Rising Egg Costs Spur Interest in Home Poultry Raising
As egg prices soar to an average of $6 per dozen, many are exploring alternative sources for their eggs. Colwyn Wickerson, the proprietor of a chicken farm in Waddell, provides insights for those considering raising their own laying hens.
Since acquiring Az Chickens in 2019, Wickerson has been supplying everything from young chicks to fully-grown laying hens. He shares, “It’s been a blessing to share with a lot of families and serve our local Arizona community. It has really been inspiring to help either provide eggs for their family.”
Typically, a single hen can produce around 240 eggs annually, and the suggested hen-to-human ratio is two to one. Wickerson points out the savings potential, saying, “Ten dollars a dozen, by George, that’s $240 dollars worth of just eggs that I am not buying from the store that I am saving for myself, or maybe you decide to sell them. But either way, when you are talking just one hen being able to provide that for a year, that’s a big difference for a lot of families right now.”
For optimal egg production, Wickerson recommends the white leghorn breed. Hens are capable of laying eggs in most conditions below 90 degrees. When it comes to housing, extravagance is unnecessary. According to Wickerson, “Chickens in general, you can almost get away with almost anything as far as a living space for them. The most important aspects are having a place where they can get out of the wind and the rain, of course shade in the summer time.”
Simple coop solutions might include a dog kennel with a cover, or repurposing children’s playsets. Purpose-built coops are another option. Wickerson advises buying poultry directly from farms rather than auctions due to traceability issues with bird exposure and coop sanitation.
Wickerson outlines the indicators of a healthy chicken: shiny feathers, clear breathing, bright eyes, and red combs.
An area bird and livestock veterinarian informed KJZZ over the phone that the risk of bird flu in backyard flocks is relatively low unless an infected bird is introduced. Symptoms of bird flu can include body discoloration, lethargy, respiratory changes, and sudden death.
For those interested in starting with poultry, Wickerson stresses the importance of research and inquiry. “A lot of the time we go online and we get into a fearful mode, an analysis paralysis if you will,” Wickerson said. “Like anything in life, you just don’t know until you jump into it.”
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