How to start raising backyard chickens?

Build or buy a coop that provides at least 4 square feet of interior space per bird, with an attached outdoor run offering 8–10 square feet per bird. The coop needs roosting bars (8–10 inches per bird), nesting boxes (one per 3–4 hens), and good ventilation near the roofline. Use 1/2-inch hardware…

Contact your city or county planning and zoning department to verify chicken-keeping rules before buying birds or building a coop. Many municipalities restrict the number of hens allowed (commonly 3–6), ban roosters entirely, require minimum setbacks from property lines (often 10–25 feet), and may…

Purchase feeders, waterers, age-appropriate feed, and bedding before your chickens arrive. Chicks need starter feed (18–20% protein) for the first 8 weeks, then grower feed (16% protein) until 18 weeks, then layer feed (16% protein with added calcium) once they begin laying. Pine shavings are the…

Select breeds based on your primary goal — egg production, meat, dual-purpose, or pets — and your local climate. High-production layers like White Leghorns (280–320 eggs/year) and Rhode Island Reds (250–300 eggs/year) are ideal for eggs. For cold climates, choose breeds with small combs like…

Purchase day-old chicks from an NPIP-certified hatchery, buy started pullets (16–20 weeks old) from a local breeder, or adopt adult hens. Day-old chicks cost $3–5 each and need 6–8 weeks in a brooder before moving outside. Started pullets cost $15–30 each but begin laying within weeks of arrival,…