These Backyard Chickens for Beginners Tips and Hacks will have you up to speed and raising your own chickens in a jiffy!
Seriously… who wouldn’t want farm fresh eggs, healthy meat, and fluffy little friends? Raising chickens can be so much fun!
Now if you’re raising chickens just for egg production, what you don’t eat you could even sell! A little extra income is always nice!
Are you ready for Raising Chickens 101? Read on for some fabulous tips shared by your fellow chicken lovin’ frugal friends!
So are you ready to dive in? Let’s get started with some Backyard Chickens for Beginners Insider tips!
Here’s everything you need to know…
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Backyard Chickens for Beginners
So you’re ready to raise your own backyard chickens at home? Here’s everything you need to know to get started and keep those chickens happy and healthy all year long…
How to Keep Chickens Healthy in Winter:
As the temperatures drop, here are some of my top tips for keeping your chickens healthy and happy during the chilly Winter months…
- Shovel snow outside of the coop, or lay out a dry board so they don’t have to walk through the snow when exiting in the morning.
- Make sure your coop’s roof and floor are waterproof, to keep your chickens dry and cozy.
- If you haven’t already, now is the time to insulate your chicken coop walls. It will keep the chickens warmer during the Winter, and as an added bonus will keep them cooler during the hot Summer.
- Add some extra straw or bedding in the coop to keep the girls warm.
- Even though it’s COLD out, make sure your coop still has adequate air flow and ventilation to avoid ammonia build-up.
- Consider adding a 9-watt compact fluorescent bulb on a timer to the coop to increase Winter egg production. In addition to the cold, shorter daylight hours can also decrease egg laying. Set the light to come on earlier in the morning and stay on for approx. 14 – 15 hours, to mimic Summer daylight hours.
- Add more activities inside the coop to keep your chickens entertained where it’s warmer. {Chicken Swings, Perches, Treat Blocks, etc}
- Make sure they have fresh water, and that their water hasn’t frozen.
- Massage a generous layer of petroleum jelly onto your rooster’s wattle {the skin hanging underneath their neck} and comb {the red skin above their head} during cold spells to prevent frostbite.
- Increase their protein intake with a bale of Alfalfa Hay.
- Provide them with a hot treat… like cooked oatmeal, carrots, peas or beans.
- Then supplement their diet with Fresh Greens. With many greens going dormant or being covered by snow, another simple way to keep your chickens nourished is by adding some additional store-bought greens to their diet during the chilliest months.
Where Can I Buy Chickens?
Shelley writes: “Before you get chickens, check your town codes. Some places do not allow them.”
Chicken Tip: Once you know your city, county, and HOA {if you’re in one} allow chickens, you’re good to go!
Where to Buy Baby Chicks Tip:
- Did you know you can buy baby chicks online from Tractor Supply?
- Go here to TractorSupply.com
- Search ‘Baby Chicks’ in the search bar, and just select the chicks!
Amy writes: “If you are buying babies, pay extra to know they are hens so you do not start with all roosters!”
How to Hold Baby Chicks:
Melissa writes: “Pick them up from the bottom, not the top. Predators pick them up from the top and they will freak out!! Baby chicks will be skittish at first, but pick them up and hold them close to your chest or neck and talk softly to them. Cup your hands around them, they will feel safe and fall asleep!”
What Kind of Chickens Should I Get?
Yes… all baby chicks are cute, but keep in mind that different breeds have different purposes.
For Egg Production, consider:
- White Leghorns {lay white eggs}
- Ameraucanas {known for beautiful light blue eggs}
- Golden Comets {known for fast egg production and brown eggs}
- Rhode Island Reds {known for brown eggs}
- Turkens {known for light brown eggs}
Amy writes: “White leghorns have the lightest bones – you have to clip their wings so they do not fly.” Below is a photo of her White Leghorn… is that not the CUTEST face you’ve ever seen?!?
For Meat Production, consider:
- Cornish Cross
- Bresse Chickens
For Fun Show Chickens and Pretty Pets, consider:
- Bantams {gorgeous chickens with brilliant coloring}
- Silkies {sweet little fluff balls with the CUTEST fluffy feet – they’re typically friendly, calm quiet, and often cuddly, too}
Check out these Silkies below…
Melissa writes: “I have 14 chickens: Buff Orpingtons, Bantams, Cinnamon Queens, Leghorns, and Baby Comets. Below is our only feather footed baby…” Talk about cuteness overload!!
{Full-Grown White Silkie pictured below}
Do I Need to Keep a Rooster With My Backyard Hens?
Amy writes: “You do NOT need a rooster to get farm fresh eggs!”
Chicken Tip: If you’re interested in breeding, at that point you’ll need a rooster. If you just want farm fresh eggs, the hens will lay fabulous eggs, however they will just not develop into chicks.
Christy writes: “This picture below was meet the family day.. our little guys got to meet the older ones for the first time face to face.”
Baby Chick Care – What is a Brooder House?
Simply put, a brooder is a heated enclosure for your baby chicks to grow. It should include a heat lamp, food and water, and bedding.
Melissa writes:
“1) For starter brooders, you’ll need Cardboard Boxes and Plastic Bins. Place Pine Shavings in the brooder for bedding… they absorb and are safe.
2) Use a heat source, as babies have to be kept very warm.
3) Watch out for pasty butt… this can kill baby chicks! You can clean it off by dipping their butts in warm water and gently massaging the poop off with a wet wipe or paper towel.”
Pine Shaving for Chickens
Check out this DIY Chick Pen Melissa created below…
What You’ll Need:
- 1 Kiddie Pool
- Cardboard Boxes
- Pine Shavings
- Heat Lamp
Heat Lamps for Chickens
What Should I Feed My Chickens?
Melissa writes: “They can have treats when they get older, but they’ll need grit. Feed starter feed to the babies, as it’s finely crumbled.”
Pictured below are Melissa’s “Big Babies”… aren’t they so sweet?
Chick Starter – Poultry Feed for Small Beaks
Christy writes: “I currently have about 40 chickens… from 2 weeks old to 7 months old.. I have had as many as 200 at one time – lol! The older guys free range most of the day…they are the best pets and fun to watch. If provided with clean water, good food, and a shelter they do well I have found.”
Chick Tip: If you’re starting out with babies, make sure you start out with feeders perfect for those little beaks!
Baby Chick Feeders
Christy writes: “My guys get scratch grains once a day, table scraps, Watermelon in the hot South Carolina Summer, but most of their diet is made up from free ranging during the day!” 
Frugal Tip: Grow your own watermelon for your chicken to snack on during those hot summer days! Check out these tips and tricks to grow your best watermelon ever here…
Watermelon Gardening Tips
When do Hens Lay Eggs?
Depending on the breed, chickens may begin laying eggs around 6 months of age.
Egg production may go down in the hotter months of Summer or the colder months of Winter, especially in more extreme climates.
Also, hens will lay eggs when they feel safe, so you’ll want to provide them with a chicken coop.
What Kind of Chicken Coop Do I Need?
Melissa writes: “If you have baby chicks, start thinking of coop ideas now… chicks grow so fast!”
Amy writes: “I recommend not going cheap on the coop. I’ve found that if you buy a chicken coop that you put together, it won’t last! Break out the hammer and make one … or convert a shed.”
Below is a picture of Amy’s coop. Isn’t it adorable? Note the high fencing surrounding the area + the protective barrier on top to keep predators away…
And below is Christy’s Fenced in Chicken Run… don’t you love those perches?
Chicken Tip: Find DIY Chicken Coop Plans Here.
Chicken Tip: For Fencing supplies, use these Home Depot and Lowe’s shopping hacks to sweeten the deal!
21 Home Depot Shopping Hacks
23 Lowe’s Shopping Hacks
Melissa writes: “I will warn everyone that chickens are an addiction and a gateway animal to Homesteading!”
Chicken Lady Gear:
Now that you’re a chicken lady farm-her… it’s time to look the part!
Chicken Print Sloggers Boots
{perfect for your time spent out in the pen with the girls}
Recipes to Use Up Eggs:
Now with all those farm fresh eggs you’ll be getting, be sure to check out these easy and delicious recipes to put those eggs to work!
Chicken Tip: To save space in the refrigerator, fresh (unwashed) eggs can actually be left out on the counter for about 2 weeks. Once they’ve been washed, either use them right away or transfer to the refrigerator to store them there. Note: once eggs have been refrigerated, they need to stay refrigerated.
Just look at Christy’s countertop eggs {pictured above} from her hard working girls! Way to go, girls! Now learn some fun ways to use up fresh eggs below…
Breakfast Sausage Egg Casserole Recipe
Overnight Breakfast Bacon and Egg Casserole Recipe
Southwest Bacon Breakfast Casserole
Bacon Hashbrown Egg Casserole
Easy Omelette Recipe with Cheese
Deviled Egg Recipe with Bacon
Pressure Cooker Hard Boiled Eggs
How to Make an Easter Egg Garland with REAL eggs
How to Freeze Eggs for Later Use
How to Cook a Whole Chicken:
Crockpot Ranch Onion Whole Chicken Recipe
Crockpot BBQ Whole Chicken Recipe
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So have you ever Raised Chickens?
Got any Backyard Chickens for Beginners Tips?
Share with us in the comments below!
Christie says
My husband has been going on and on about having chickens in our yard so thank you for sharing this! It’s helpful for me to understand what goes into raising them!
Heidi says
You’re very welcome, Christie! I’m sure you’ll enjoy the adventure if you decide to get some! 🙂