Discover the joys and rewards of raising chickens in your backyard!

1. Sourcing Chicks
   • Understanding chicken terms and breeds
   • Differentiating between layers, meat birds, dual-purpose chickens, and bantams
   • When and where to get chicks: local hatcheries, mail-order, feed stores, local breeders, community exchange groups
   • Preparing for the arrival of chicks: setting up a brooder, providing heat, light, ventilation, quarantine, socialization
2. Raising Chicks
   • Feeding and watering chicks: chick starter, fresh water, treats, grit
   • Ensuring proper warmth and ventilation
   • Monitoring chick health and growth: antibiotics, injuries, illnesses, tracking growth
   • Transitioning chicks to the coop: feathering, weaning from heat lamp, weather considerations, coop introduction
3. Housing for Suburban Chickens
   • Types of chicken housing for small spaces: pre-made coops, custom-built coops, converted sheds, mobile coops
   • Determining the ideal coop size
   • Essential coop features: door, roosts, nesting boxes, predator protection, ventilation, natural sunlight
   • Additional desirable coop features: people door, exterior egg collection lid, feed tubes, electricity
   • Importance of a well-designed chicken run and bedding material options
4. Feeding Your Flock
   • Understanding the digestive system and nutritional requirements of chickens: protein, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, vitamins, calcium, water
   • Types and styles of chicken feed: starter, grower, finisher, layer; crumbles, pellets, mash, scratch
   • Supplementing feed with treats and greens: fruits, vegetables, safe options, growing your own chicken food
   • Importance of oyster shells and distinguishing between oyster shells and grit
   • Considerations regarding lawn care and the interaction of suburban chickens
5. Protecting Your Chickens from Predators
   • Identifying common predators in suburban areas: wildlife (raccoons, hawks, coyotes, etc.) and domestic (dogs, cats, humans)
   • Deterrence strategies: fencing, netting, alarms, motion lights, locks, and latches
   • Responding to an attack: in-progress response, assessing injuries, regrouping afterward
6. Urban Chicken Ordinances
   • Understanding laws, regulations, ordinances, and homeowners' associations
   • Addressed concerns: number of chickens, rooster bans, slaughter and free-range rules, nuisance complaints, coop placement and housing requirements, fees and permits, health codes
7. Free-Ranging and Foraging
   • Benefits of free-ranging: varied diet, better egg quality, active chickens, tastier meat, cleaner coop, reduced feed costs, insect control, mental stimulation
   • Managing free-range time, protecting free-ranging chickens, drawbacks to consider: lawn chemicals, chicken poop, foraging risks