Chickens in my opinion are one of the best things a person can add to their homestead to become self-reliant. They can produce meat, eggs, manure, and free labor…not to mention adorable balls of fluff called chicks! Keep in mind there are a few things to consider before getting started down the road of chickens. That being said here are the five important things you need to know about getting started with chickens in 2022.
Location location location…
Check your coding and make sure you’re allowed to have chickens! In my town I live in the coding to have chickens, but I require 1000 square feet per chicken on my lot. I suggest visiting your town’s website or calling your city hall for more information in your particular area.
Get them while they’re hot!
Chickens and chicks are usually readily available to buy in stores and online in the spring. Don’t let this fool you though, supplies will run out! I had to go to three different websites to order my barred rock in 2019. In spring of 2021 I grabbed the last 13 out of thousands Cornish Cross shipped to my local feed store. On a side note, buying local chicks is the best for their health! But if you don’t have access to a local feed store Tractor supplies and Murray McMurray hatchery are places, I have shipped chicks from. (A small tip: I have seen people on my local poultry Facebook group order together in large amounts to get past minimum orders.)
Have your set up, set up before they arrive.
Stress kills chicks and moving/shipping chicks is the largest stress you can give them. They absolutely need a warm, dry, safe place with food and water. Here is a link to my blog post How to set up the perfect brooder for your new chicks. Have your brooder box warm and set up when you know your chicks will be home. That gives the chicks the best chance to thrive.
On the topic of housing your few ounces chick will grow rapidly with some chicks reaching full size in 12 weeks (www.farmanimalreport.com). They quickly can outgrow a brooder box needing three to four square feet per adult bird. Having your permanent coop ready when they arrive or nearly done is essential. You don’t want full size chickens loose in your basement that escaped from a small brooder like me.
Understand the cost
Chickens will cost you money and time like any other living thing that you bring into your home. Although chickens can get some of their diet from grass and picking through vegetation, they will rely on you for supplemental food that will provide the necessary vitamins and minerals they need to stay healthy. After the initial cost of the birds and coop there are continual costs. This will include water, food, medical/vet costs, coop upkeep and any other extra thing you wish to add to your chicken’s wellbeing. My point is that they are a pet that will need you to care for them until they naturally die, or you dispatch them after they stop laying in their later years.
I hope you found this article helpful and feel free to leave a comment down below on topics you would like me to discuss! -Hannah
