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Beginner’s Guide to Raising Backyard Chickens

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Raising chickens can be many things: therapeutic, rewarding, fun and for beginners maybe a bit nerve wracking!

There is literally tons of information about raising chicks and chickens and it is hard to sort through it all to determine what is right, what is not and what is just plain weird.

In this definitive guide, we have put together everything you need to know to care for your birds – from chick to chicken to help you along the way.

Believe me when I say that you will never stop learning or smiling once you have chickens.

We have tried to distill it down to basics so that it won’t become confusing for you. You are encouraged to read and ask questions…


Raising Chicks

Raising Chicks

 


How To Raise Chickens

How To Raise Chickens

 


Common Chicken Problems

Common Chicken Problems

 

Starting Out Q&A

Before you get your chicks or chickens, you need to ask yourself some questions:

  • Why are you raising them? – Eggs, meat or pleasure?
  • Where are you going to put them?
  • Are you prepared to spend time with them?
  • Are you ready to ‘muck out’ their coop when necessary?
  • Who will take care of them if you go on vacation?
  • Are you allowed to have chickens – if so, how many?

These questions might seem frivolous, but many folks did not realize how much chickens involved work and time in taking care of them and the birds suffered accordingly.

Chickens need care and attention, much as any pet does – even through the winter when the snow is high and they need fresh water, are you prepared to do it?

Once you have asked yourself these questions and have decided that yes, you can do this and want to do this, your next move is research.

Choosing the Correct Breed of Chicken

1. Choosing Your Breed

Here we are in the twenty first century with a stunning array of chickens to choose from.

How many different breeds are there?

Truthfully, no-one really knows, but it is estimated to be in the hundreds. There are birds that have been specifically bred for enhanced egg laying, quality meat, fighting and plumage.

Whilst there are lots of breeds of chickens, they all fall into one of four categories:

  • Heritage Breeds: The Livestock Conservancy defines a Heritage chicken as a natural breeding chicken that has a slow growth rate and can live a long, productive outdoor life. The breed must also conform to the American Poultry Associations standard for that breed.
  • Egg Laying Breeds: These hens have been bred to produce large quantities of eggs through their short production lifetimes. Leghorns are a good example of prolific egg producers as are Australorps.
  • Dual Purpose Breeds: These hens are the best of both worlds in utility terms. They are productive in the egg department and grow large enough to be used as a meat bird later in life.
  • Meat Breeds: As the name suggests these breeds of chicken are bred for meat purposes. They grow very, very quickly. They put on weight at an alarming rate and are ready for slaughter at around nine weeks.

If you’d like to know more about breeds, then please read our complete guide to all chicken breeds here.

Why research, all chickens are the same right?

Wrong! You will be sadly disappointed if you want egg layers and have bought a bunch of Sultan chicks because they look pretty. They will lay an egg per week if you are lucky!

Planning and Buying Your Chickens

2. Planning and Buying Chickens

It’s time to take the plunge! You want chickens and know which breed you’d like but aren’t sure where to start.

When you get chickens for the first time you have a few different choices.

We are going to look at the good and bad of each option. You can buy hatching eggs, chicks, started pullets or adult birds.

Each choice has its merits but it’s really about what you feel is best for you.

Financially, the cheapest option is the chicks.

Pullets will cost you more because of the care, feed and time expended to raise the bird. Adult hens in their prime are the most expensive. Rescue and ex-battery hens are usually cheaper than pullets but more expensive than chicks.

  • Hatching Eggs: These are fertilized eggs that you need to incubate. If you are new to chickens, I don’t recommend that you get hatching eggs unless you really know what you are doing. Although incubation is fairly straightforward, there definitely is an art to it.
  • Chicks: This is the most used and wise choice for novices. You can select which breed(s) you want and when you want them. You typically get chicks at one day old.
  • Pullets: Pullets are birds aged between four to six months. The chicks have been reared to adulthood and are usually sold at point of lay, meaning the pullet is about to lay her first egg anytime soon!
  • Adults: Adult hens are more difficult to come by as breeders like to move birds out before they get too old since they eat more. A common source of adult hens is animal shelters or rescue sanctuaries.

Egg to Chicken

How Many Chickens Should I Get?

You can generally average out how many chicks you will need. If your birds are for eggs only, you just need to think how many eggs you currently use in a week currently?

One hen will average four to five eggs a week. Throw in a couple of extra chicks for ‘just in case’ and you have your number!

For example if you want 16 eggs a week you would need 6 hens (4 would normally do this many eggs but I’ve included 2 ‘just in case’ chicks).

Where Do I Get My Chicks?

The best place for beginners to buy their chickens from is a local farmer, hatchery or farm supply stores.

Though you want to purchase your chickens from further away, the USPS has been shipping chicks for about one hundred years and will ship chicks that you purchase online.

Read our guide on What to Ask Breeders before Buying Chickens here.

What Should I Look Out For?

All birds should have clear, bright eyes. They should be curious about their environment and you. Feathers or fluff should look clean with good coloring.

If a bird, regardless of age exhibits any of these signs you should avoid buying it.

  • Sleepy, lethargic
  • Hunched into a ball
  • Sitting by itself
  • Reluctant to move
  • Any nasal/eye discharge
  • Blocked vent

Chicken Coops 101

What Makes the Perfect Coop

Chickens are not very demanding when it comes to houses.

They don’t need running water, electricity or carpets. A modified basic wooden box will do in a pinch, but there are a few crucial things you need for your flock to ensure their safety and wellbeing.

If you want to build your own chicken coop read our guide here; you can get 44 chicken coop plans here.

1. Basic Shelter Requirements

This is the most basic need of all, a place where they are able to get out of the blistering sun, howling wind or blowing snow.

The coop needs to be water resistant as there is nothing more miserable than a wet chicken.

2. Adequate Amount of Space

Adequate space for birds to co-habit peacefully is essential. If they are crowded together they are likely to start anti-social behaviors like picking and pecking each other. The worst time for these behaviors is winter; hens get bored and create mischief.

3. Temperature Control

Ideally, the coop should be cool in summer and warm in winter. Correct ventilation of your coop is crucial when it comes to temperature regulation. A good flow of air will keep the coop at an optimal temperature for your hens. If you think it’s too hot you need to add more ventilation holes.

4. Nesting Boxes

With nesting boxes you will need approximately one box for every three hens, but it never hurts to have more. There is always one favorite box that they will squabble over, so more is better. Read more here: Chicken Nesting Boxes 101.

5. Roosts

Roosts are simply the place where the birds congregate to sleep at night. They will all generally sleep on the same perch (roost), although some do prefer to be by themselves if they feel perfectly safe.
You can read what perches are and why your hens need them here.

6. Outside Roaming/Pen

In addition to a secure coop, your chicken will need access to some outside space; regardless of whether this is contained or free range.
You can read all about should I free range my chickens here. If you don’t want them to free range you could always use a chicken tractor.

7. Security

A strong and formidable coop will keep your girls safe at night. Do not think, even for a minute, that predators won’t be bold enough to sneak into your yard and try to kill your birds – they will and they do, with catastrophic results for your birds and heart break for you.
Check out our article on how to predator proof your coop whether you build it yourself or buy one.

How to Raise Chicks

4. Caring for Chicks

Now that you have done your research, decided on your breed, what happens now?

If you have ordered them online, the website you have ordered them from will likely carry all the things you need to make your chicks a home.

If you are buying from a farm store, make sure you have everything you need for the chicks in advance. Farm stores usually sell a large amount of chick related items.

Make sure that you know what to get otherwise you could be parting with hard earned cash for something you don’t want or need.

It helps to break things down into needs and ‘extras’ so that is what we have done here for ease of reading.

Brooding Box

Chicks

This can be as simple as a cardboard box. It needs to be tall enough to keep the chicks from jumping out. It needs to be large enough for a food dish, water dish and the chicks.

It also needs to be draft proof – cold drafts can kill chicks very quickly.

Brooding boxes come in all shapes, sizes and costs. If you are not sure whether you will be brooding chicks again, get the cheapest brooder to start with – you can upgrade yourself later.

Bedding

Something soft like pine shavings. These are sold in small bales at most farm stores and they are inexpensive.

If your brooder box has a slick floor (like plastic), lay some paper towels under the bedding so they can grip and stand properly otherwise they may develop problems with standing and walking.

Warmth

Chicks require warmth – lots of it.

They do not have true feathers until they are around 6-7 weeks old so cannot regulate their own temperature, so you must help them.

You can use a heat lamp or ‘Electric hen’ heat plate.

They will need to be warmed for around 6-7 weeks or until the ambient temperature is roughly the same as the brooder.

During the first week the temperature at chick level will need to be 95F. This will reduce by 5 degrees each week until ambient temperature is reached.

How do you know if they are warm enough?

If they are all huddled in a bunch, they are too cold; if they are spread to the brooder’s edges, they are too hot; if they are dotted all over, they are just right. A thermometer will help you with this too, but base your judgment on the chicks’ behavior.

Food

Chick in Brooder

Chicken food comes in a wide array of choices that can be confusing, so here’s the scoop. It is recommended that you feed your chicks the following:

  • 0-8 weeks: 18-20% starter feed crumbles
  • 8-14 weeks: 16-18% starter/grower
  • 15-18 weeks: 16% finisher
  • 18 weeks upward: 16% layer feed

Chick feed can come as medicated or un-medicated.

The medicated feed is medicated with a coccidiostat, which protects them from coccidiosis – a terrible disease.

If your chicks have been vaccinated at source for coccidia, then do not use medicated feed.

Chicks are messy; they will scratch their food all over the place, poop in it and get their bedding in it, so you need a feeder that will eliminate some of that mess.

For more details see our article on feeders.

Once they start eating greens such as short grass or dandelions, they will need a small dish of chick grit to help their digestion and make sure they don’t get an impacted crop.

Water

Water is essential to the wellbeing of all creatures, chicks are no exception. The water should be at Goldilocks temperature – not too hot, not too cold, but just right.

You will need to dip the beak of each chick into the water at first so they know where it is, after this they should all be able to find the water dish. Do the same with the food dish too.

If your chicks are just a couple of days old, you will need to add some clean pebbles or marbles to the water dish so they can’t fall in and drown. After a week or so you can remove them since the chicks will now be big enough not to drown themselves.

You can add an electrolyte/vitamin supplement to the water for the first few days to get them off to a good start.

Change the water frequently (several times per day) as they will kick bedding etc. into the water regularly.

Hygiene

Whoever said ‘cleanliness is next to godliness’ never kept chickens. I have already told you that chicks are messy, so you get to be ‘room service’ for them!

It is imperative that their brooder area, feeder and waterer be kept clean. The poop needs to be removed daily, change litter as frequently as you need. Once it becomes wet, it must be changed.

Remember, the brooder is very warm, there is poop and it is wet – it is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

Wash and sanitize the feeder and waterer at least every other day. If your chicks are as messy as mine, you will have to throw out a good amount of feed too. Once they poop in the feeder – out goes the feed.

Of course, don’t forget to sanitize and wash your hands before handling food or them!

Security

Your brooder full of chicks needs to be somewhere safe from predators – and I include house pets as predators too.

If you are keeping them in the house you will need to ensure that Fido and Fluffy can’t get to those little balls of fluff, perhaps keeping them in a separate room or a secure lid to the box.

Try to avoid keeping them in areas such as the bedroom, dining area and kitchen. They kick up a lot of dust and dander, people who are allergic to dust may have problems with them in the house.

If you intend to keep the chicks in an outbuilding, you need to exclude any predators you may have in the area.

Rats like a chick snack as do foxes, weasels, raccoons and a host of other carnivorous creatures.

They will need you to care for them intensively until they are around 12 weeks old. Some folks say sooner, but I err on the cautious side.

Going Outside for the First Time

If you are thinking of putting them outside for a few hours every day you will need to have something like a dog crate or even a mini-chicken run for them.

Of course it will need to be predator proof – and that includes hawks and owls as well as digging creatures like foxes.

They will need to have a shady area where they can escape from the sun and keep the food and water cool.

How to Raise Chickens

Roaming Leghorn Chickens

So now your chicks have grown up into real chickens!

Managing your adult flock may sound like its complex, but it’s fairly simple to do in reality. The hen does all the work and you take care of her needs. However, there are certain things you should know before you get overwhelmed by hiccups in the process.

Water

Water is essential to all living things and chickens are no exception.

A hen will drink about a cup of water each day. She will take frequent small sips throughout the day. Too little water can affect egg production among many other things, so make sure they have plenty.

There are approximately fifteen cups of water to one US gallon, so if you have many birds, you will need a couple of drinkers for them. For example, I have around forty birds and put out four drinkers in various places, which ensures they all have access to water.

You can place the water in any sort of plastic container, but the easiest way is to buy a drinker.

Food

Chicken Eating

In addition to water the other key thing a chicken needs is food.

Giving your chickens the correct food will keep them happy and turn them into an egg laying machine. Give them the wrong food and it can lead to all sorts of problems including bullying and weight loss…

Read our complete guide to chicken feed here.

You will also need a feeder to store the food in; you can read chicken feeders 101 here.

Hen Morning and Evening Routines

Unfortunately most people lead busy lives and don’t have all day to tend to their chickens.

In the morning you will want to let your chickens out of the coop, check on their feed and water, and have a general look around to make sure everyone is ok.

When the sun comes down, it’s time to start the evening routine. This will include locking your girls safely inside the coop and also collecting the eggs (if you haven’t already done so).

Of course this is the ‘bare minimum’ of caring for your girls. There will also be weekly tasks like cleaning the coop and tending to the nesting boxes…

How To Raise Chickens for Eggs

You can basically apply what I just went through making sure they get enough food and water. But there are a few extra tips I would like to provide

Pick The Right Breed For Egg Production

This is the most important. If you don’t get the right breed. You can’t force a chicken genetically predisposed to lay less eggs to lay more!

If you need help on choosing those breeds we’ve put together a guide on The Best Egg-Egg Laying Chicken Breeds.

Get High Protein Treats For Egg-Laying and Molting Season

Chickens that lay a lot of eggs need more calcium and protein to make up for what’s lost when they lay all of those eggs for you.

You can feed them black soldier fly larvae or mealworms which is a complete treat that covers both bases for you.

You can also feed them eggshells or oyster shells. If you feed them eggshells you need to crush them into a powder so your chickens cannot tell they’re eating eggshells.

We don’t want the dreaded egg-eating habit to kick in.

Common Chicken Problems

5. Common Problems FAQs

Unfortunately, it’s likely your chicken’s will have some sort of problem during their life, whether that is broodiness, predators or bullying.

Several common problems occur when you have chickens. If you aren’t prepared for them they can seem frightening or overwhelming.

Molting

Molting is the process of losing all old, worn out feathers and replacing them with new plumage. It happens to all birds including roosters. Some birds can take up to two years to complete a molt, but the humble chicken is usually done in three months. Read our guide to molting here.

If they are losing feathers and it isn’t molting read; Chicken Feather Loss: Cause and Cure.

Stopped Egg Laying

We all love our feathered friends, but one of the main reasons people keep them is for the eggs.

When they stop laying eggs it can be alarming; make sure to read 7 Reasons Why Your Chickens Stopped Laying Eggs.

Broodiness

What is a broody hen? You will know it when you see it! She will sit in the nest constantly, if anyone approaches her she will grumble, squawk and puff herself up, she may give you an almighty peck too. What exactly is a broody hen and how to stop it?

Bullying

The pecking order is so called for a reason. Every bird in a flock will have their own place. Those at the top get to eat first, those at the bottom eat last. It is a straightforward but effective hierarchy so that all members know their position.

Bullying does occur to a small degree each day because of this. If a chicken goes out of turn she gets a quick peck to the head to remind her of her status.

If the bullying gets out of hand read; How to Stop Them Pecking Each Other.

Predators

Even if you live in the middle of the city, there will be a chicken predator in your neighborhood. Foxes, coyotes, raccoons and the ‘pet’ dog down the road will likely all want chicken dinner and these are only the ground predators.

The key to your flocks’ safety is coop security and awareness of predatory animals and the area in which you live.

Summary

Beginners Guide to Raising Backyard Chickens Small Infographic
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So there you have it – the complete guide to raising chicks and chickens.

We have tried to distill it down to basics so that it won’t become confusing for you.

You are encouraged to read and ask questions, especially if someone nearby has been raising chickens for a while.

Sometimes things work better one way than another; don’t be afraid to change things around a bit – no one fits all situations.

We wish you much happiness and fun in your chicken raising endeavors – write and let us know how you get on in the comments section below…

Guide to Raising Backyard Chickens

68 thoughts on “Beginner’s Guide to Raising Backyard Chickens

  1. I have just discovered this site and LOVE it. I grew up with chickens then after I married had a flock but they got sick and all died ;(. I am wanting to try this again. I purchased chickens at our local auction last night and realized after reading this I may be in trouble. I am not sure what age my girls are at out can you tell what age so you can feed them correct food.

      1. Before I even decided to get chicken, I linked up on your website and it was very educational. My chicks now are doing on 7 weeks old and are growing fast and healthy. Thank you for all the helpful information you provide.

    1. I suggest you may feed dried mealworms to boost the health immune, and laying eggs, that does work, that’s optimal treats for flock, I always bought a huge bag on feedstores, you will find they love devouring this, and the feathers make more vibrant.

  2. 3/4 of my family Is desperate for chickens. However, one person doesn’t. Do you have any good arguments for keeping bantams in our yard?

      1. Before I even decided to get chicken, I linked up on your website and it was very educational. My chicks now are going on 7 weeks old and are growing fast and healthy. Thank you for all the helpful information you provide. Thank you very much.

        1. Oh, I have one!
          You can enter certain breeds into shows and win money!
          Also, they give you eggs.
          You can teach them many tricks. I have taught mine many tricks you would usually teach a dog.
          Like, sit, stay, come, jump, speak, to jump on my back, though a hoop and many more.
          I love Gizla so much.
          I hope you get chickens and please please spend time with them and enjoy them!
          Kind regards,
          Bird whisperer.

  3. Hi. I love your site. One of my (3) hens was killed by a stray dog. I want to replace it but worry will a lone newbie be pecked by the older hens?! Any ideas?

    1. Hi Shane,
      I’m glad you’re enjoying the site 🙂
      I would recommend adding at least two chickens at a time to prevent this.
      Claire

    2. We recently acquired a rooster (we have 4 chickens) he is young and very nice. I am wondering if a rooster has to be at a certain age to fertilize the eggs because we would like to hatch someof the eggs.

  4. I love this site. We have just purchased a mixture of 4 different chickens, we have never had them before but our new house already had an amazing coop and we have fenced off a run. They are so easy to maintain they are very talkative and my boys 4 and 8 love picking them up for cuddles. We were rewarded with our first egg on sunday very exciting. Not sure who laid it but just wanted to share its thabks to your site we took the plunge and glad we did. Thanks

    1. I have 6 black SEXLINKs and they all lay an egg a day so i get around 200 eggs per month. One egg was 3.5 inches and a double yolker. Wo hoo!

  5. What is the best site to purchase healthy chickens. My mother was raised with chickens and I am anxious to buy my first chicks. Thank you so much for this website and guide.

  6. Hello. Thank you for this website as it has been extremely helpful. I’m a new chicken owner as of November. Can you please tell me the best insecticide for the yard and chicken and roost? Thank you!

    1. Chickens make good insect killers.
      They love worms slugs Snails spiders caterpillars and much more.
      Kind regards,
      Bird whisperer 🙂

  7. We have a family hobby farm, but don’t LIVE at the farm, i’m about 15 minutes away from it. In the summer we are there pretty much every day. What are your thoughts on chickens? We are wanting meat chickens. I know the chicks need the most care for the first 8 weeks… we could probably keep them in our garage during that time. but would like to move them to the farm once they are ready for their new home. We have a space already set for chickens, large chicken house and 30 acres for them to roam, even have a pond! I love the idea of my children learning how to do chores and how the farm to table thing ACTUALLY works (not just getting food from the grocery store). BUT do chickens NEED someone every day once they are big or could it work if we sometimes didn’t get out to the farm 1 day they’d be OK? The house is an indoor/outdoor deal so they would have plenty of space to be in/out and walk around if we weren’t there to let them out… Also – do you have a list of must have’s for a first time chicken owner?

    1. This article is going to help you tremendously with countless words of wisdom. https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/keeping-backyard-chickens-what-i-wish-id-known/
      As far as checking on your chickens, if they are free ranging on 30 ACRES the first thing that comes to my mind is predators. Once they catch the scent and the location it is just a matter of time. Chickens do not need someone everyday if you are not worried about having them in an enclosed structure, or you can check out our recommendations for a automatic chicken coop doors and automatic feeders. If you automate the process chickens are self sufficient, until they start laying eggs and cracking them because of real estate. So that would have to be automated as well. You can miss going to the farm for a day, max two, but I would not advise it for any longer.

    2. I just moved my chicks from the brooder to the coop and enclosed run. I have checked in them several times each day. I would never just put them out and leave them. I think it’s a good idea to check on them. Good luck!

  8. I was given 3wild/rescued bantam chickens at 10 weeks old, I was told. They are now 18 weeks old and will probably be laying soon. My problem is that they are very scared of me. Sleep together up a tree but get on well with the other hens. I would love to have them go in the hutch at night with the other hens. How can I tame them and get them to use the nesting boxes when the time comes.thanks for any help you can give.

    1. Start feeding them some tasty mealworms. Scatter some in the ground & every day scatter them closer to your feet. Gradually you will get them eating out of your hands

  9. Help! My husband and I in our eagerness have already made mistakes and not sure I how bad. My husband built coop like a fort, but with treated wood. On the inside someone told him to cover with MDF? Board. Is this going to affect my girls health? When the chicks are ready to be put in coop, do I keep food and water in coop as well as run?

    1. I would not use MDF because once it gets moist or wet it swells and can mold. You can cover it with simple 1/4″ plywood that is affordable and more durable and water resistant than MDF. I would not keep food and water in the coop, only in the run. It creates a mess and room for mold/bacteria growth.
      Claire

      1. I keep a small waterer inside the coop for early morning drinks. No feed. Repeat, no feed.
        I have hanging waterer and feeder in the run. I remove the feeder every night and place in a secure feed bin.
        Chicks are roosting are night and can go without food.
        Also, I am using construction sand in the coop and it’s so much easier to clean than shavings or straw.

  10. We’ve been raising chickens for 8 years , but last year we added a rooster. It’s been great, we didn’t loos a single chicken to predators. But last week, for no reason I can think of, our rooster started attacking me. I thought it might be the weird pink socks I was wearing at the time. but he’s done it twice since. I don’t want to hurt him and have started using some of the techniques you mentioned in your article. But you mentioned using a stick or bottle as a deterrent for a rooster that flogging.But I don’t see any further explanation. I’m assuming you don’t want me to hit him. can you explain how to use the stick or bottle as a deterrent. Thanks

  11. Hi – I have just brought home4 x 5-6 week old chicks and they are just in the run area of the coop today. I have kept them in for the last 2 days – with the water and food feeder. I have now put the water and food outside with them. When they go in at night – do I need to put feed and water inside the coop?? thanks
    Also – any tips on making a dust bath container – there isn’t room for a paddling pool type dish. TIA

    1. you should not put the feed and water inside the coop because they will make a mess of it and the water will promote diseases and bacteria, they also do not eat at night.
      a kiddy pool with dirt works well for a dust bath or even putting a pile local to the coop will attract them

  12. This is kind of long…We have a mixed flock of Red Jungle Fowl (belonging to no one) that visit us daily so we put out food, water and nesting boxes. Six chicks were hatched on June 11. We went away and returned June 19 to find the mama dead and only 3 surviving chicks running on the outskirts of the flock. We caught them and have them in a small coop. Are they still too young to let loose to mingle with flock, would they return to the coop at night? Our daily traffic of hens and “teenagers” visit and hang around the coop.

  13. I have a question regarding raising chickens with goats. I have 6 sex link chickens, about 18?weeks old and their coop is in the same fenced area as 3 young Pygmy goats. They get along well. My only concern is the goats climb onto the coop. Will this disturb the chickens when they start laying?

    1. I don’t see this as being a problem as long as they don’t mess with the laying area of the hens. Some hens can get broody. Keep a watch on the laying patterns of your chickens.
      Claire

  14. I have 7 rescue chickens for abt 1 yr now. I have 2 white, 3 red, and 2 speckled. One of the white gals has the feathers from her bottom pulled out. The skin looks healthy no change in eating or pecking order and plenty of room. Still summer so no moult. Could other girls b pulling out feathers? Still new to chickens

    1. Yes this is possible I would check on her and see if you notice them pulling them out. Especially since you have ruled out all the other possibilities.
      Claire

  15. My chickens are 20 weeks old and not laying eggs yet but my rooster who is the same age is mating them. Shouldn’t my chickens be laying already?

  16. Hi, love your website. I have a barred plymouth rock who is about a year and a half old. She is huge and plump, and I think she could be obeise, but the thing is she has the normal activity rate of a normal hen and runs and eats, and lays eggs, should I leave her or cut down on food? Thanks

    1. I always feed them plenty so they eat at will, are you 100% certain she is a barred plymouth rock? As long as she is up and about, healthy, and laying I wouldnt worry about it. Send us some pictures!

  17. I am buying a house and the owners have offered to leave their 7 hens if I want them. I have never raised chickens and have wanted to learn. Before I decide what do I need to know about the hens? They do have a house with a fenced area, but are also accustomed to free range of fenced back yard. I work odd hours and may or may not be home when they want to get up or go to bed.thank you. Also, it is getting closer to winter. How do they survive in the winter?

  18. I have chickens that were all vaccinated for cocci and Marek’s. I have 20 in all , all various stages of life./ages.. However one of my chicks died suddenly and there was blood in the straw. After cleaning out the brooder box and putting my other chicks back in I witnessed one of them immediately poop blood. So separated the chicks and brought that one to the vet for examination and stool testing which came back positive for coccidiosis. So it was recommended to purchase and put Amprolium in ALL the chickens water. My question is now that I medicated all of their water, does that make their vaccinations for cocci nil and void? Do I have to now purchase medicated food? And the chick that was diagnosed with cocci I have discovered now happens to be a rooster. I don’t know if I now should medicate their water frequently to keep them healthy. I would much appreciate it if you could send me your thoughts on this. Thank you, brenda

  19. So I have an established flock of 9 hens, 3 years old. All was well until tonight, when my husband realized that he hadn’t locked their gate at dark. He went out to do it and our dog went with him, of course. The dog went crazy upon getting close to hen house, ran inside and encountered a skunk! He got sprayed and came running out, leaving skunk in co-op with the chickens! Hubby managed to get the skunk out without getting sparyed.. My concern is my girls….we had just changed their bedding. Will the skunk spray hurt them? Toxic for them to smell? Please help!! #COUNTRYLIVING!!

  20. Just thinking about getting some chickens for eggs. Never done if before but this is a great site. I am left with some specific questions about locating a coop. These questions are based on a spot I consider best for other reasons but I have doubts.
    1. Is it safe to have the chickens near my vegetable garden? Salmonilla worries.
    2. Is it ok to have it 5-10 feet from a window A/C unit? Concerned about the noise bothering them as it starts and stops.
    3. How would they react when a lawn mower passes by the coop?
    Thank you

  21. This site is absolutely awesome! You’ve answered every question we had for starting our backyard chicken adventure. This website is now on our laptop titled ‘Chicken Bible’! Thanks again!

  22. Hi there, I have just got 6, 15 week old hens about 6 days ago. I brought them home and carefully placed them in their fresh new coop.
    The first night they were obviously quite stressed because of the upheaval and move to a new home. I left the water and food inside the coop overnight and then 24 hours later put these back into the run.
    I understand the chickens wouldn’t normally come out of the coop for a couple of days, however the only times they ever come out from the coop is when I either go out in the morning to open the coop door, during the day when I go out to see them and in the evening when I close the coop up. It is at these times they feed and drink….. and they are back inside again.
    So as I have said it has been 6 days now and they are still cooped up for most of the day.
    Should I be worried about this? or is it just normal? and when will they be coming out of their own accord to free range within the run?
    I’d very much appreciate any feedback,
    Many Thanks in advance.

  23. Reading Backyard chickens helped me understand and I enjoyed it so much, the funny way you describe them put a smile on my face with every page. I builded a chicken run 12fx 12xf and inside I placed a coop big enough for 6 hens however I just got 2 to start with and they are ISA brown. California bay area weather is about 65F and since I build ladders, swings, up high wood places they don’t go inside the chicken coop that is about 5 feet off ground. The run is 7feet high. Please advice. I have to go pick them up and place them in the run. Thank you so much for everything.

  24. I have spoiled my chickens horribly. I give them treats every day. They are now a year old and I have read not to give them treats too often. Could I stop and do it in moderation or will I create bad behavior?

  25. Hello,
    Love your newsletter.
    I am getting 50 White Rock day olds on June 3rd.
    How much coup space would they need at night?
    I will age them until August 10th and have them slaughtered professionally.
    I am also getting 8 WR laying hens on Sept 16. How big of a coup would they need?
    All birds will be free range, organically fed.
    Thank You
    Luc

  26. We have 4 chickens 16 weeks , here in Illinois we went spring to heat and long term more heat , 90’s. I make sure they have fresh water in am and pm they have a covered area 8×6 open with open fencing fencing 3 sides , are they ok this is new to us .

  27. new to raising hens and already I’m afraid they might die. They seem to not be eating. I have a metal feeder that keeps the feed dry and clean. I’ve yet to see them eat from it. I’ve seen one hen stick her head in there but not any of them actually feeding from it. I only just introduced this new feeder because I wasn’t able to keep up with feeding them from a feeder on the ground. It was too much waste. I don’t give them scraps or treats hoping to drive them to the feeder. I even put some popped corn in there thinking this will give them the idea. They are now 22 weeks old and not laying. I keep their roost and nesting boxes clean. They have an outside the pen watering system with two nipple feeders. What do they need?

  28. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. It extremely helps make reading your blog significantly easier.

  29. Hello! We are going to raise a Bantam Cochin Chick and was wondering where the best place to house her would be? We live in NC, and summer is approaching quickly. The sun literally rises in my back yard and sets over my front. I’m not sure if the sides would be shaded enough, and I’m assuming the garage would be too hot for them. I have 2 boxers, so I can keep them inside, but which room do you suggest…I’m a newbie! Help!

  30. My brother has been thinking about raising some chickens for her farm because she wants to have the right kind of produce. He would really like to get some help from a professional in order to get the right kind of chickens, and be more effective. It was interesting to learn about how she should get her chicks from a local farmer, hatchery, or farm supply that aren’t sleepy, lethargic, doesn’t want to move, or has a blocked vent.

  31. I have hatched 10 chicks from 12 eggs, they have moved from crumbs to grower pellets at what point to they go onto layer pellets ?

  32. Backyards have gone to the birds! Everyone from A-list celebs (we’re looking at you, Jennifer Garner and Lady Gaga) to city slickers has taken to raising hens in the name of having farm-fresh eggs at the ready. If you ve been thinking about joining the chicken-keeping contingency, there s no need to wing it. Before you get started, check out some DIY chicken coop ideas or you can consider chicken coops you can buy right now. Then outfit your coop with all the necessary accessories from our chicken coop buying guide. You should also do some homework about the different types of chicken breeds. Once you’ve studied up on all that, check out these helpful tips from a panel of grade-A poultry experts. Here, they answer some of your most pressing questions about raising chickens, from time commitment and costs to safety and, yes, even how to get those pretty blue eggs.

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  34. Hi, We have six hens, all pekin Bantams only one is male. They are 6/7 months old now and we love them to bits. Sooty, the male has stopped crowing, so we’re worried. He’s eating and drinking fine, but a little lethargic, just silent,
    Any ideas people, we’d be so grateful for a reply. Thank you x

  35. Such a comprehensive guide! I’m definitely considering raising backyard chickens now. The details on housing and care are so helpful. Would love to hear more about feeding and egg production in future posts. Thanks for sharing!

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