Raising Backyard Chickens & 3 Mistakes to Avoid!

If you're thinking of raising chickens, you're not alone. Raising backyard chickens has become increasingly popular in recent years, as more and more people are turning to homesteading and sustainable living. Not only can chickens provide you with fresh eggs and meat, they can eat most table scraps and, of course, they're also fun and entertaining to watch. In this guide, we'll cover a few things you need to know to get started with raising chickens, and avoiding a few mistakes that I made along the way!

Interesting Facts About Chickens

• Chickens are one of the closest living relatives to the Tyrannosaurus Rex.
• Chickens can see in full color, and they have excellent depth perception.
• Chickens have a complex social hierarchy, with each bird knowing its place in the pecking order.
• Chickens can live for up to 10 years, but most commercial chickens are slaughtered at around 6 weeks old.
• Chickens are omnivores, and will eat just about anything, including insects, seeds, and even small animals like mice. Umm, gross.

Challenges: 

Chickens require daily care, including feeding, watering, cleaning, and monitoring for health issues. They can also attract predators like raccoons, foxes, coyotes, and hawks, so you'll need to secure the coop and run. Raising chickens can be a rewarding experience, but it also requires commitment and responsibility. 

Check your local regulations on keeping chickens. Some cities or homeowners' associations may have specific rules on the number of chickens you can keep, coop size, and noise restrictions. Many don't allow roosters. Also, hens are NOT super quiet. I was shocked by this, actually. They cluck, purr, make bizarre quack-ish noises, bock-bock, some who are higher up in the pecking order can also mimic rooster sounds here and there. Keep that in mind if you live in an urban setting!

Getting chicks: 

You can buy chicks from a local hatchery or online. Make sure to choose a breed that suits your climate and needs. There are many different breeds of chickens, each with its own unique characteristics. Some breeds are good for meat production, while others are better for egg-laying. Some are docile and easy to handle, while others are more flighty and require more space. Here are some of the most popular chicken breeds and their characteristics:

• Rhode Island Red: One of the most popular breeds, Rhode Island Reds are known for their hardiness and excellent egg-laying abilities. They're also good for meat production.
• Plymouth Rock: Another dual-purpose breed, Plymouth Rocks are friendly and easy to handle. They're good for both meat and egg production.
• Leghorn: Leghorns are one of the best egg-laying breeds, but they're not as docile as some other breeds.
• Sussex: Sussex chickens are good for both meat and egg production, and they're friendly and easy to handle.
• Orpington: Orpingtons are a popular breed for backyard flocks because they're friendly and docile. They're good for both meat and egg production.

You'll want to consider whether you want only hens or a mix of hens and roosters. Straight run chicks are unsexed chicks that have not been sorted by gender, while pullet chicks are female-only chicks. This means that if you purchase straight run chicks, you may end up with both male and female chicks, while if you purchase pullet chicks, you will only receive female chicks. This is not a 100% guarantee, sometimes they are identified incorrectly so there's a small chance you may end up with a gender you didn't anticipate! So, you may need to re-home him if your city doesn't allow roosters.

Plan ahead and have a brooder box, heater, and chick starter feed ready before you bring them home. They've had a rough couple days, being born and then in the shipping box, they need to get settled asap. Also their downy feathers don't allow them to regulate their body temperature. Chicks require a temperature of around 95-100°F (35-38°C) for the first week of their lives, with the temperature gradually decreasing by 5°F  each week until they are fully feathered and can regulate their own body temperature. 

Avoid MY Mistakes!

Mistake #1: Please, please, AVOID the heat bulb. As newbies, we started with one of those, but I didn't realize how much DUST the chicks could scratch up in such a short time, the metal bulb housing was quickly covered in dust, and was actually smoking. YIKES. I then saw so many posts online about serious fires caused by these bulbs. I checked on them constantly, didn't sleep for 3 days worrying about it until we purchased a chick heating plate. 

Mistake #2: Purchase a heating plate with a cone shaped top! I did not - see the one I purchased here, and the problem is that they climb on top of it and poop everywhere! So, it ends up being a huge mess and a pain to clean all the time. Trust me, don't get the flat one. If you did already, and you're stuck with it, you can purchase an Anti-roost cone that fits between the legs.

Mistake #3: We waited too long to build the coop. I didn't realize how FAST they would grow and how long it would take to put together the coop I wanted, soooo, in a very short time, they were too big for the brooder box so we built the run first because that was faster. They lived in that while we built the coop. My advice is to start building the coop as soon as you get the chicks. Get to Pinterest asap and look for ideas, free plans...there is literally something for every budget, flock size and design!

**side note, I say this 1000% confidence, build the coop bigger than you need as of today. The chances of you getting more chicks is extremely, extremely high. 😜

Raising chickens can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it's important to do your research and make sure you're prepared for the responsibility. They will grow much bigger than you may think! By choosing the right breed, building a sturdy coop, and providing your birds with proper care, you can enjoy fresh eggs and the company of your feathered friends for years to come.