Chickens!

Thinking of Adding Chickens?

Chickens have proven to be a joyful addition to our animal family! Not only do they provide us with plenty of eggs, they are great at Garden Patrol. They help with both weed and pest control because we let them range freely in our veggie gardens during the off-season. Plus, their droppings heat up the compost pile to such a high degree that any pathogens we might need to worry about are literally "toasted" right out of the pile! (Reminder: if adding any sort of animal waste to your compost pile, invest in a compost thermometer.) As if all of those reasons aren't enough, they are fun to watch and relatively easy to care for! The Internet abounds with websites containing lots of useful info on tending chickens, so, as always, use a reliable source for your education if you are new to chickens. Penn State also offers online courses that are worth the investment if you are serious about wanting to add them to your family.

Always check your local zoning rules to be sure that you can have backyard chicken in your specific neighborhood.

Did you know there are 106 municipalities in York and Adams Counties (PA)? And of those 106, MANY have different rules about the number of chickens that can be kept on one property--if they are even allowed to be there at all! In addition to municipality rules, HOAs can further limit your chicken-owning rights. Save yourself a headache and do some research!