The Benefits of Keeping Chickens in an Urban Setting

Category: Chicken Wire
Tags: meshblog

Keeping chickens is no longer just for rural farmers. In the past few years, urban chicken-keeping has become increasingly popular among city and suburban dwellers alike.

But why? What are the benefits of raising chickens in an urban setting? From fresh eggs to natural pest control, let’s explore why more and more people are taking up this unique hobby…

Healthy Eggs

One of the main reasons why so many people are turning to urban chicken-keeping is for the fresh eggs they can provide. It is amazing how many eggs healthy chickens will provide.

Not only will you have access to fresh, delicious eggs whenever you need them, but they will be far healthier than store-bought ones. This is due to the fact that chickens that are raised on a diet of organic feed and allowed to roam freely will produce healthier eggs with higher levels of nutrients and lower levels of cholesterol than those found in stores. Plus, you’ll know exactly where your eggs come from, which can give you peace of mind when it comes to food safety concerns.

We recommend Backyard Chickens as the best place to start.

Natural Pest Control

Another great benefit of keeping chickens in an urban setting is their ability to naturally control pests. Chickens love to eat bugs and other small creatures, making them a very effective form of natural pest control. Not only will your garden be free from pesky critters like ants and flies, but your chickens will also enjoy a tasty snack as well!

The chickens at our testing coop ‘Cluckingham Palace’ are often let out onto into other areas to take care of bugs and insects for us.

A Sense Of Community

As with any hobby or activity, there is always a sense of community that comes along with it. By joining online forums or local groups dedicated to keeping chickens in urban settings, you can make new friends who share your enthusiasm for this unique hobby as well as learn helpful tips on how to make your experience with keeping chickens even better!

Are There Any Downsides?

Clearly, on the hole urban chicken keeping is a great hobby.

But there are some downsides to consider:

Noise: Roosters are notoriously noisy, and even hens can make quite a racket. If you live in close proximity to neighbours, they may not appreciate the early morning wake-up calls.
Smell: Chicken coops and runs can produce a strong odour, particularly in hot and humid weather. Proper ventilation, regular cleaning, and the use of chicken-safe products can help reduce odours.
Predators: Urban areas may be home to a variety of predators that can pose a threat to chickens, such as foxes, domestic dogs or cats. Secure fencing and proper coop construction can help minimise the risk of predation.
Time and effort: Raising chickens requires time and effort, from daily feeding and watering to cleaning the coop and collecting eggs. If you don’t have the time or resources to care for chickens properly, it may not be the right hobby for you.

It is a big commitment. We advise doing as much initial research as is possible before embarking on your own coop project.

What Stuff Will I Need?

To get started you will need:

Coop: A sturdy and secure coop is essential for keeping your chickens safe and healthy. The coop should be well-ventilated, easy to clean, and have enough space for your chickens to move around comfortably. There are many different coop designs available, so choose one that fits your space and budget.
Run: A run is an outdoor space for your chickens to move around, stretch their legs, and get fresh air. It should be securely fenced and protected from predators. Our green and galvanised steel chicken mesh are ideal for building chicken runs.
Food and water: Chickens need access to clean water and a balanced diet to stay healthy. There are many different types of chicken feed available, so choose one that is appropriate for your chickens’ age and stage of development.
Nesting boxes: Chickens need a safe, clean, and private space to lay their eggs. Nesting boxes can be built into the coop or placed outside in a separate structure.
Bedding: A clean and dry bedding material, such as straw or wood shavings, is essential for keeping your chickens comfortable and healthy.
Health and hygiene supplies: It’s important to keep your chickens healthy by practicing good hygiene, such as regularly cleaning the coop and run. You may also need to purchase supplies such as chicken feeders and waterers, poultry vitamins, and mite and lice treatments.

Again, we advise that you do as much research as you can before starting your own project.

As always, thank you for checking out our blog. We hope that this helps you with your project. We try to launch a couple of new guides every week. Eventually we will have covered everything there is to cover about mesh.

You may be interested in our blog that explores how to build a chicken coop.

Our goal for our blogs and help guides is to answer as many questions as possible to help to explain the possibilities of mesh to our customers.