From setting your chickens up with a sweet coop and run to important daily upkeep, we’re covering everything you need to know about how to raise backyard chickens. Welcome to chicken raising 101!
Space Required
Good news: You don’t need a huge space to keep chickens! Here’s a basic guide:
At least 3 square feet of chicken-coop space, per adult chicken
At least 10 square feet of pen space, per adult chicken
That means a small flock of five or six chickens needs about a 4×6 feet coop and an attached pen or run that’s roughly 6×10 feet. If you can give them more room to roam, even better, she adds—the more space they have, the happier they’ll be.
Starting with five or six chickens is ideal, because these animals are flock-oriented—they like to be around each other. The Farmer’s Almanac recommends starting with no fewer than three, but for these social birds, the bigger the party, the better.
Daily & Weekly Time Commitment
We’ve got more good news for you! Raising backyard chickens is relatively low maintenance. You’ll spend about 10 to 20 minutes per day tending to them, and then about an hour or two on the weekends.
Supplies Needed for Raising Backyard Chickens
Chicken coop: https://www.chewy.com/b/coops-accessories-9927
Attached pen
Bedding: https://www.chewy.com/b/nesting-egg-supplies-12824
Chicken feed: https://www.chewy.com/b/feed-9892
Rodent-proof containers to store the food
Feeders and waterers: https://www.chewy.com/b/feeders-waterers-12825
First aid kit for injuries or minor illness
Treats: https://www.chewy.com/b/treats-8406
Supplements: https://www.chewy.com/b/supplements-healthcare-12823
How to Raise Backyard Chickens: Step-by-Step
1. Set Up Your Coop and Pen
Once you’ve assessed your backyard space to ensure it’s fit for chickens, find the perfect place for the coop and pen. Remember, a small flock of five or six chickens will need about 10 by 16 feet of space total. However, if you have room for a larger pen, that’s even better! The pen should be completely enclosed to keep your chickens in and predators out.
If your chickens are ever allowed outside of the pen (only under supervision), make sure any water sources like ponds or pools are fenced in. The backyard itself should also be fenced to keep your chickens from roaming into a neighbor’s yard or the road.
2. Bring Your Chickens Home
After preparing your chickens’ home and getting all the necessary supplies, it’s time to buy your chickens.
You can get your chickens from a hatchery or farm supply store. Many beginners buy chicks, aka baby chickens; others buy “teenage” chickens called pullets, who are typically around 6 to 8 months old.
3. Tend to Your Flock Daily
Every morning, you’ll need to let your flock out of their coop and into their pen so they can exercise and move throughout the day. You’ll also want to give them some fresh water and food, collect their eggs and do a light inspection of your chickens to make sure they’re looking happy and healthy (more on that below).
In the afternoon or evening you can give them a snack before placing them back in their coop around dusk.
4. Clean the Coop and Pen Weekly
Along with your daily maintenance, you’ll want to allocate about an hour or two every week to refresh your chicken’s bedding and scrub their feeder and waterer. Natural cleaning products such as vinegar can be helpful in high traffic and other really dirty areas. Be sure to remove any debris before applying cleaner—it won’t be effective on organic materials like dirt, debris or poop.
Adding a level of biosecurity for your flock is the most supportive measure you can take to limit any infections/transmissible disease. These measures help keep your babies safer and limit concerns with egg consumption.
Having a pair of “chicken” shoes or dirty shoes that stay in the flock
Wellness care from your vet
Not sharing equipment with other “flocks” or farms
Good pest control and mosquito control
5. Look Out for Potential Health Issues
Just like any other animal, birds are susceptible to falling ill. You’ll want to check your backyard chickens for signs of illness daily. These can include:
Lethargy
Lying down
Fluffed feathers
Not wanting to eat (even treats) or drink water
Standing with eyes closed or head down
Birds huddled together (flock illness)
Runny droppings
Bleeding
Limping
Black spots on their combs or wattles
Runny eyes or nostrils
Missing feathers
Black spots on the bottom of the feet
Congrats—you’ve just graduated from chicken raising 101! Raising backyard chickens can be extremely rewarding and fulfilling. We hope that our guide has helped you feel confident in venturing into the world of chicken rearing, and that you have many delicious eggs in your future.
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