HomeMy WebLinkAboutHowToChickenBrochureCongratulations on your decision to
raise chickens in Oshkosh. This guide is
intended to provide you with
information concerning the municipal
regulations for keeping chickens, as well
as to provide tips to help you
successfully raise backyard hens.
Please carefully review all of the
municipal requirements listed.
Responsible management of your
chickens and chicken coop is an
essential part of the sustained success
of this movement and continued
support of our community.
The raising of chickens on your property
can serve as a valuable community-
building experience by inviting friends
and neighbors over to participate, by
educating our youth about natural life-
systems and where their food comes
from, and by sharing the “eggs” of your
labor.
Have fun, be responsible and good luck!
Sustainability Advisory Board
BENEFITS OF RAISING CHICKENS
Raising Chickens is Fun and Interesting
Backyard chickens can be an enjoyable
experience for the whole family and
neighbors, including playing, feeding, and
just observing these unique birds.
Positive Educational Opportunity
Children (and adults) will learn about
where food comes from and develop
responsibility for the care of an animal.
Healthy, Local & Sustainable Protein Source
For households seeking to produce thei r
own food, the eggs gathered from
backyard chickens provides the needed
source of protein that is often missing. As a
benefit, well -treated backyard chickens
tend to produce extremely high quality
eggs.
Chickens are great for Your Garden
Chickens are huge consumers of bugs
and pests, making them a welcomed
addition to any garden. Their waste is also
an effective and natural fertilizer.
Healthy Activities Can Build Community
Over 100 residents came together to make
backyard chickens a possibility in Oshkosh.
Community members attended planning
meetings, workshops, and community
events collaborating on this effort. Many
cities continue to see events and
gatherings surrounding urban chickens
and local foods.
Created by:
Oshkosh Sustainability Advisory Board
with assistance from
Glacierland Resource Conservation &
Development
&
UW-Extension
A How-to
Guide for
Raising
Backyard
Chickens in
Oshko sh
City Ordinance
Requirements
(See Chapter 6 (Animals) and Chapter 30
(Zoning) of City Codes for complete
requirements)
You must obtain an annual city license
from city hall ($15.00)
You must register your property with the
free Wisconsin Livestock Registry
You must provide a chicken coop in
your rear yard that meets the following
requirements:
Structurally sound, moisture proof and
maintained in good repair with
sufficient space for freedom of
movement and retention of body heat
Provide a sufficient quantity of
suitable clean bedding material
Must be enclosed, predator-proof, free
of rodents, insulated, and adequately
vented, with elevated perches for
natural roosting position
A minimum size of 7 square feet in
area or 3 square feet in area per
chicken, whichever is greater with
1 nest box for every 2 chickens
Must be at least 25 feet from a
neighbor’s primary residence, at least 3
feet from the side & rear property lines
and at least 5 feet from your residence
Maximum of 6 hens per residential lot
Roosters are not permitted
The slaughter, abuse or neglect of any
chicken is strictly prohibited
The chickens should be provided
regular access to water and food
Hens must be secured in their coop at
night, and be provided access to an
outdoor enclosed run area for the
majority of daylight hours
Raising From Eggs:
Eggs need 21 days of incubation,
requiring turning at least 3-4 times per
day. Maintain temperatures between
99 and 103 F. A small dish of water
must be added to maintain moisture.
Ventilation is important. Small scale
incubators are available for a low cost
that maintain temperature and
automatically rotate the eggs. After
the 17th day, eggs should no longer be
rotated. After the chicks hatch and
have dried, place them in a holder
heated to 95F. Provide a starter mash
feed and fresh water. If you are
considering raising chicks from eggs,
please reference a complete guide on
the process to ensure understanding
of the many small details that help
improve health and success. Also
consider that you will need to find a
home for any young roosters.
Raising From Chicks:
Raising young chicks – as young as a
few days – is the easiest and most
common method. 1-week old chicks
need a temperature of 90-95F. Raise
the heat lamp each week to lower 5 F
until about 70-75 F. Ensure constant
access to water and provide a starter
feed. You should provide a half square
foot of space per bird, increasing
around week 4. This holder – or
brooder – can be a box. Start with
layers of newspaper on the bottom
and replace with pine shavings at
week 2. Make sure the walls are tall
enough to prevent jumping out. A
circular brooder prevents the piling up
in corners.
Shelter & Run
The coop should been sturdy,
insulated, and at least 3 square feet in
size per hen, with a minimum size of 7
square feet. Elevated perches must
be provided as well as 1 nesting box
every 2 hens. Nesting boxes should be
about 18 in H x 18 in L x 12 in W, with a
slanted roof to discourage roosting on
top of the box. Add pine bedding to
the boxes, and a small lip to the
bottom of the entrance to prevent the
egg from rolling out. Heat may be
needed during the cold winter months,
and light may extend the egg-laying
season (birds need at least 14 hours of
light per day to produce eggs).
Maintain 3-4 inches of litter (pine
shavings) in winter to help insulate. Keep
interior dry. Ensure a tight enclosure to
keep out predators. A run must be
provided, offering ground access that
is fenced in. Sizes of the run will vary,
but should be long enough to enable
running (6–10 ft minimum length) and
wide enough to enable wing
extension (3–6 ft minimum width).
Selecting a Hen
There are many different breeds of
hens, and you are encouraged to
research what type of hen fits your
needs and interests. UW-Extension
recommends Leghorns, Minorca, or
Buttercups for egg-laying.
Feeding, Health & Safety
You should provide access to food
multiple times per day, with constant
access to water. Feed is available at
many local farm supply stores and
through feed distributors. Chickens will
also enjoy many of your table scraps.
You need to keep your food stored in a
secure manner in order to prevent
rodents. You also need to regularly
clean out the litter to ensure a dry,
clean environment that prevents the
presence of pests and rodents.
Composting
You are encouraged to compost your
poultry waste to use as a garden or
yard additive. Poultry waste is high in
nitrogen, an essential nutrient for
plants. Waste should be composted in
a predator-proof container to make it
garden-ready, and should be applied
at least 120 days prior to harvesting any
food. Follow the UW-Extension guide
for composting chicken waste.
Additional Resources
Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium
(Livestock Registry):
Register online at www.wiid.org
Or phone WLIC at 888-808-1910
Information about Wisconsin Livestock Registry:
http://datcp.wi.gov/Farms/Livestock/Livestock_Prem
ises_Registration
Local sustainable initiatives and updates:
www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/SustainableOshkosh
City youth participation in 4-H poultry activities:
http://winnebago.uwex.edu/4-h-youth-
development
Information on the raising of backyard chickens:
www.backyardchickens.com
Resources and links to improve your skills and
knowledge related to raising chickens:
www.beginningfarmers.org/information-about-
raising-chickens
Networking opportunity with others in the
community raising hens:
www.facebook.com/OshkoshBackyardChickens
Tips for Successfully Raising Hens