Raising chickens can be a fun family activity for homeowners with yards in urban or rural areas. Many people think of keeping chickens as pets, as well as food providers. In order to keep your chickens and eggs safe, you should invest in buying regular and heated cages, protect the hens from predators and protect yourself and your chicks from harmful bacteria. Follow these tips for raising chickens for eggs.
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Part 1 of 5: Planning a Chicken Coop
Step 1. Find out if it's OK to keep chickens on your farm
Many cities have regulations that prohibit raising chickens in the city. Check https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/3/Laws to see if there is such a rule where you live.
- It's a good idea to look up city regulations and to find out about your RT or RW. There may be additional rules or restrictions.
- Most cities have stricter regulations for roosters than for other chickens. If you want roosters to raise chickens for meat, you'll have even more problems.
Step 2. Talk to your neighbors
Chickens will make noise. In order to reduce their fear, it is better not to keep roosters, if you have neighbors whose houses are close to you.
- Even though the rooster will crow, it will not crow like a rooster.
- Consider offering your neighbors free eggs every few weeks. Maybe they will be more receptive to your idea of raising chickens if they find it useful.
Step 3. Make sure you have enough time to raise chicks and chicks
You will need to stay home the first day the chicks arrive at your house, and to clean and harvest eggs on most days of the year.
Step 4. Provide an area in your backyard to place the chicken coop
If you raise chickens starting with chicks, you will need time to build a coop for the chicks to grow up. If you buy a larger hen, you will need to use the coop right away.
Part 2 of 5: Making an Ordinary/Heatened Chicken Coop
Step 1. Purchase a chicken coop before your chickens are 2 months old
Look online for someone who can make chicken coop in your area, and you may be able to pick up a freshly made coop yourself so you don't have to ship it. You can also get cage designs online.
- Look for a coop or design with lots of light to keep your chickens happy.
- Choose a cage with a door, so the chickens can roam around, but are protected during the day.
- You can buy chicken coops on Amazon, Williams Sonoma, Petco and a variety of other sellers.
- Look for cage designs or plans at
- You can also buy floorless chicken coops, which are portable chicken coops.
Step 2. Strengthen your chicken coop
Predators, such as raccoons, mountain lions, bobcats and even dogs can sneak in through gaps or from under cages. Invest your money to buy chicken wire, nails and wooden or stone dividers.
Step 3. Prepare the chicken coop before bringing the chickens into the house
Add a pedestal, a place to eat and a heating lamp.
Part 3 of 5: Choosing Chicken
Step 1. Consider buying chickens
Chickens are often available in the fall, after people have raised more chicks than they need. However, it is difficult to distinguish hens that are starting to lay eggs (more than 2 years) from young hens that will still lay eggs years later so check with the breeder or seller carefully.
Step 2. Choose to buy chicks over hatching chickens in your first year raising chickens
Eggs that will hatch can be ordered and then shipped or purchased at the store. While they may cost less than chicks, the eggs cannot be sexed and some will not hatch.
Step 3. Set up your brooder before the chicks get home
A brooder is a heated cage to keep chicks warm. Chicks cannot regulate their own body temperature during the first few weeks of their life.
- Look for thick cardboard or plastic boxes. They should be smaller when the chicks are young, then you should gradually replace them as the chicks continue to grow.
- Place the box in a place in your home where the temperature is stable.
- Insert 2.5 cm thick pine shavings at the bottom of the box.
- Place the heating lamp on the side of the box. Use a thermometer to keep the temperature at 35 degrees Celsius.
Step 4. Purchase a drinker and chick feeder and a prime chicken feeder at your local pet feed store
Step 5. Purchase day old chicks at your local pet feed store or online
You can usually buy between February and April. Look for “pullets” because it means female.
- Fully grown chickens aged between 2 months to 2 years will produce approximately 5 eggs per week. To get a dozen per week, buy 3 to 4 chickens.
- Make sure the coop is big enough for your chickens. The size should be 0.9 to 1.2 square meters for each chicken in the coop and 3 square meters for the space for the chickens outside the coop.
Step 6. Buy several types of laying hens
A mixed group of chicken breeds will produce a variety of sizes and colors. Here are some types to consider:
- Americana chickens are sometimes called "Easter Eggers" because of their colorful eggs.
- Other popular types are Rhode Island Red, Cochin and Barred Rocks.
- Types called Australorps, Orpingtons and Faverolles considered “winter layers” may be a good buy if you live in a cold climate.
- Types that are considered "fancy" will produce fewer eggs. They are genetically developed more for their appearance than for their ability to lay eggs.
Part 4 of 5: Raising Chickens
Step 1. Move the heating lamp a little further each week for 8 weeks
Keep the temperature at 35°C for the first week and reduce it to -1°C weekly until it reaches 18°C.
- In the week your cage temperature reaches 18 degrees Celsius, you may not use the heating lamps at all anymore.
- Put the thermometer in the box so you can measure the temperature accurately.
Step 2. Dip the chick's beak in the water the first day you bring it home
They may be dehydrated and not able to drink yet. Keep an eye on the water level for the next few months to make sure they stay hydrated.
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Chicks that are thirsty/hot will have their beaks open and panting.
Raise Chickens for Eggs Step 15
Step 3. Purchase chick food for the first few months
Chickens will need food that contains a little grit, chick feed has been prepared with that. When you replace chicken in the years to come, you can mix your leftover mix with the sand yourself.
Step 4. Move the chickens out of the coop after 2 months
If it's still cold in your area, you'll need to wait a little longer.
Step 5. Feeding the chickens a variety of colors will result in a more concentrated yolk
You can feed store-bought chicken feed, leftovers, lawn bugs, worms, grass and corn. Mashed corn is important in winter to maintain a high body temperature.
Eggs from hens that are left to roam have lower cholesterol and saturated fat than store-bought eggs. Eggs are also higher in omega-3 fatty acids
Step 6. Avoid letting your chickens roam unattended
While you may want to give them freedom, they can become prey.
- Let them run around while you're working or playing in the yard.
- Leave them free until evening, then close the cage.
Part 5 of 5: Collecting Eggs
Step 1. Place the fake eggs in the young female's cage box
Make sure the eggs are fake, you they may have a habit of eating eggs. They need to be shown where to lay their eggs.
In recent years, having chickens of varying ages helps new chicks to act horns. Most sources recommend replacing to 1/3 of the flock per year
Step 2. Collect eggs daily to empty the cage
Step 3. Wipe the eggs with a soft cloth, which will remove any dirt, but not the anti-bacterial coating on the eggs
The hen produces this layer to protect her eggs from disease.
Step 4. Store eggs at an average temperature of 7.2 degrees Celsius
Eggs are better stored in the refrigerator than at room temperature. Warmer temperatures can encourage bacterial growth.
Step 5. Protect from salmonella
The following habits will prevent hens from producing contaminated eggs.
- Wash eggs that are exposed to chicken manure. Wash with with a chlorine mixture of 14.8 ml with 3.8 liters of water.
- Quickly eat eggs. Older eggs have a higher risk of contamination when the egg whites break down.
- Place the chicken manure in the composter for 45 to 60 days before placing it on the surface of the vegetable garden. Fresh chicken manure can contaminate vegetables with salmonella.
- Keep potentially contaminated eggs away from pregnant women, young children or sick people, who have a higher chance of infection.
