(ND Ag Connection.com) – A recent movement has led more homeowners to get involved in raising chickens.

Backyard poultry is appealing because it offers families the opportunity to raise their own meat and eggs, says Penny Nester, North Dakota State University Extension agent in Bowman County.  Before purchasing poultry, Nester advises families to check on any city or housing ordinances to make sure it is allowed in your community. After ensuring backyard poultry flocks are allowed, beginner poultry owners can start getting ready to select and care for chicks.  “Raising chickens in northern climates can be challenging if you are not aware of the basics for purchasing and raising new chicks that will make up your backyard flock,” says Nester.

Basic considerations include breed selection, brooder and housing setup, nutrition, and health.  North Dakotans who raise chickens typically look for a dual-purpose bird. Birds in this category are adequate egg layers and will develop enough muscle mass to be used for meat production.  “Dual purpose breeds of chickens are better able to handle cold weather climate due to their excess muscle and size,” says Samantha Lahman, NDSU Extension 4-H youth development specialist in animal science. “Some of the most common breeds of dual-purpose chickens are Orpingtons, Barred Rocks, Australorps and Wyandottes.”

Most dual-purpose breed hens will take at least five to seven months to begin laying and will continue to lay for four to six years, says Lahman. Typically, egg laying production will decrease after the first two years. At peak production, hens will produce between four to six eggs per week depending on time of year, breed and diet.

After selecting a breed, new poultry owners will need to prepare to house and care for their new chicks.

“Raising day-old chicks requires frequent monitoring and adjustment,” says Nester. “If chicks are purchased in winter or early spring, develop a plan for housing that includes a brooder area that will be insulated enough to maintain high temperatures and minimize drafts.”

Newly hatched chicks are sensitive to temperature because they cannot regulate their body heat without feathers. For the first week post hatching, maintain the heating source temperature at 95 degrees Fahrenheit. After seven days, reduce the temperature by five degrees each week until the chicks are one month old. Keep a thermometer in the brooder area to monitor temperature regularly, especially during the first 48 hours of placement.

For more information on raising poultry, NDSU Extension provides a “Beginners Guide to Raising Chickens” at https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/beginners-guide-raising-chickens.