One of the first things many homesteaders think of when it comes to raising their own animals for long-term survival purposes are chickens. This is one of the most common food sources people use for meat and protein in general.
There may come a day when you can’t just stroll up to the store and pick up a pack of chicken breasts, thighs or even a whole chicken. You may not have accessibility to a dozen prepackaged eggs at your convenience.
Chickens are actually good for something else, too. The feathers can be used in survival situations for stuffing pillows and providing a cushioned material for whatever you may need, including putting them inside the lining of a coat for extra warmth.
They may not be as good as the down pillows that are sold in stores, but in a survival situation, any part of an animal that you can use to your advantage to keep you and your loved ones comfortable and alive is worth noting.
In order to raise chickens in your backyard, you will need a chicken coop that provides protection for them as well as a run that allows them to get exercise. You can buy chicken coops as kits online for anywhere from under $200 to several thousand dollars.
Some of them offer bare bones in terms of comfort and protection, while others come with all of the luxuries, including weather resistance and more than one level to house your chickens in.
When you build or purchase a chicken coop, you want to make sure that not only are your chickens protected from a variety of predators, but that they have a comfortable, shaded place to relax in.
At the same time, you need to make sure there is ample lighting for the birds and that the chicken coop has good ventilation to keep them healthy. Set up a comfortable nesting area for your hens and make sure they can easily access their food and water at all times.
Raising chickens for self-reliance purposes is a good choice because not only do they provide eggs and meat for protein and calories, but they are a perfect selection for beginners due to their low maintenance needs.
You can even use their excrement as fertilizer to put in your survival garden to enrich the soil. If you are strategic with the placement of your chickens, they may help keep pests out of your garden as well.
When growing chickens, you will need to select a breed that is easiest to raise and that will provide you with the meat and eggs your family will need. Normally, there are chickens that are well suited for meat, such as Cornish Cross Chickens, and those that are best for laying eggs, but whose meat may be tougher.
You may want to raise something such as the Rhode Island Red breed. Hens can lay between 200-300+ eggs per year, but lay fewer eggs as they age. You want to be on the lookout for any health issues so that you can nip it in the bud before they are all infected, which often happens in a chicken coop.
Keep their surroundings clean and make sure they are well taken care of. One thing that may sound counterproductive is to allow your chickens to have an area for a dust bath. While it may appear as if they are getting dirty, this actually protects your chickens health by allowing them to remove parasites from their feathers.
