 Links & Resources
Coop Plans | Chicken Breeds | Hatcheries & Poultry Supply
Other Useful Web Sites | Books & Periodicals | Organizations
Coop Plans
You can buy coops, kits or plans. The choice is yours - and is determined by budget, how handy you are, and if you are in a rush. The first coop I had was a hand-me-down that fell apart. Then, I bought a prefab garden shed and installed a chicken door, hung nesting boxes and a roost - it was perfect - until I got more chickens. Now, you can see my barns on the HenCam.
The sites below are listed for inspiration. There are plenty of more sources on the Web - and more added everyday. Before selecting a coop, think about the weather in your area (do you have to worry about snow, extreme heat, or damp?) Do you have neighbors or zoning issues? Do you care about aesthetics?
The City Chicken
Here are photos of urban coops and links to zoning laws and information.
Omlet
This company sells prefab, mod, plastic coops for the urban chicken (or bunny.) Their web site has lots of useful information, including news about chicken zoning regulations.
Mad City Chickens
Folks in Madison, Wisconsin passed zoning regulations so that chickens could be legally kept in urban backyards. Great, useful Web site for the backyard hen fancier.
Wine Country Coops
This company makes charming housing for hens. Dream on and get ideas here.
Plans to Buy
Plans for coops for a few backyard hens are in books - check your local library. Or, you can purchase a set of plans on line. The Garden Coop and Ubuilderplans are just two of the many available that are suited to small urban flocks. There are plenty of good options out there. Do a web search to find the right coop for your situation.
Historical Coop Plans
This site has coop plans - complete architectural drawings - for only a few dollars! Many of the plans available were drawn up in the 1930's. Brought to you by the Extension Service of North Dakota State University - this makes you realize what a resource the Web is and how valuable our Land Grant Universities are (I graduated from one!)
Chicken Breeds (also read the hatchery catalogs)
Henderson's Site
This Web site has everything, but start with his chart of chicken breeds.
Feathersite
This is an all-encompassing chicken Web site created by a poultry fancier. Good photos of chicken breeds.
Hatcheries and Poultry Supply Sources
Murray McMurray
This is the first place to go to make your wish list of the chicken breeds that you would love to have. They also have supplies, books, etc. Everything to get started.
Sand Hill Preservation Center
These folks are dedicated to preserving and breeding heirloom birds. They do great work and sell a limited quantity of stock.
Ideal Poutlry Breeding Farms, Inc.
Like McMurray, this large hatchery ships chicks.
Cutler's Pheasant and Poultry Supply
This is the place to go for everything you need for your chickens, from hawk netting to galvanized hanging feeders to those wooden eggs that you put in the nesting boxes to remind your girls where they should lay their eggs. They also sell medications.
EggCartons.com
sells....you guessed it... egg cartons. And a few other things, like calendars and my Farmstead Egg Cookbook. I buy blank cartons from these folks and decorate them with stamps, stickers and homemade labels. Give a dozen eggs in a dressed-up carton as a house gift and your hosts will be happier than if you brought them vintage wine. Yes, you can recycle supermarket cartons, (I use those for my own use) but these are so much nicer (and more hygienic!)
Other Useful Web Sites
APA-ABA Youth Poultry Program
Not only does this organization mentor kids who are interested in showing poultry, but they maintain a web site that is a terrific resource. All of this is done with little funding and by volunteers.
Extension Services at universities are great sources of information. Florida University's is user-friendly and has a wealth of information, especially on chicken health. As does this one, from Mississippi.
Mother Earth News
Mother Earth News has good husbandry info and proof that eggs from pastured eggs are nutritionally better than those from caged hens.
USDA Egg Fact Sheet
USDA Biosecurity Advice
Good to have bookmarked -- just in case.
Books and Periodicals
How to Raise Chickens
by Christine Heinrichs
2007
The author of this book is involved with the Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities, which is a good thing right there. How to Raise Chickens is a useful, attractive book. If you are moving beyond laying hens and thinking about keeping other poultry, like waterfowl or guinea hens, How To Raise Poultry by Christine is a necessity. Christine writes a blog worth reading, and you can order books through her web site.
Keeping Pet Chickens: Bring Your Backyard to Life and Enjoy the Bounty of Fresh Eggs from Your Own Small Flock of Happy Hens by Johannes Paul, William Windham, Joe Stahlkuppe
2005
This small book is perfect for the person thinking about bringing three or so hens into their life. It is filled with useful tips for
the backyard hen keeper. The text and photography will also appeal to
children.
Living with Chickens: Everything You Need to Know to Raise Your Own Backyard Flock by Jay Rossier
2002
This is a great book for the backyard hen hobbyist. Also, the pictures are wonderful, so if your significant other is having doubts about getting hens, this book might sway him or her the right direction.
Chickens In Your Backyard : A Beginner's Guide by Rick and Gail Luttmann
1976
This book is older and out of print, but is still available through used book dealers. It remains an excellent guide. It is well written and dispenses practical advice.
Keep Chickens! Tending Small Flocks in Cities, Suburbs, and Other Small Spaces by Barbara Kilarski
2003
Written by an urban hen-keeper, this book is the one you want if you're going to have only a few hens as outdoor pets. It is written in a cheerful and accessible style and has very good information for a person with a small flock. My only, small quibble is that the author incorrectly states that chickens in cold climates need a heat lamp in their henhouse. Ours have comfortably survived zero degree weather in our draft-free little barn.
Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens : Care / Feeding / Facilities by Gail Damerow
1995
This comprehensive book is written in a serious manner. It has everything you need to know. It might be a bit intimidating as a start-up book, but it is sure to be invaluable as your flock grows (which often happens!)
Your Chickens: A Kid's Guide to Raising and Showing by Gail Damerow
If children are involved in the care of your chickens, get this book for them. It is not, however, for little kids, but for children ten years and older.
The Chicken Health Handbook by Gail Damerow
1994
It is a fact of life that chickens get sick. It is also true that most suburban vets don't know a thing about hens. This book will help.
The Farmstead Egg Cookbook by Terry Golson
2006
Once you have hens, you'll have eggs. I've written this book to showcase just how good eggs from backyard hens can be.
Periodicals
The Poultry Press
This monthly newspaper has listings for shows across North America, as well as ads from breeders and is fun to get even if you aren't part of "the fancy."
Backyard Poultry is a magazine that often has helpful articles. There's colorful photos of chickens and ads for hatcheries you might not know about. Besides, it's fun to get a magazine that confirms that you're not alone in your hobby.
Organizations to Join
The American Poultry Association
promotes and protects the backyard poultry owner and small breeders and farmers.
Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities and The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
both do very important work. Support them by becoming a member. In return, everyone will benefit from preserving disappearing breeding stock and you'll get great newletters!
The American Pastured Poultry Producers Association supports and informs the small commercial producer, but the information it sends out is valuable to anyone with chickens.
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