Many people want to know what the “cluckin” big deal is about raising chickens. 

Many people want to revolutionize their relationships with food and where it comes from. Because of this, more people are taking on the project of raising their own chickens. Although there are many benefits, the learning curve can really deter people from taking on this homesteading project. 

Whether it’s the mess, the upkeep or just downright not knowing how to take care of them, it can seem a little overwhelming. I am here to help!

There is a lot to learn when getting started. But the benefits of raising chickens in your home are awesome. In this article, learn everything you need to know about raising chickens and what to look for when starting this homesteading project.

Why Raise Chickens?

There’s a lot to like about raising chickens in your backyard. In fact, there are a few reasons Jon and I decided to get chickens ourselves. Below let’s look at some reasons we considered when making this choice. They will help you see if it can be beneficial for your life: 

Home Fresh Eggs

This might seem like an obvious reason, but having your own home fresh eggs is a nice luxury!

We eat a ton of eggs in our family. With four chickens, we get four eggs a day which is something we love! Home fresh eggs are more flavorful and fresher than any store-bought egg. Also, if you are a baker like me, home fresh eggs are better for baking!

Once you go home fresh, I promise you will never want to go back.

Learning Experiences

A big reason Jon and I started raising our own chickens is because it provides a great learning experience for our kids. From getting the chicks in the mail to having my kids raise them into full grown adults, it has been a wonderful experience. Both kids have had different interactions, and they both have grown so much as individuals.

For example, my daughter instantly fell in love with the chicks. Like me, she wanted to hold them all the time! My son on the other hand took a while to warm up to them. In time, he learned more about them and soon faced his fear. That experience was valuable to him as it built his confidence, just as much as it created a passion for my daughter. 

On top of their personal experiences, they both learned more about the world and developed an understanding of food. My son once asked what we were having for dinner and my response was chickens. After hearing that, he burst into tears not wanting to eat OUR chickens. 

In that moment I realized this was a great teaching moment for him seeing where food came from. 

Like my kids, there is a lot of educational value for families to have chickens in their home from a world view and life skill standpoint.

Personal Fulfillment

Lastly, the third reason we got chickens was that we enjoyed the fulfillment that came with taking care of animals. 

Having a strong work ethic is important to me. I like that we have to feed, clean and play with our chickens to keep them happy and content. It also teaches us a strong lesson on selflessness as we need to care for things other than ourselves.

On top of us building a family work ethic, we love knowing the hard work that comes with creating a food source. As a society, we are too far removed from where our food actually comes from. While there are modern documentaries that introduce food reform into modern lifestyles, there is no substitute for the actual experience. 

I take pride in the work and value our chickens provide us.

So, if you are “eggcited” about chickens, in the next few sections we talk about how to best set them up for your home life.

Where To Buy Chickens

Now, the first question when considering raising chickens is where the heck you should get them. There are many places locally that you can buy chickens, but here in Utah there are a few options I recommend. 

Some of the best places to get local Utah chickens are IFA or the Chase Hatchery in Salt Lake City.

If you are not local in Utah, there is also a modern way to buy chickens: the internet! 

Believe it or not, you can indeed buy chickens online. That is actually how we purchased our little hens. To be specific, Jon and I actually went to mypetchicken.com and order them by mail. Our chicks came and it was so fun to go down to the post office and pick them up! 

If you have further questions on where to buy chickens, reach out to me! I would love to help you find a legitimate and quality place.

What Chicken Breeds To Consider

Believe it or not, there is no such thing as a generic chicken.

There are many different types of breed to consider when buying chickens. Kknowing the difference will help you understand which is best for your home. One of the best resources I found in finding different breeds was “The Happy Chicken Coop.” This gives you a nice comprehensive list. They also provide a tool to help select the type of breed and experience level match.

The two breeds that we chose are called Buff Orphingtons and Rhode Island Reds. They are both great with consistent egg laying, they have a sweet disposition towards children, and they can handle our harsh Utah winters.

When choosing a breed of chicken, look at their characteristics to see what works best for you! Our local laws state that we are allowed four chickens on our land because we live in the suburbs, so we have two of each breed. 

Preparing For Your Chickens

Once you choose the type of breed you want, the next step is to prepare for your chickens. The first step? You’ll need a chicken coop!

Every chicken coop needs to have space for them to roam, nesting space for each chicken, a feeder and water containers. Chickens are sociable, so plan to keep four to six birds and create a coop to fit that grouping.

After shelter, you need to consider food, which is a daily task. Feed is generally about $20 per 50 lb. bag. You will need to ensure they have food to share amongst the number of chickens you have.

Chickens need food (and water) daily. Feed is about $20 per 50-pound bag at my co-op, but prices may vary. How long a bag lasts depends on the number of chickens you have.

Once you have those comforts set up, you can expect to have hens lay through spring and summer and into fall as long as they have 12 to 14 hours of daylight. Expect to collect eggs daily, or even twice a day.

Wahoo!

Chickens Handled: Get Started

We hope this information was helpful! If you have any questions about raising chickens, getting chickens, what to do once you get them or anything else, just give us a buzz!