Raising Chickens
August 25, 2021
Ever hear of the “chicken dance” and “pecking order”? Chickens are unique animals, especially when it comes to behavioral patterns. The different sounds and nonverbal cues they exhibit can be baffling to chicken keepers. Learn why chickens do what they do—when it comes to dust bathing, mating, preening, scratching, brooding, and more!
Fortunately, centuries of chicken keeping has shown some behaviors that almost all chickens have in common. These behavior patterns may start at different points... more
April 22, 2021
If you’re going to raise chickens, you’ll need a chicken coop to house them in! You can find a pre-built coop kit or build your own. Either way, here are design considerations for a simple chicken coop that’s sound, predator-proof, and doesn’t break your budget—plus, get pro tips for building a chicken coop yourself.
How Much Does a Coop Cost?
Simple, pre-built coops can be usually purchased online for $200 to $300 and go up from there. A second-hand coop can be purchased for even less. Look... more
March 20, 2021
Want to learn how to raise chicks? Here’s a beginner’s guide to bringing up baby, from purchasing baby chickens to keeping a happy coop.
(Note: This is the fourth article of our six-part Raising Chickens 101 series.)
Where to Get Baby Chickens
There are a number of ways to go about getting chickens! Most often, chicks can be bought locally in the spring, from farm supply stores or small farms themselves. These days, you can even go online to order chicks and get them shipped to your door (or... more
March 2, 2021
Choosing the right chicken breed is an important part of raising chickens. Do you want lots of eggs, friendly chickens, or just something fancy? There are so many chicken breeds out there, it can be overwhelming! Here are some things to consider when choosing a chicken breed for your backyard.
See the first post in our Raising Chickens 101 series: How to Get Started Raising Chickens
Which Types of Chickens Should You Get?
When it comes to choosing your chicken breeds, there are more breeds out... more
December 16, 2020
So, you’d like to raise your own chickens? Be sure you’re ready to commit! Here’s the first article in our six-part beginner’s guide to raising chickens. Let’s “start from scratch,” so to speak.
Why Should You Raise Chickens?
There’s a lot to like about raising chickens in your backyard. The eggs are a real temptation—tastier and fresher than any store-bought eggs, and better for baking, too. The shells, along with the chicken poop, can be tossed right into the compost pile. Much of the day,... more
December 4, 2020
If you keep chickens outside in the winter, it’s important to gear up for cold weather and take steps to protect against predators, keep your hens warm and dry, and maintain your chicken coops. See 5 tips to make sure that you have the same number of hens in April as you did in September.
Unfortunately, in addition to all of the seasonal concerns about frostbite, cold weather, and snow removal, winter chicken owners also have to contend with the same year-round problems they were facing in the... more
October 7, 2020
What do you do when your chicken stops laying? Often, this is part of the seasonal cycle, but sometimes it could be more. Here’s what to do.
If you are wondering how to get started with chickens, click here for the full 6-part Raising Chickens 101 series.
When Do Chickens Start Laying Eggs?
A chicken (called a pullet until she is a year old), begins laying eggs when she is about 18 to 20 weeks old or so. Some breeds begin when they are older, however.
Healthy chickens lay eggs most reliably in... more
July 31, 2020
When should you collect my chickens eggs? How do you collect eggs from a chicken coop? What happens if you don’t collect chicken eggs? We answer all these questions and more in our article on how to collect, clean, store, and hatch chicken eggs.
Once you’ve eaten farm-fresh eggs, it’s hard to go back to grocery store eggs. Fresh farm eggs, free-range or not, are delicious, with bright yolks and firm whites. Grocery store eggs are often already a month old before they even get to the shelves.... more
June 23, 2020
Keeping backyard chickens is a fun and relatively easy experience. However, just like a pet, chickens can fall ill at times. While the prospect of chickens becoming sick can be scary, the most common health problems in chickens can usually be treated easily from home. In this new article, we will cover the five most common health problems among chickens and what to do about them.
Please see the complete series on Raising Chickens 101 for other questions and advice on how to raise backyard... more
Welcome to our Raising Chickens 101 Guide, a series of chapters especially geared to helping beginners! We cover how to get started raising chickens, chicken breeds, building coops, baby chick care, protecting chickens from predators, collecting eggs, and more. The complete guide is authored by two poultry experts, Elizabeth Creith, and more recently, by Chris Lesley, a fourth-generation chicken keeper. Chris is currently teaching people all around the world how to care for healthy chickens. See more expert backyard chicken advice by Chris on her site, Chickens & More.
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