DIY Hens: How to Raise Chickens in the Northeast Woods

Living in the woods of the northeast United States can be a serene and fulfilling life. As a 60+ year-old woman who has been living pretty self-sufficiently in a somewhat remote rural area for a few years now, I have found that raising hens not only provides a sustainable source of fresh eggs but also adds a charming element to my "cabinstead."

My ISA Brown hens and their chicken coop that has a run area in it.

When it comes to raising hens in the woods, there are a few things to consider. First, it's essential to provide a safe and secure coop for your feathered friends. Predators such as foxes, fishers, coyotes, weasels, minks, bobcats, bear, and birds of prey (such as hawks, etc) are common in my area of the woods. So ensuring that my coop was predator-proof was crucial. Some ways I predator-proofed mine was burying chicken wire about four inches under the soil, and flaring it out from the coop about two feet, to discourage anything from digging in under the coop. There was also a space about 4 inches at the top of the coop near the roof that could easily fit a weasel or mink. I remedied this with 2x4's to fill that gap.

The coop I have was built by a dear friend. I knew what it had to have and he had design ideas that made it even better. For example, I was thinking of a coop with a run area, which would involve fencing and chicken wire over the top to keep out hawks. On a tight budget though, my coop-building friend came up with the design you see in the first photo. The enclosed coop area is above and to the right. The run area is to the left and under the enclosed coop. It was perfect for the six hens I started with and can potentially fit a total of 10-12 hens. I have a large branch installed in the run area where the hens can roost, all in a neat little raised row.

A coop has to be well-ventilated but draft-free, with enough space for the chickens to move around comfortably. In winter, I use clear plexiglass on the rabbit-wire screening, leaving the top 3-4 inches open for ventilation on one or two sides. Drafts can kill your hens, and high moisture or humidity can do the same. So besides the top 3-4 inches left open in winter, I also leave the screened area under the nesting boxes uncovered as well. The nesting boxes are on the right side of the enclosed coop.

I have a small coop that fits up to two hens comfortable behind my coop that was given to me. I use it for new chicks that I am gradually introducing to the established flock or for a sick or henpecked hen that needs some respite. I kept saying no to the offer of this small coop, but it has truly come in handy.

Depending on my finances, I either buy organic layer pellets and organic scratch or go to a farm & feed store owned by a local family, that supplies area farmers with everything they need for their farm animals, not just chickens. The dirt ground of the run area supplies enough grit for my hens, so I rarely buy grit. Besides layer feed and scratch, I give fruit, veggie, and other kitchen scraps to my "girls," such as the ends of my homemade sourdough bread (if my dogs don't get it first). During the summer, my garden scraps and herbs are shared with the hens. Just make sure to avoid feeding them anything toxic, such as chocolate.

The hens are free-ranging near the barn. My dogs, two Great Pyrenees and a Lab, are quite vigilant keeping an eye on the "girls," and alert me to any possible dangers lurking in the woods.

Another key aspect of raising chickens in or near the woods is allowing them access to the outdoors. Chickens love to forage for bugs, seeds, and plants, so giving them space to roam and explore is essential for their well-being. Just be sure to protect your garden and any delicate plants from their curious pecking! I am unable to free-range mine in winter because of the huge amount of snow in my area. But in summer, as long as my Livestock Guardian Dogs are outside, the hens have been safe. One time, I let the hens out and walked the dogs into the woods to the brook. I was gone less than 15 minutes with the dogs and something had attacked my flock. Feathers were everywhere. Lesson learned: Walk dogs to the brook first, then let the hens out when I get back with the dogs.

Lastly, be prepared for the changing seasons in the northeast. In the winter, you may want to provide a heat source in the coop to keep your chickens warm. I use a ceramic reptile bulb on a timer. This bulb does not give off disruptive light, so the hens aren't stressed and are able to sleep. Most chickens are quite cold-hearty, so I only use it when it is below 20F degrees, and only between 2am to 6am. If it gets below 5 degrees, I will leave it on for slightly longer. Many argue that chickens don't need supplemental heat at all. I think they may be right, if they are in a draft-free environment. I use a K9 heated water bowl in winter so their water is never frozen.

My hens usually stop or slow laying around Labor Day, because daylight has diminished enough by then to slow egg production. If I use no supplemental lighting in the run area during winter, they start laying again around the end of February, laying full-throttle by April 1st. If I do use supplemental lighting, I will put a flood lamp on a timer in the run area from 5am to 8am starting on November 1st. If I do that, I see my first egg around Thanksgiving. As I've become more experienced with my hens, I feel strongly their little bodies need a rest, so forego the supplemental lighting now.

In the summer, make sure they have plenty of shade and fresh water to stay cool. I used two 1.5 gallon hanging waterers in the coop. Mine love to dust bathe near the dog kennel on a hot day under the shade of trees, being both safe (near the dogs) and cool in the shade.

Watching my hens in summer is quite entertaining. I have a white enamel bowl that I collect all my food scraps in for the hens. When I step outside the cabin, those hens come running when they see that white bowl. So funny and cute to see them run. It is also a great way to get them to follow me to the coop, when I need to put them away and it isn't dusk yet. Probably the funniest thing to see, is when one of the hens gets a frog or mouse and all the other hens chase that hen and try to steal it. Yes, I'm easily entertained, I guess.

Overall, raising chickens in the woods has been a rewarding and enjoyable experience. Not only do I get to enjoy fresh eggs from hens that I raised and know what they eat and that they are living a happy life, I also get to share eggs with my kind neighbors. (My closest neighbor is 1.5 miles away in each direction. It's a nice excuse to pay them a visit.) Whether you're a seasoned homesteader or a newbie looking to try your hand at raising chickens, the wooded landscapes of cabin-living can provide the perfect setting for this delightful and fulfilling endeavor with just a little forethought.

Sometimes the chicken feed is organic, sometimes it isn't, depending on finances. But the "girls" always get healthy food scraps to supplement their diet.