Have you ever dreamed about collecting fresh eggs from your backyard, sipping coffee while watching your hens scratch around, or even having a simple way of teaching your kids where food comes from? Many people love having backyard chickens because it can be such a rewarding experience. From safe pest control to weed control to companionship, it offers many benefits beyond just fresh eggs.
But you might have a bunch of questions. Understandably. While our great-grandmas might have always had chickens running around, for those of us not living on a farm, it is kind of a newer idea. To help you figure out if raising chickens in your yard is right for you, let’s look at the benefits of having chickens and then ask some questions and get answers from women already raising chickens themselves.
Benefits of Backyard Chickens
Having chickens can be a lot of fun and helpful in surprising ways. The obvious one is their eggs, a daily supply of safe protein. Gathering warm, fresh eggs right from the nest is not just nostalgic – eggs from your own chickens often taste much better than ones you buy in the store. The yolks are bright yellow and have a firmer white part. Plus, you know what your chickens are eating, so you can feel good about what you are eating too.
But chickens do more than lay eggs. They are little helpers in your yard, especially when it comes to bugs. Chickens love to eat slugs, grasshoppers, snails, and even ticks! So, if you do not like using chemical sprays, chickens can be a natural way to assist with bug control.
They also help with weeds. When chickens walk around and scratch the ground, they can dig up small weeds and their seeds. This can help keep your garden tidier. And chicken droppings are good for your plants. When you mix it into your garden the right way, it is a powerful, organic fertilizer that will effectively work without you needing to buy the store-bought products. If you do have a garden, chickens can even help get it ready. They like to scratch and dig, which helps mix up the soil, and at the end of the season, they can help clean up old plants.
Chickens also are good at eating leftover food and your kitchen scraps. Vegetable and fruit scraps and peels, greens, and old bread can all be a tasty treat for your chickens.
You might be surprised, but chickens are fun to watch. They have their own funny ways of doing things, and both kids and grown-ups can learn a lot by watching and caring for them. They have a pecking order, dust bathing rituals, and display great pride after laying an egg. Taking care of chickens teaches where food comes from and how to responsibly care for animals. It can also help you feel just a little more self-sufficient.
What Do I Need to Know to Start Raising Backyard Chickens?
Raising chickens is a commitment, and there are many things to consider before bringing home the adorable little peeps. How do I start, what do chickens eat, how can I keep them safe, am I even allowed to do this where I live? So, I asked two backyard chicken farmers some of the questions you should ask before getting started. Heather and Heidi both raise chickens and address some of the questions you might have:
1. Where did you get your chicks or hens? You can get your chicks in a variety of ways – farm stores, such as Tractor Supply or Farm & Feed, other chicken growers, or the classified ads.
2. What breed(s) did you start with and why? One breed Heather and Heidi both started with was Barred Rock because of their hardiness for the weather and egg production. Others mentioned were Black Australorps, Golden Sex Links, and Golden Marans.
3. How many chickens would you suggest for a beginner? Your space will dictate the number you can start with. Heid started with 12, but feed cost is another factor to consider before you commit to a large number. You can start with as few as 2 or 4 and work your way up!
4. Did you build or buy your coop? Both. At one point, Heather bought a coop, but both have made their own as well. They have recycled their children’s old wooden playhouse or built one with mostly recycled materials. Some recommendations: Make it tall enough so that it is not hard to clean it out; while chickens need some space, you do not need to go large because chickens really do flock together for warmth while sleeping; and lights aren’t necessary for the hens, but a light or windows are good so that you can see on dark days.
5. What would you say is the must-have supply for beginners? Safe-from-predator housing and fencing, quality water container and feeders, and at least some shade.
6. How much time do you spend each day/week on chicken care? Both report that hens are easy to care for and take about 10-15 minutes per day and when needed, about 30 minutes to clean the coop and replace the bedding.
7. What kind of bedding do you use, and how often do you change it? Heather has dirt floors in her coop and uses a little hay in the nesting boxes that she has. Heidi uses pine shavings and, on average, changes it about once a month. (There is a little controversy over the safety of the pine shavings, but she has had no problems.)
8. How do you keep your chickens safe from predators? They use solar lights, chicken wire, and netting overhead.
9. Do your chickens free range, or do you keep them in a run? Both keep them in the run for most of the day and then let them out for a few hours. The hens like to eat bugs, but they don’t want them to become a nuisance to their neighbors.
10. How many eggs do you get per week from your hens? Both said they get an average of 70 eggs per week.
11. Does egg production slow down at certain times of the year? Usually it slows in the winter, but some years, it doesn’t seem to.
12. What do you do with extra eggs – share, sell, preserve? In the past they have sold them for $3-5 a dozen, but now, they both typically share them with friends and family. Heidi also preserves eggs.
13. Have you saved money, or is it more about the lifestyle and experience? Because prices have recently gone up, they say they have not really saved money. They do it because they prefer fresh eggs, knowing where their food comes from, and they just enjoy the hobby.
14. How do you prepare your chickens for winter? Heather uses heat lamps and heated water bowls (she uses a heated dog bowl). Heidi tried a heat lamp but then learned of a process of piling the bedding (not changing it, just adding new) through the winter months. The science of that is that the gases released create a source of heat.
15. About how much did you spend getting started? This is going to vary a lot depending on how many hens you start with. Heidi, who started with 12 hens, went through a process (during which time they kept their peeps in the basement!) of trying different waterers and feeders, doors and fencing, and spent approximately $250-300. Heather also bought heat lamps and bulbs and an incubator for eggs, so she spent about $500.
16. What are your ongoing costs – feed, bedding, supplies, vet care? For a month, a 40-pound bag of feed costs about $18 and if you use wood shavings or some sort of purchased bedding, it will cost $20-30. A deep layer of wood shavings though can last up to 12 months! Neither uses vet care but cares for their hens on their own or turns to a community group or a seasoned farmer for advice.
17. What’s your favorite part about raising chickens? They mentioned fresh eggs, the free bug and pest control, and that they are fun to watch. They both just enjoy it!
18. Have you had any funny or surprising experiences with them? They do attract predators, such as hawks, so it is important to keep your hens safe. Heather has taken her hens to the county fair and won blue ribbons. Heidi enjoys letting others experience holding or being around chickens. She has watched hens jumping to try to reach blackberries on higher branches and has taken them on the swing with her. She makes videos of her fun chicken experiences and posts them on TikTok.
19. What is something you wish someone had told you before you started? Heidi wishes someone had told her to get an automatic chicken door so that you do not have to be there to open and close it every day. Heather did not know how attached you can get to your chickens. They let her hold them and pet them and will even eat treats out of her hand.
20. Did you have to follow any city ordinances or zoning laws? Because of where both Heidi and Heather live (in a township or in a place already zoned for agriculture), they have never had to get a permit or follow any laws, but you do need to check your own local regulations. Some municipalities may require a permit, some may have a limit on the number of hens, some may have a restriction on where the hens can be placed. Each town or city has different rules, so check first.
21. How did your neighbors react? Any tips for keeping peace in the neighborhood? Most neighbors have enjoyed the hens and laughed at their funny characteristics. If they do go where they aren’t supposed to and dig a few holes or eat a neighbor’s birdseed, apologize and offer some free eggs. Just try to be considerate and keep your hens in your space as much as possible.
22. Should I get chickens? You do have to take care of chickens every day. They need a safe place to live, food, and water, and it is important to check your local regulations. But for many people, the good things about having backyard chickens make it all worth it. So if you are looking for a new hobby that is both useful and enjoyable, maybe think about getting some hens for your backyard. They can bring joy and a little bit of the country life to suburban and urban backyards alike. Chickens might be your new favorite thing!
For more thought-provoking topics, tune in to Hope 100.7.
God bless you. Stay hopeful! ❤️
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