear a face mask.
For more information:
Centers for Disease Control web page, “Tips to Reduce Your Risk of Salmonella from Eggs”: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/SalmonellaEggs/
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences extension service article, “Avian Diseases Transmissible to Humans”: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps019
Backyard Chickens Do Not Spread Avian Flu
The Centers for Disease Control says that keeping a small flock of chickens is safe: “In the United States there is no need at present to remove a flock of chickens because of concerns regarding avian influenza.”
Right now avian flu is not a threat to people in the United States. Parts of Asia harbor the high-mortality H5N1 avian flu, which has some ability to infect people. Scientists are watching in case H5N1 mutates and is able to more successfully spread from birds to people, or from one person to another.
If a dangerous form of avian flu reaches the United States, everyone who keeps birds or comes into contact with birds will need to take precautions and follow the advice of authorities. This includes people who keep backyard hens, workers who care for or slaughter farm-raised chickens, owners of pet birds like parakeets, hunters who shoot birds, and even domestic cats and dogs. Such steps could range from careful hygiene to slaughtering entire flocks.
However, with the forms of avian flu that now exist, bird-to-human transmission has been rare and has only occurred in parts of Asia. Human-to-human transmission has been extremely rare – just a handful of cases, most involving transmission within a family. As of mid-May 2011, confirmed human cases of avian flu in the entire world totaled 553.
For more information:
Centers for Disease Control Q&A on avian flu: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/qa.htm
CDC update, “Avian Influenza: Current H5N1 Situation”: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/outbreaks/current.htm
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service brochure on biosecurity for backyard birds:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/USDA_BioGuide_Eng_8-2006.pdf