Love fresh eggs? Raising your own chickens a big trend

Do you love fresh eggs? You may want to consider raising chickens right in your backyard.

Phoenix gardening expert Jim Dennis says chickens make great pets, provide fresh eggs, eat away at unwanted bugs and weeds and are excellent for your soil.

But, like any pet, chickens require attention.

You’ll need a chicken coop that is efficient in size. Consider three to four square feet per chicken to give them space to move around. If you keep too many in a small area they will pick at each other and fight.

You can buy a chicken coop or build one yourself. There are several free plans to help you if you decide to build it yourself.

When building the coop you need to consider predators. Dennis says dogs are one of the most common predators. You also want to look out for owls, coyotes and foxes.