What Do I Need to Start Raising Backyard Chickens?

Raising backyard chickens is a widespread practice both in the city and country areas. 

And whether you intend to plunge into it for fresh eggs, meat, natural manure, or even the joy of watching the feathered creatures scratch in your yard, how you get started matters a lot.

That’s one thing I understood before starting the journey, and trust me, getting everything right, from the beginning, has saved me lots of headaches and ensured a happy, healthy flock.  It’s become such a passion that this blog was born to help others get it right too!

In this blog post, I will provide all the details you need to start your chicken-keeping journey with minimal to no glitches at all.

Factors To Consider Before You Start Raising Backyard Chickens

Before you begin keeping your chickens, know what you need to factor in. That will ensure that you start off as smoothly as possible.

Here are the things I know you need to pay attention to:

1. Local Laws and Regulations

When most people are beginning to raise pet chickens, the first thing they want to do is build a nice, secure coop. But that isn’t the initial step. Before you invest in a decent coop,  get acquainted with your local laws and regulations.  I know right, what a sexy start!

Check if there are any laws in your area that govern how you should proceed with the practice. Then, what do the laws say regarding the number and breed of chickens you can raise? 

For instance, if you’re in Humboldt County, California, you can only keep up to 10 chickens as long as your property is at least 5,000 square feet large. If you must work with a higher number than that, you need an extra 500 square feet of space for every additional chicken.

In some states, they even prohibit keeping roosters. So to avoid legal trouble, find out what the local laws in your local area say about chicken keeping. It will help you make all the following  decisions such as the coop size you need so much easier and save you getting too attached to a potential setup that wont get approved. 

2. Choose The Right Breed

Once you’re sure chicken keeping is allowed, decide what breeds to keep. The decision you make here will depend on what you’re targeting. 

For instance, if raising chicken for eggs, you’ll need to target breeds designed to be prolific layers.

Check out these categories:

• Layers: Leghorns, Rhode Island Red, Australorps, Golden Comet, and ISA Brown
• Meat Birds: Cornish Cross, Bresse, Freedom Ranger, and Jersey Giant. 
• Dual-Purpose: Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Orpington, Wyandotte, etc.
• Pets: Silkie, Orpington (Buff), Cochin, Polish, and Brahma.

Also, remember to check the temperament of the breed you choose and their climatic requirements. 

For instance, I chose to begin my pet chicken journey with Rhode Island Reds because I wanted the best of both worlds and at the same time, hardy and resilient, considering that I live in an area that experiences extreme weather conditions.

3. Set Up A Secure Coop

Next, set up a house for your feathered companions. It should be spacious enough to avoid stress. When making mine, I targeted at least 4 square feet of space per chicken, which is the rule of thumb — and that ratio will work well for you too! 

The coop should also be well-ventilated and designed so predators can’t access it. Raccoons are common in our area, particularly in spring, so I had to reinforce the coop’s security. I added latches, invested in strong, secure materials, and added other security systems like using automated coop doors. 

And remember, you also need to provide adequate nesting boxes if you’re raising chickens for eggs. I prefer the ratio of 1:4, but a smaller ratio, say a nesting box for every 3 chickens, can also do.

4. Chicken Run or Free-Range Space

Chickens are naturally curious. Those moments of roaming out there are simply priceless and a great source of their happiness. So, ensure that you give them this privilege. Let them free-range in your backyard if you’re sure they’re safe from predators.

If you live in an area with a high predator population, predator-proof your home. You can also create a chicken run using hardware cloth. It will afford them adequate roaming space to interact with the outdoor environment without the risk of predators. 

Just ensure that the outdoor space is large enough for their needs. You can target 8 to 10 square feet of exterior space per chicken. 

5. Feeding and Watering

What and how you feed your chickens is another essential aspect you don’t want to overlook. Stick to a healthy diet to support their growth and overall health. And remember, chickens’ dietary needs vary with age.

Chicks will thrive better with a starter feed, and pullets should be offered grower feed, while layers need layer feed. Each of these feeds is specially formulated to meet the chickens’ varying dietary needs at different growth phases.

And yes, don’t forget also to include supplements. They’ll help fill the nutritional gap left by the regular feed. I use crushed oyster shells as a calcium supplement for my layers and I’ve now noticed that the eggs come with stronger shells, something I didn’t see before.

Of course, your chickens should have access to clean water every day. Position the waterers from the access of wild birds to prevent the spread of diseases. If living in extremely cold regions, invest in a heated waterer for those moments when the temperatures go below the sub-zero level. 

6. Bedding and Cleaning

Bedding helps absorb moisture and odor, keeping the coop clean and odor-free. Here are some popular options to use:

• Pine shavings – It’s the most common and most affordable
• Straw – Especially for nesting boxes.
• Hemp bedding – It’s super-absorbent, low in dust, and compostable
• Sand – It’s long-lasting and dries well.

Depending on your bedding choice, you might want to spot clean daily or after a few days and change the bedding after 1 or 2 weeks. 

But if you don’t want the hustle of changing the bedding regularly, opt for the deep litter method. It involves layering bedding and turning it regularly to compost in place, usually requiring change 2–3 times a year.  It’s not our go to approach, but we do have some friends who do this.

7. Health and Wellness Essentials

Your flock’s health will not only affect the birds but also their produce and, as a caring chicken parent, your peace of mind. To ensure optimum health, inspect them regularly for mites, lice, or unusual behavior.

Every time I notice any unusual behavior like isolation, lack of appetite, and lethargy among members of my flock, I know that something is up. Sometimes it’s sickness, and other times, pest infestation or a wound. 

So, keep a close eye on your flock. If possible, invest in a first aid kit with a vet wrap, electrolytes, and wound spray. That’s what I’ve been doing, and trust me, it has been a lifesaver on several occasions.

8. Egg Collection and Storage

How you collect and store eggs is also something worth knowing before you begin raising backyard chickens. Once your hens start to lay, check the nesting boxes at least once a day. It will help keep them clean and reduce the risk of breakage.

Please don’t make the mistake of washing the eggs! It cost me in my initial stages of chicken keeping. Washing eggs removes the egg bloom, a natural protective layer that seals the pores of the eggshell, keeping the eggs safe from contamination.

Usually, washed eggs are more vulnerable to contamination, so they’ll likely spoil faster. If you notice that the eggs are dirty, gently wipe them clean. It will give you a longer shelf life without the need for refrigeration!

Hatching a New Hobby: Raising Backyard Chickens

Starting to raise backyard chickens might feel overwhelming at first, but it’s achievable and rewarding. Chickens are adorable, cute, and surprisingly affectionate. You’ll learn their personalities with time, their favorite treats, and maybe even start talking to them like I do (they usually talk back!). Start small, do your homework, and enjoy every step of the journey of raising backyard chickens!