PrintChickens/Ducks (Egg laying)
Integrating poultry into your backyard transforms a static yard into a working system. Beyond providing a connection to your food source, these birds act as industrious garden partners. Chickens are the classic choice, prized for their steady egg production and high-energy personality as they scratch and till the soil. Ducks, conversely, are often gentler on garden plants, serving as excellent pest control while laying large, rich eggs. With a secure coop and room to roam, a small flock becomes a delightful, productive asset to your landscape.
Consider keeping egg-laying poultry if you want:
- Yummy home grown eggs that you can eat and share with family and friends
- To reduce garden pests like grasshoppers
- To reduce waste in exchange for rich fertilizer. Chickens and ducks happily consume kitchen scraps, turning food waste into high-quality, nitrogen-rich manure that, when composted, makes an excellent organic fertilizer for your garden.
Quick tips for egg-laying poultry!
- Think about location. Place the coop in a spot that offers good drainage (to prevent mud and moisture) and shade from the hot afternoon sun. Convenience is also key—you’ll be visiting it daily, so keep it easily accessible.
- Build your chicken coop near your compost bin. You will be bringing food scraps out for the compost and for the chickens and will need to scoop the poop into the compost.
- Consider the traits of different poultry types. Chickens scratch and till soil – finding great enjoyment in a dust bath. Ducks need a water source to scoot around in.