Raising Chickens: A Practical Guide for Backyard Growers

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Raising chickens is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to produce fresh eggs, natural fertilizer, and even meat at home. Having grown up on a farm, I’ve learned that chickens are hardy, adaptable, and surprisingly entertaining animals. Many breeds are docile enough to make great pets, especially for families with children.

Chickens don’t require elaborate housing and can thrive in simple coops. During the warmer months, they naturally forage for insects, helping reduce garden pests without chemicals.

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How Long Do Chickens Live?

With proper care, chickens can live 20 years or more, producing eggs for 15 years or longer. Clean water, balanced nutrition, and shelter from the elements are essential to long-term health.

Fresh water is critical. Laying hens require more water than roosters, and during hot summer months, water should be changed twice daily. Dirty water can quickly spread bacteria and disease. If possible, also provide water for dust bathing, which helps control parasites.

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Understanding Chicken Behavior

Chickens live in social groups called flocks. Cackling is simply a way for birds to communicate their location to one another. While roosters are known for their crowing, both hens and roosters vocalize frequently.

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Why Raise Chickens?

Most people raise chickens for:

• 🥚 Fresh eggs

• 🍗 Home-grown meat

• 🌱 Natural fertilizer

• 🐛 Insect control

• 👨‍👩‍👧 Family enjoyment

Before buying chicks, decide your primary goal. Some breeds excel at egg production, others at meat, and many are dual-purpose, providing both.

If chickens will have garden access, timing is important, chickens love seeds just as much as insects. For egg production, nesting boxes are necessary, and breed selection matters.

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Chicken Types at a Glance

• Egg Layers – Up to 300 eggs/year

• Meat Birds – Raised primarily for consumption

• Dual-Purpose – Good egg production and usable for meat

Popular dual-purpose breeds include Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, and Light Sussex. Egg color varies by breed, ranging from white and brown to blue-green.

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Check Local Regulations First

Before purchasing chicks, verify that city, county, and HOA rules allow backyard chickens. If permitted, chicks are usually available at feed stores in spring.

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Chick Sexing: Knowing Hens vs. Roosters

Determining a chick’s sex was developed in Japan in the 1930s. Today, backyard growers typically choose between:

• Sexed chicks (sold as pullets)

• Straight run chicks (sex unknown until 4–6 weeks)

Sex-linked breeds make identification easier, as males and females hatch with different feather colors.

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Caring for Baby Chicks

Brooder Setup

Chicks need a warm, draft-free brooder. This can be:

• A cardboard box

• A small animal cage

• A homemade brooder

Heat & Lighting

• Week 1: 90–100°F

• Reduce heat by 5°F per week

• Place heat source in one corner so chicks can self-regulate

Lighting requirements:

• Days 1–7: 24 hours

• Weeks 1–6: 8–10 hours

• Weeks 6–20: 12 hours

• Adult layers: 16 hours

Bedding, Feeders & Waterers

Use non-slippery bedding such as pet bedding litter. Avoid pine shavings for chicks under two weeks old.

Essential equipment:

• Water dispenser

• Feeder troughs (plastic or galvanized)

Always provide fresh water daily and feed chicks a starter crumble. Adding one tablespoon of sugar to the first water helps reduce stress.

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Protecting Your Chickens

Adult chickens need:

• 2–3 sq ft per bird inside the coop

• 4–5 sq ft per bird in the run

Predators include dogs, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, badgers, hawks, and eagles. Use strong fencing, bury wire edges, and consider overhead netting where birds of prey are common.

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Feeding Chickens Properly

Chickens eat different feeds as they grow:

• Chick starter crumbles – young chicks

• Layer feed or pellets – adult hens

Feed twice daily, offering only what they can eat in 10–15 minutes. Supplement with:

• Oats and greens (spring–fall)

• Corn (winter)

Avoid table scraps—many foods are toxic. Plain bread is the safest option if scraps are offered.

Grit & Calcium

• Grit helps chickens digest food

• Young chicks on commercial feed usually don’t need it

• Never give oyster shell to chicks

Laying hens require calcium (oyster shell or limestone) to maintain strong eggshells and bone health.

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Nesting & Egg Care

Popular egg layers include White Leghorns, known for large white eggs.

Tips for egg production:

• Provide nesting boxes

• Collect eggs daily

• Allow eggs to cool before refrigeration

• Store at 50–55°F when possible

Hens typically begin laying at 20 weeks, peak around 26 weeks, and slow significantly after 72 weeks.

Yolk color depends on their diet;  greens such as lettuce, chard or sod will produce darker yolks.

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Common Chicken Diseases

Good sanitation and ventilation prevent most problems.

Key concerns include:

• Coccidiosis – Prevented with medicated feed

• Marek’s Disease – Vaccinate at one day old

• Lice & Mites – Controlled with cleanliness and dust treatments

• Avian Influenza – No cure; quarantine is critical

• Fowl Cholera – Vaccination and rodent control help prevent outbreaks

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Recommended Chicken Breeds

• Rhode Island Red – Hardy, productive, dual-purpose

• White Leghorn – Excellent white egg layer

• Buff Orpington – Friendly, cold-hardy

• Welsummer – Dark brown eggs, good foragers

• Barred Rock – Classic farm chicken

• Ameraucana – Blue eggs, calm temperament

• Gold Sex-Link – Easy to sex, strong layers

 

Final Thoughts

Healthy chickens require:

• Proper nutrition at each life stage

• Clean water

• Adequate lighting

• Good ventilation

• Safe housing

Meet these needs, and chickens will reward you with years of eggs, enjoyment, and sustainability.

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Chicken Terminology (Quick Guide)

• Chick – Newly hatched chicken

• Pullet – Female under one year

• Hen – Female over one year

• Cockerel – Male under one year

• Rooster – Male over one year

• Capon – Castrated male for meat

• Egg – If you don’t know this one, find another hobby