The books call laying hens the starting point for off-grid beginners: the easiest livestock, needing the least space, with the cost kept down by letting them forage.
Why chickens first
The book says laying hens are the easiest livestock to manage, need the least space, give good-quality eggs and are cheap to keep. It suggests a flock of six to eight hens, which begin laying at about 20 weeks and lay reliably for two to three years before production declines. Feed costs fall if the birds can forage on insects and vegetation.
Plan the basics
- Water: clean water should always be available, and in freezing weather the water container should be heated so it does not freeze.
- Feed: allow for a balanced ration, topped up by foraging where they can range safely.
- Shelter: a secure, dry house closed up at night. The books do not describe coop design, so look at local guidance.
- Predators: foxes, raccoons, weasels, coyotes, hawks and owls all prey on poultry. The book suggests a livestock guardian dog, such as a Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherd or Maremma, for round-the-clock protection.
What chickens give back
Besides eggs, chicken manure is a nitrogen-rich fertiliser, and a few hens scratching through beds in autumn and early spring destroy insect eggs, larvae and weed seeds (protecting crops from pests). Keep them out of the garden while crops are growing.
Chickens for meat
For meat, the book describes Cornish Cross broilers growing from chick to harvest weight of 4 to 6 pounds (about 1.8 to 2.7 kg) in 8 to 10 weeks, and says many people raise two or three batches a summer. Check local rules on slaughter and processing before you start.
Start small, learn, then expand
- Prepare housing, fencing and water before the birds arrive.
- Begin with a small flock of laying hens.
- Learn the early signs of illness and keep a basic first-aid kit.
- Plan winter feed and water (seasonal livestock preparation).
The Raising Livestock Off Grid guide sets out the full chapter. For a wider introduction to everything a self-reliant property involves, see The Off-Grid Survival Manual.