Have you ever thought about raising backyard hens here in Jacksonville? With the cost of eggs rising, and the popularity of urban farming growing, raising your own flock of chickens is truly an enticing idea. But where do you start? Along with the dreams of having your own flock of hens comes with many questions and rules to follow. Read along for all the information you need to get started with raising backyard hens at the beaches and the city of Jacksonville.
Are Backyard Chickens Allowed in Jacksonville?
First and most important are the rules and regulations that make it legal for you to have those feathery egg makers in your urban backyard. Each beach town, Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville Beach and Neptune Beach as well as Jacksonville proper all require a certification of completion from a Backyard Hen class at the Duval Extension Office before you can apply for a permit. Start here to obtain info on the permitting process. At this class you will learn everything you need to know about raising chickens ethically and how to properly and securely house them in your backyard.
After taking the class, plan and build where your chickens will live and roam. Depending on which city your home is in, the rules do vary slightly. Absolutely read your ordinances thoroughly before breaking ground on a coop- there are height and size restrictions and even placement restrictions for each city. The coop is the most important part for your chickens, build it as securely as you can to protect your chickens and keep predators away.
Picking Out Your New Backyard Pets
Once you have submitted and been approved for a permit for backyard hens and your housing is built the fun can begin. Will you purchase chicks or laying hens? New chicks are delightful to watch grow, and the more you handle them the more they interact with you. Typically it takes six months for chickens to lay their first egg- if you have the time I do suggest starting with baby chicks. They do require more care in the beginning, medicated crumbles, a smaller enclosure, a heat lamp, etc.., but they are so adorable and it’s a wonderful and rewarding family project.
Research the variety of chickens before you go chicken shopping! I love a variety of different colored eggs so our family picked birds based on egg color and also average laying per year. Some chickens lay 256 days out of the year, while others lay way less frequently. There are so many types of chickens! We have had silkies- they are smaller and just hilarious to watch. My least favorite has been the Rhode Island Red, she is quite the diva and Queen Bee of our flock, but she has been a consistent layer. The Cochin has probably been my favorite so far, she’s super fluffy and has the sweetest deposition.
Taking Care of Your Backyard Hens
Taking care of full grown hens is just like caring for pets- maybe even easier. They need food and water, they love food scraps like veggies and fruit. Making sure they have good circulation, shade, shelter and plenty of room is key. Happy hens will reward you with plenty of eggs. In Jacksonville we can have five hens per home that’s potentially five eggs a day for a majority of the year! The egg production slows down during the colder months when the days are shorter.
There is nothing better than a fresh chicken egg- raising chickens is rewarding and exciting!
Jillian Gishler is a New Englander at heart. Born in Jacksonville Beach, she grew up in Massachusetts but was beckoned back to Florida by Mickey Mouse for a Disney World Internship. She returned to the beach in 2005 after graduating from Florida State. Ten years ago she opened her handmade & vintage collective shop, Sew Vicious, in Neptune Beach. Jillian raises chickens, is a passionate gardener, a DIYer, a thrift store junkie, a deal loving mama, and has several inspirational travel journals available on Amazon. She leads her daughters Girl Scout Troop, teaches sewing at a local Montessori School, and is a Parents Who Lead Alumni. She loves surprising her husband and daughters with mini-vacations around the Sunshine State.
