So, you’re dreaming of fresh eggs and clucking hens in your backyard? Raising chickens is a fun and rewarding experience, but before you dive in, there are some critical things to consider. Let’s break it down into three key areas: sourcing, habitat, and maintenance.
1. Sourcing: Where You Get Your Chickens Matters

2. Habitat: Building the Perfect Chicken Coop
- Space to Roost, Scratch, and Dust Bathe: Roosting helps chickens rest, scratching satisfies their foraging instincts, and dust bathing keeps pests away.
- Predator Protection: Common threats like raccoons, foxes, and hawks can wreak havoc on your flock in a few short minutes. Your coop should have secure latches, buried fencing, and possibly even hardware cloth for extra defense.
3. Maintenance: Daily and Weekly Care
Keeping chickens healthy requires consistent but fairly easy care.
- Daily Chores: Feed, water, and check for eggs. Larger food and water containers can make this chore a breeze!
Did You Know? A clean, well-maintained coop can increase the lifespan of your chickens and improve egg production quality.