What’s next? We’ve got the victory garden up and running. You’ve done a few DIY backyard projects with the kiddos. Now, make an investment that will pay off big time. Build a chicken coop!
I can think of no one better to turn to than Farmer Kim.
Kim Aman has had plenty of experience with gardens. When parents requested a school garden at Moss Haven Elementary, where Kim was teaching, she took up the plow, so to speak.
Kim grew up with a grandpa that farmed and is an admitted outdoor gal. She created the wildly successful Moss Haven garden for the school. Then in 2014, four hens, Betty, Wilma, Thelma, and Louise, and a coop landed in her lap. Before you know it, the students had a 4-H club and were showing chickens at the Texas State Fair.
So why do you need a backyard coop? Let me count the reasons!
Obviously, having delicious, nutritious, fresh eggs is the number one reason. But what you may not realize is having a chicken coop provides the ultimate homeschooling lesson, especially now.
“Teaching kids about raising chickens and growing nutritious food offer lessons in sustainability, health, nutrition, environment, and science,” Kim said. “The chickens eat scraps from the garden. That’s a great lesson on how to reduce your footprint. They even learn social skills by observing chickens because they learn about the pecking order. It’s been a game-changer for the school. These chickens are rock stars. When the kids come to the playground, the chickens are the first and last stop. During weekends and vacations, the slots to care for the chickens fill immediately. It’s like offering up Adele tickets!”
Here’s what you need to know so you don’t cluck it up!
Chickens are pets. They are a commitment, like any dog or cat. You cannot give them to the pound if you decide you are too much of a city slicker after all. So go into this aware. Very aware. You cannot always tell if a baby chick is a girl or a boy. Guess what? Boys, aka, roosters, are not allowed in the city of Dallas. So, become friends with someone that lives in the country.
Are they a lot of upkeep? No. Not if you get your coop set up correctly. Kim recommends having an easy cleanout of the nest area and using mulch on the floor.” The waste gets worked into the soil and you don’t have an odor problem.”
When I contacted Forest Hills resident and owner of White Rock Lake Real Estate, Mike Schmitt, he had a few great pointers.
“Build your coop for your comfort as well as your chickens. You want to walk in and be able to stand up straight inside the coop. Adequate roof space is important for insulation in the winter. The other important thing to know is you must protect your chickens from predators. Use hardware cloth and screw it into the wood about two feet deep. Give your chickens room to roam a few hours a day. Free-range chickens are happy chickens!”
If you’re ready to get started here are a few useful resources:
- Moss Haven Farm
- Grow Gardens Grow
- Rooster Home and Hardware
- Roach Feed and Seed
- Urban Chicken Inc.
- Backyardchickens.com
