There’s never been a better time to start raising chickens! With egg prices soaring and grocery store shelves often running empty, more people are looking for ways to take control of their food supply. Raising chickens is an easy, affordable, and enjoyable way to ensure a steady supply of fresh eggs right from your backyard. Whether you’re looking to save money, become more self-sufficient, or simply enjoy their companionship, starting a backyard flock is a fantastic solution. If you’ve ever thought about keeping chickens, now is the perfect time to begin!
The Truth About Raising Chickens
Many people hesitate to raise chickens due to worries about cost, difficulty, or legal restrictions. In reality, chickens are very low-maintenance, rewarding animals that provide fresh eggs, help with pest control, and reduce food waste by consuming kitchen scraps. They also contribute to a healthier environment by producing nutrient-rich manure and aerating soil. While having a backyard flock does require small cost and daily care, the effort and expense is minimal compared to most animals and the benefits can be huge! Whether you have a small yard or a sprawling garden, chickens enhance outdoor spaces and support a balanced backyard ecosystem, all while laying you daily breakfast!
Getting Your Chickens
If you’re ready to start, buying from a reputable hatchery is often the recommended choice. Hatcheries provide a wide selection of breeds, offer sexed chicks to ensure you can get hens, and many offer vaccinations against diseases like bird flu and Marek’s disease. Ordering from a hatchery also allows you to get exactly the birds you want, delivered safely to your local post office. Plus, it’s a lot of fun to open a box full of 3 day old peeping chicks from the mail!
Local farm supply stores typically sell chicks in the spring, but they may have a more limited selection. If you prefer birds that are closer to laying age, local breeders and farmers’ markets sometimes even have pullets available. No matter where you buy, ensure your birds come from a healthy, reputable source to start your flock off right.
Picking the Right Breed
Choosing the right breed depends on your goals. If egg production is your priority, Rhode Island Reds, Australorps, and ISA Browns are excellent choices. Plymouth Rocks and Orpingtons are great all-purpose breeds, offering both steady egg production and calm temperaments. If you want a more ornamental flock, Silkies and Polish chickens add a unique charm with their distinctive plumage. Regardless of your choice, selecting a breed suited to your climate and needs will make chicken keeping easier and more enjoyable.
Setting Up a Coop and Run
A secure, comfortable space is essential for keeping chickens happy and safe. Each chicken should have at the minimum 3 square feet inside the coop and 8-10 square feet in the outdoor run, though more space is always beneficial. A larger coop and run, with 4-5 square feet per bird inside and 12-15 square feet in the run, help prevent stress and aggressive behaviors. Overcrowding can lead to pecking issues and disease, so giving chickens extra room ensures a healthier, happier flock.
Your coop should include nest boxes for egg-laying, roosting bars for sleeping, and proper ventilation. A fenced-in yard or covered run will allow chickens to scratch, peck, and stretch their wings while staying protected from predators like raccoons, hawks, and neighborhood dogs. Using hardware cloth instead of standard chicken wire adds an extra layer of security, and adding an additional strand of electric fence can transform your chicken yard to a secure Chicken Fort Knox. If you’re on a budget, existing sheds, dog houses, or garages can even be modified into coops with minimal effort or expense.
Feeding and Care
Chickens are surprisingly easy to care for. Providing fresh water, quality feed, and grit is essential for their digestion. Laying hens also require extra calcium and phosphorus, which crushed oyster shells and enriched mineral grit provide. Supplementing their diet with kitchen scraps, occasional probiotics, herbs, and apple cider vinegar can boost their immune system and support digestion. Ensuring they have access to dust baths helps prevent parasites and promotes feather health. Keeping their coop clean and providing shade in the summer and warmth in the winter will keep them comfortable year-round. Chickens really require minimal care to stay healthy and happy, but the more you spoil them, the better they will thrive—leading to higher quality and quantity of eggs!
When Do They Start Laying Eggs?
Most hens begin laying eggs around four and a half to six months of age. Some breeds start earlier, while others take a little longer. Once they begin, you can expect around four to six eggs per hen per week, depending on factors like breed, diet, and daylight hours. Keeping their environment stress-free and ensuring a well-balanced diet will encourage consistent egg production.
Addressing Common Concerns
Many people worry about the commitment or difficulty of raising chickens, but these concerns are often easily addressed. After the initial setup, chickens largely pay for themselves through egg production and reduced food waste – and all while benefiting the environment! They require minimal care compared to traditional pets, and many cities allow backyard flocks with a few restrictions. If roosters aren’t permitted where you live, opt for a sexed breed to ensure you only get hens. The key is to start small, learn as you go, and enjoy the process—because once you experience the benefits of fresh eggs and the joy of keeping chickens, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner!
Other Things to Consider
Raising chickens offers benefits beyond egg production. Chickens positively impact the environment by reducing food waste, consuming kitchen scraps, and converting them into nutrient-rich manure that enhances soil quality. Their scratching and pecking behaviors aerate the ground, improving lawn and garden health. They also naturally control insect populations, consuming pests like ticks, grubs, and beetles. When integrated into a homestead or permaculture system, chickens become a sustainable part of soil regeneration and biodiversity improvement.
If you’re incorporating chickens into a garden, be mindful of where they forage. They can be excellent at weeding and fertilizing, but they may also scratch up delicate plants if left unsupervised. Another option is to compost their used bedding – or even to allow them to compost their own bedding! Strategic fencing and rotational grazing can help balance their contributions to your landscape. Learning proper egg storage techniques, like when to wash eggs and how to store them long-term through methods like water glassing or freezing, can maximize your harvest. Seasonal care is another factor—keeping chickens warm in winter and cool in summer ensures they stay productive year-round. Regular coop maintenance is also key, as a clean living space helps prevent disease and keeps your flock healthy.
The Pros and Cons of Raising Chickens
Raising chickens is a rewarding experience with more benefits than drawbacks. They provide fresh eggs, natural pest control, and even offer an opportunity to teach children about responsibility and the cycle of life. Chickens are also surprisingly affectionate and fun to watch, making them a delightful addition to any backyard. While they do require small amount of daily care, such as feeding, watering, and occasional coop cleaning, the effort is minimal compared to the rewards.
Some challenges include local regulations limiting flock sizes and the need for predator-proofing. However, with proper setup and management, these concerns are easily addressed. At the end of the day, the satisfaction of gathering fresh eggs, achieving self-sufficiency, and enjoying the company of these feathered friends makes raising chickens well worth it.
Final Thoughts
Raising chickens is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to begin to gain control over your food supply, save money, and enjoy fresh eggs daily. One of the core goals of Tikkun Homestead is to help more people become self-sufficient through homesteading and farming. We believe that when more families raise their own food, we create stronger, healthier communities and a more sustainable world. Raising chickens isn’t just about eggs—it’s about reconnecting with nature, fostering a sense of responsibility, and making a positive impact on the world around us. In addition to this, raising chickens is a fun, fulfilling hobby for all ages! Whether you’re looking to start small with just a few hens or dreaming of a larger flock, taking that first step is worth it. Even the smallest backyard flock contributes to a better future, one where we live more in harmony with the land and each other.
If you’ve been thinking about getting chickens, now is the time to start! Got questions? Drop them in the comments—I’m happy to help!