Backyard chickens in a farm setting

Raising Backyard Chickens Made Simple 🐔

No fluff, no filler. Just practical advice for raising a healthy backyard flock. Breed guides, coop advice, and gear reviews to get you started right.

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Why Raise Backyard Chickens?

Fresh eggs every morning. Seriously, once you taste an egg from your own hens, grocery store eggs will never be the same. The yolks are darker, the flavor is richer, and you know exactly what your birds ate.

Chickens are also surprisingly fun to hang out with. They have real personalities. Some will follow you around the yard like puppies. Others will boss the whole flock around. You'll pick favorites (and that is OK).

On top of that, chickens turn kitchen scraps into fertilizer for your garden. They eat bugs and weeds. They teach kids where food actually comes from.

Getting started is easier than most people think. A small flock of 3 to 4 hens doesn't need much space, and the daily time commitment is about 10 minutes. We will walk you through everything.

Read the full beginner's guide →

Getting Started in 4 Steps

1

Check Local Laws

Most towns allow hens but not roosters. Check your city or county ordinances before buying anything.

2

Set Up a Coop

You need about 4 square feet per bird inside and 10 square feet per bird in the run. Start small.

3

Pick Your Breeds

Go with beginner-friendly breeds like Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpingtons, or Plymouth Rocks.

4

Bring Home Your Birds

Start with 3 to 6 pullets (young hens). They will start laying eggs around 18 to 24 weeks old.