With rising food prices and the ridiculous cost of eggs in constant flux, everyone seems to be considering backyard chickens. Backyard chickens aren’t just for off-grid weirdos — they’re for anyone who wants fresh, affordable eggs, less grocery store nonsense, and a closer connection to the ground under their feet. Maybe it’s time to join the flock of having your own flock. Don’t know where to start? This guide’s here to help transform you into the chicken whisperer in no time.
Why Keep Chickens?
Whether you want to improve your diet, live more self-sufficiently, or simply enjoy the charm of keeping chickens, there are plenty of compelling reasons to start your own flock. Naturally, the most obvious reason is fresh eggs straight from the nest. Home-raised eggs are tastier and packed with nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and antioxidants. Since you are raising your chickens, you can control what they eat, eliminating concerns about hidden additives, mystery chemicals, and pesticides. We can all use some quality detox and a natural boost for healthy immune function, but even the healthiest of us should avoid exposure to unnecessary toxic garbage when we can.
Chickens are excellent recyclers. They eagerly eat most kitchen scraps, cutting down on household food waste, and their manure becomes a powerful organic fertilizer when composted, adding essential nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to your garden or house plants.
One of the most overlooked reasons to start your own little backyard flock – chickens are entertaining, curious, and full of personality. Each bird has unique traits, making them productive and exciting pets (with an actual job) that can bring joy to your whole family.
Choosing Your Flock
Picking the right chickens for your backyard is crucial for a smooth start. The number of chickens that you start with, their age, and even local regulations will all play a role in your decision, ensuring that your flock thrives for years to come.
When thinking about what breed to choose, hardy and easygoing breeds are the best choice for beginners. Chickens like the Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpingtons, Barred Plymouth Rocks, and Easter Eggers are generally tough, reliable egg layers, and good with families. Also, all these breeds handle different climates well, so make sure to select a breed appropriate for your micro-climate.
The number of chickens in your flock depends on your goals and your space. For a steady egg supply, plan for each hen to lay around 4-5 eggs per week, though production slows in winter and production cycles vary between breeds. Up to three hens is a small and manageable starting point that will regularly provide fresh eggs. With 4-6 hens, you can produce around 2 dozen eggs a week, while more than 8 hens is ideal if you intend on sharing or selling. Keep in mind that more hens means more work, so make sure not to overextend.
Chickens can be purchased at all stages of their lives – make sure you select the stage that suits you best. Raising tiny young chicks is rewarding but requires extra care and equipment, including heat lamps, special feed, and a brooder set up. Depending on the genetics of your animals, it can take anywhere from 5-9 months (and even more) before they start laying eggs. In contrast, adult hens are already laying eggs, but their egg production is likely to slow more quickly depending on their age, and often producers don’t sell their higher producing hens. Pullets are a good in-between because they are close to laying age, require less maintenance than chicks, and integrate quickly into a coop.
Setting Up Your Coop
A well-designed coop keeps your chickens safe, comfortable, and productive. When thinking about space requirements, remember that overcrowding can lead to stress, pecking, and lower egg production:
- Inside the coop: Each chicken needs at least 2-4 square feet of indoor space.
- Outdoor run: If your chickens don’t free-range, give them 8-10 square feet per bird in a secure run.
- Free-ranging: If you let your chickens roam freely, they’ll need protection from predators but require less space in the coop itself.
A well-designed coop provides comfort and safety for your flock, which requires a couple of essential features:
- Nesting boxes: Hens need one nesting box per 3-4 birds to lay eggs. Each box should be about 12×12 inches, filled with clean straw or shavings to encourage laying.
- Roosting bars: Chickens sleep on perches at night. Provide 8-12 inches of roosting space per bird, with bars placed higher than the nesting boxes to prevent hens from sleeping where they lay eggs.
- Ventilation: Proper airflow prevents moisture buildup, which can lead to respiratory issues. Install vents near the top of the coop to allow fresh air to circulate without creating drafts.
- Predator protection: Raccoons, foxes, and hawks all love an easy meal. Use hardware cloth instead of chicken wire, as it’s stronger and prevents predators.
Feeding Your Chickens
A well-fed chicken is a happy, healthy, and productive chicken. Providing the right nutrition ensures a strong egg production, vibrant feather health, and overall well-being. After your morning cup of coffee or your scoop of Chad Mode, check up on your flock– make feeding your flock a regular part of your routine.
Chickens need a balanced diet that includes protein, vitamins, and minerals and the type of feed they need depends on their age and purpose. Check the packaging for age guidelines to ensure your chickens get the nutrition they need by using starter, grower, and layer feed at the appropriate stages.
Chickens love variety and offering them treats can improve their diets and keep them entertained. Most fruits, vegetables, and grains are safe, as well as proteins like mealworms and sunflower seeds.
Avoid feeding them raw potatoes, green tomatoes, avocado, onion, garlic, and sugary foods. As part of their necessary nutrition, add calcium supplements (crushed oyster shells and eggshells) and grit to their foods, particularly if they don’t free-range.
Managing Upkeep and Eggs
Now for the best part of raising a flock: the egg laying. To keep your hens laying regularly, ensure proper nutrition and maximize daylight exposure. Chickens lay best with 14-16 hours of daylight, so ensure you provide supplemental lighting in the winter when sunlight hours are shorter. Also, provide comfortable nesting boxes with clean, well-padded straw or shavings that are placed in low-traffic areas.
Keeping a consistent routine ensure that chickens stay healthy and productive:
- Daily: Provide fresh food and clean water, collect eggs, and conduct a quick health check, looking for alertness, good feather condition, and active behavior.
- Weekly: Refill bedding in nesting boxes, scrub and refill waterers and feeders, and check for signs of parasites and feather loss.
- Monthly: Deep clean the coop– removing old bedding and scrub surfaces, inspect birds for mites, lice, or other signs of illness, and ensure feed storage is fry and rodent-proof.
Chickens’ needs change with the seasons, requiring extra care to keep them comfortable:
- Winter: Prevent water from freezing with more frequent refills or heated waterers, add extra bedding for insulation, and protect against frostbite with petroleum jelly on combs and wattles.
- Summer: Provide shade and fresh water, offer frozen treats like watermelon and corn, and ensure proper ventilation to prevent overheating.
- Molting: Keep track of feather loss and regrowth and increase protein intake with mealworms or sunflower seeds to support regrowth.
If you treat your chickens well, you can expect your young hens to start laying between 16-24 weeks, depending on breed and season. Don’t be alarmed if the initial eggs are smaller or oddly shaped– this will regulate over time. Peak laying years are typically at 1-3 years old, after which production naturally slows. They will continue laying for several more years, but at a reduced rate.
Bawk, Bawk
Raising backyard chickens is more than just fresh eggs– it’s a step towards a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle. From choosing the right breeds to setting up a secure coop, each part of the process brings you closer to a rewarding and self-sufficient way of life. If you’ve been on the fence about starting your own flock, now is the time to take the plunge. In a few short months, you’ll be collecting your very own homegrown eggs– no grocery store trip required.