If you live in an area where you experience temperatures of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit / 38 degrees Celsius, it is a good idea to avoid the large-sized and feathery chickens.
In hot weather, most Bantams do well with the exception of the feather-footed varieties.
The following Standard breeds are highly recommended for hot climates:
If you live in a cold Climate are where the temperature drops below freezing during part or all of the year, it is best to have Standard Chickens rather than Bantams.
Standards are hardier and fare better than Bantams in cooler to cold climates. Chicken combs and wattles are an important factor to consider since the smaller they are, the less they will be affected by frostbite.
Despite the many advantages of raising backyard chickens (fresh eggs! fresh chicken meat, family fun, eco-friendly to name a few) the practice is still quite uncommon. Most people are simply not aware that aside from the healthy eggs and poultry meat chickens can provide their family on a regular basis, chickens are fun pets too that your kids can cuddle.
Below are some important considerations that should be carefully evaluated if you are thinking about raising backyard chickens.
Do you have time to look after your chickens?
Although chickens are relatively low-maintenance, they do require time for daily care. While the amount of time is small, i.e. you only need 15 to 20 minutes daily for feeding, water and taking care of bedding, it’s important that you begin your chicken raising with eyes wide open and know what commitments you have to make.
Do you have enough space?
If chickens are kept in a chicken coop then you have to make sure that the chicken run (where they are allowed to range freely during the day) is big enough and secure from predators. It is recommended that at least six square feet per bird is available in the outside run. Ultimately though, the more space the better.
Chickens are also natural foragers. They eat insects, grass, weeds and anything else that they can find in their chicken run – the more they are able to forage, the healthier and more contented they will be.
Apart from the obvious, why else are healthy chickens beneficial to you? It means tastier eggs and poultry meat.
When chicken roam freely, they also get a great deal of exercise and keep themselves fit and entertained. Another side benefit is that they will keep the grass maintained, so less time spend mowing! Chicken droppings also make great fertilizer so your back yard chickens will help fertilize your lawn for free.
I’ve posted this video on Youtube. It gives some good insight into what mistakes to avoid making when you are building your own chicken coop. Let me know what you think.
Providing your chickens with proper housing is an absolute must if you wish to keep your birds in good physical shape.
As a general rule of thumb, for a chicken coop to be satisfactory for your birds, it must meet the following requirements at a minimum:
It must be predator-proof from all sides. Make sure that all openings are protected with the correct size of wire mesh – 15mm square so that so that predators can not reach inside the coop!
Make sure that the area surrounding the coop is protected with wire-mesh fencing with the base buried at least 30cm below ground level to prevent foxes and rats from burrowing into the area. Rats would especially be drawn into the area because of chicken droppings. Read more »
Of all the animals that people can raise as pets, chickens are unique in the sense that they produce something edible compared to other pets like dogs, horses, cats and fish. In fact, raising chickens for pets pay off in the long run as they are a source of fresh meat and eggs unlike what you normally buy in the supermarket.
And considering the craze about organic food, with your own backyard chickens it is very easy to produce your own organic eggs and poultry meat – all you have to do is feed your chickens organic chicken feed. Organically fed chicken that roam freely, eat grass are proven to lay eggs that have higher levels of Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E while having lower cholesterol content!
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Chicken Breeds, Learning Center, Raising Chickens | ChickenCoopPlans January 27, 2010 | 
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