Keeping backyard chickens is a continuous learning process. If you are like us, you have probably researched many websites, and read a lot of books about raising chickens before bringing them home.
You may finally think you are ready. We did too. We soon discovered that book knowledge and research didn’t explain everything. Here are 10 things about raising chickens that surprised us.
10 Facts About Raising Chickens Not Found in Books
Before we brought home our chicks, we researched for months. We’d read every book we could get our hands on and scoured the backyard chickens websites for information. We thought we knew everything there was to know about chickens. We were wrong.
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1. People will think that you’re insane for keeping chickens
You will encounter quite a bit of negativity about your new hobby. Of all the people I’ve talked to about our experience raising chickens, the vast majority have been positive, but there have been a fair share of negative comments. Mostly people balk at the idea of butchering your own birds. Some of them balk at the idea of raising chickens in general.
You’ll hear a lot of comments like this: “Why would you raise chickens when you can just buy eggs and meat at the store?” “But, won’t you get sick from eating their eggs? They aren’t approved by the FDA!” “Aren’t you afraid someone will steal them?” “But what about the poop?!”
While some comments are just outwardly judgmental, others can be downright destructive to your chicken raising lifestyle. I’m talking about neighbors here. While we are very lucky to have understanding neighbors who don’t have a problem with our chickens (the free eggs don’t hurt), I’ve heard of many chicken keepers whose neighbors started an all out war over their new feathered friends.
On the other hand, chickens can be a great conversation starter with acquaintances or strangers. Bring up the fact that you raise chickens at any party and you’re guaranteed to have some questions to answer. These people will still probably think you’re insane, but at least you have the chance to educate them on the hobby.
2. Chickens are addicting
Any chicken keeper can tell you that raising chickens is like eating potato chips, one is just not enough and you won’t be able to stop yourself from collecting more.
You will end up with more chickens than you originally planned on getting. You may not even do this on purpose. Extra chickens see that rockin’ coop and smell your tasty chicken treats and they just come a knockin’ at your door! At least that’s what I tell my husband whenever our chickens mysteriously multiply.
3. Chickens are unstoppable destruction machines
Our chickens have torn our backyard to shreds. I was never told that they would dig up every last plant, turn the yard into a mud pit, eat everything in sight, and poop on anything that’s left.
Our first summer of free ranging, we let the birds out all day, every day. By the end of the summer our yard was a mud pit and the only survivors in our garden were the toughest, woodiest plants, and even they weren’t looking too good.
Chickens scratch at everything, and if they only have a small space to range in, they will destroy it. Don’t let this factor deter you from getting a flock of backyard chickens, you can do several things to keep them from destroying your property.
4. Chickens have unique personalities
Each breed has its own demeanor, quirks, and characteristics. Just like dogs or horses, each breed differs greatly from others. Each chicken within that breed comes with its unique personality as well.
Some chickens are friendly and will be constantly underfoot, some are skittish and shy, some are mean. They are all different little souls and once you have them frolicking about in your backyard, you’ll quickly pick up on their individuality.
5. The chicken pecking order can be brutal
When we read in the books about pecking order, we were thinking it would be more…shall I say, civilized, than it is. I imagined chickens giving a swift poke here and there to those underneath them. While that does happen, the reality of it is much more war-like.
We have some chickens that are so eager to hang onto their title as head hen, they’ll straight up jump on their flock-mates. I’m talking screaming, tackling, pulling feathers, scratching, and biting. The sweetest chickens can turn into vicious animals if their status is threatened. I just hope they never turn that brutality to the kind-hearted soul that feeds them everyday.
6. Chickens will make you into a paranoid freak
Raising chickens has a way of turning you into a paranoid freak. It starts when they’re tiny fragile babies and entirely in your care.
You’ll walk to the brooder one day and see three babies lying on their sides, unmoving. Your heart will stop and you’ll start squealing that you accidentally killed your babies. All of this racket will wake up the peacefully sleeping babies, and they’ll look at you like you have two heads. This is the only the beginning.
Every time you hear them squawking in the backyard, you’ll run to the back door expecting to see Godzilla stomping through the yard, eating chickens left and right.
Whenever the slightest little thing looks wrong with one, you’ll obsessively check them all to be sure this devastating and mysterious chicken disease hasn’t spread to all of your birds. Then when you start talking to your friends about bumblefoot and poultry lice over dinner, you’ll really know they got to you.
7. You will become your flock’s human servant
You’ll feel guilty when you sleep in an hour on the weekend and you know those little feathery faces are standing at the door of their coop, desperate to go out, just waiting for their servant to come and open the door.
If you run out of chicken treats you’ll find yourself driving to the country store at 7:50pm to get them some more before they close, then realize that you’re spending more money on their treats than you do on your own.
You’ll find yourself giving them baths and manicures. Their coop will be cleaner than your home. You’ll soon realize that you’re bending over backward for the happiness of your chickens, and wondering how these little rascals went from being egg providing livestock to pampered pets with a higher status than your cat.
8. Chickens are escape artists
Some say chickens are dumb, and they certainly can be, but they can also be brilliant little escape artists.
Our Dominique, Dee Dee spent a whole summer finding new ways to get on the other side of the fence. She would use a wheelbarrow propped against the fence to climb and hop over. She would find gaps under the chain link just big enough for her to squeeze through. She would hop from limb to limb on trees along the fence line until she could get to the top and lunge to the other side.
If there was a way out of the yard, Dee Dee would find it. She even remembered from day to day which spots worked and which didn’t. Since it would always take me a few days to catch onto her tricks, she could get away with the same escape tactics over and over. I’ll tell ya, it’s very frustrating being outsmarted by a chicken.
9. Chickens will eat practically anything
I’ll never understand why goats got the reputation for eating everything in sight. It really should go to the masters of devouring inedible garbage, the chickens.
This can be a blessing and a burden. If you ever have food that’s about to go to bad, let your chickens take care of it for you! If you have an abundance of weeds growing in your yard, your chickens will be delighted to lend a hand, or rather a beak. Bug troubles? Once again chickens come to the rescue to gobble up ticks, flies, and garden pests.
This helpfulness can be just as horrible as it is good. Chickens aren’t particular about what they eat, and you’ll see them sampling every bit of trash that’s blown into your yard, picking at tin foil and stray nails, trying to gobble down plastic bags, devouring styrofoam and chomping on newspaper.
10. You’ll get attached to your chickens
You can tell yourself that you won’t. You can refuse to name your birds and claim that they’re not pets, but when their little individual personalities start shining through, you’ll be hard pressed to resist them.
When it comes time to say goodbye, whether through culling, selling, or death by accident, don’t expect it to be easy just because they’re livestock. When we got our chickens, I broke all the rules of livestock within a month. I started talking about them as if they were my children. “Oh you wouldn’t believe what Taco did the other day…” Before I knew it, they had wormed their way into my heart.
So yes, before you bring chickens home, read the books to learn about their basic needs, such as which breeds to consider, how to keep them safe from predators, and when to expect eggs. Just remember that research cannot replace hands-on experience.
Great Books About Raising Backyard Chickens:
- Hatching & Brooding Your Own Chicks by Gail Damerow
- Raising Chickens for Dummies by Kimberly Willis
- Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens by Gail Damerow
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Our experience just goes to show that the best way to learn about anything is to just jump in and do it. No amount of research can prepare you for the wonder that is raising chickens, but hopefully you’ll leave this post feeling a tad bit more prepared for what lies ahead.
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I’m embarrassed to say that every single one of these hit home with me, but #6, oh my word, #6.
I got the three girls in March of this year and I’ve spent more time fretting and fussing over these three chicks than I did with my three children. (Okay, may not more, but it was certainly up there!) When I’m at work, I hope they’re doing okay in the heat. Is there enough shade in the run, or too much? Do they have enough sand in the run and is okay with their feet? Did they dump out their water bowl, or does it have enough to last them until I get home? If they dump it out, will they remember the water in their coop? Did they eat all their pellets today and will they be okay if I give them watermelon for a treat again today (they had it yesterday, too)?
I have to go on an overnight business trip (less than 24 hours) next week and have I spent the past week thinking about business that I’ll be doing on the trip? No, I spent the past week thinking about water and food and the heat with the chicks while I’m gone.
Hahahaha I do the same thing when we go on vacation!! I’m constantly wondering what they’re up to and whether or not they’re okay! We’re very lucky to have an excellent chicken sitter who may just love them more than we do, that helps a lot!
I love your post! I can relate to your whole list, especially #9. Oh, do they ever eat anything and everything! And your photos… Beautiful!! You are a talented photographer. Gorgeous chickens.
Thank you so much Leah! I absolutely love taking photos of our flock!
Meredith, this is excellent! All are true, all hit home for me! I’m a little less paranoid now, though, compared to when I was a newbie. I think what surprised me most when I first got chickens, was how distinct personalities their personalities are. I know that is true of animals in general, but for some reason I just wasn’t thinking that would be so obvious for animals that are usually kept in tight confinement and treated like inanimate objects.
Thank you so much Janet! The personality thing really struck me too, I had never had birds before getting our chicks so I had no idea they were so personable.
Love this post!!! So, so true.
This is a great post. Funny and informative. I was wondering, can you add the feature that allows one to like your posts through word press? Thanks so much!
Thanks Jared! I’ll look into that feature. Thanks for stopping by!
Oh, My, I hought I was reading about myself. Addicted, I grew up on a small farm, our hens were for eggs and food, rabbits etc. Now at 68 I have about 40 hens, began 5 years ago with 7, then, neighbors asked to buy eggs, and now 40 hen. We still have3 of the original RIR’s, and we have a variet of species. This week added 6 Ancons, two month old,my maternal grandmother was from Ancona Italy.
Great great.
Very clever and oh, so true!
None of these surprised me because I grew up raising chickens. My husband and I are building an enclosed yard (we live in the woods – bobcats, snakes and vermin abound) to raise our own. Luckily #1 is no issue. We have no neighbors. At least not close enough to hear/smell/care.
You’re lucky! I dream about the day that we have no neighbors to worry about! 🙂
Aw such an amazing post! Your sweet, fun words make my desire for getting hens much worse!!! We’re not planning to add layers until another year or two (waiting for our children to outgrow their playground space before we convert it into a coop), but oh I want them now. I can see me being like you, freaking out over my chickens and watching over them like a mother hen (literally). I already do that over my garden now, and those are just plants. ha ha!
Thank you Tonya! If you ask me, two years is MUCH too long to wait to get laying hens, and you should get some tomorrow instead! 🙂
Oh I agree, but we only have .248 acres in the middle of the city and have to be very careful with space planning. Here’s a recent post and you can see my future coop space there. In the meantime, I can learn from fun folks like you! 🙂 http://www.terraurbem.com/2014/07/free-range-eggs-southern-egg-salad-good.html
Hi Tonya, we live in the city too, with a small backyard. It’s hard to plan for chickens and a garden in such a small space, but we’ve made it work! There’s a post coming soon about how we figured it all out.
Great to know, and I look forward to reading that!
I have a problem with my hens eating or picking the eggs it I don’t get them shortly after they are laid. Does any ideas as what to do to other than killing them, and what causes it to happen? Thanks for any help!
Hi Shari, egg eating is a bad habit and unfortunately it’s hard to get them to stop. We’ve had success by putting fake ceramic eggs in the nest boxes for a few weeks and collecting any eggs that are laid asap. This way, when the hen attempts to eat the ceramic egg and can’t, she gets bored with eating eggs and will stop. There are some other great ideas about prevention and cure over at Tilly’s Nest: http://www.tillysnest.com/2012/02/egg-eating-prevention-and-treatment.html
Increase protein..make sure they have enough calcium. If eggs are fragile they can crack when laid or by another hen laying next. Mine cracked on the frame of nest box. It’s natural for them to eat if broken. Tastes good! I feed eggs to my girls and they don’t take their own!
Hi I live in south Florida an have about 6 hens. Well 7 but a black snake ate one of them an I cried because it happened so fast. But at first I thought I was a cat. But anyways i bought a rooster because the lady I bought my baby chicks recommended it to look over the flock. It’s true the rooster attacks anything that gets to close except me. Glad. But it also attacks my dog now. Is there something I can do to let my new rooster continue to protect the flock without it attacking my dog? Or should i get another rooster so he’s not alone? I think the rooster is just paranoid from all the cats and snakes, etc maybe he needs help? They are save in their coop at night.
I wouldn’t get another rooster, then the roosters will just fight with each other. Roosters are hard to train, once they get it in their head that the dog is a threat to the flock, they aren’t likely to get it back out of their head. I think you’re going to have to do your best to keep the dog and rooster separated, or try getting a different rooster that gets along better with your pup.
We had this problem usually when they didn’t have enough calcium in their diet. We would supply the chickens with a container of Oyster Shell for them to pick through as well, we would feed them crushed up eggs shells after we used the egg. Try to make sure they have enough calcium and make sure you pick up the eggs as soon as you can. We used to raise over 400 chickens. Another thing to try is to tilt the bottom of the nesting spot so the eggs roll out and into a collection place. This way they cant find the eggs to eat them.
Get your chickens some oyster shell to mix with their food. They are lacking nutrients.
My grandmother would do this when our chickens would peck the eggs. She would also return their shells to them after she used the eggs.
Please make sure you crush the shells really well so they can’t recognize them as shells. I use a coffee grinder/spice grinder thing by Mr. Coffee and grind them really fine.
How I laughed, reading your blog! I am still in the research stage, but I can SO see myself in your post once we’ve taken the plunge! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
What a fantastic post! And like others, I thought I was reading about myself! LOL! I am so subscribing to your site. Bless you!
Thank Linny! I’m so glad you like it, and thanks for stopping in! 🙂
I just found your blog via Rochelle at Lucky Lucille : ) I have chickens! I’ve had chickens for 15 years now and everything you say is true and more… I have a soft spot for rescued chickens, I’ve had several over the years that came from factory farms. Recently my Amelia was attacked by what we think was a raccoon. Now, most people would balk at paying a LOT to save her but she came from a facility that the owner had locked the doors and walked away from. She survived for two weeks with no food, water or fresh air. When the state found out and moved in they wanted to just kill them all but Animal Place stood outside the facility for two days, trying to come up with a way to save even one hen. In the end they pulled 4461 hens and I PROUDLY adopted two because yes, they are addictive : ) I also have a cranky next door neighbor who can’t stand anything about us or our lifestyle. Thankfully (or not) she focuses her ire on our dogs (rescued pit bulls) not the chickens. You can see the documentary about that rescue here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1ktWZVYsNo
The SUPER cool thing about rescues is they are SO grateful for their new lives that the tend to be a bit more polite. They also have trimmed beaks (a side effect of what the poultry industry does) so they don’t destroy quite as much plant life. I have chicken wire rounds that go around my plants just to make sure… They also can’t damage each other as much when they have their inevitable pecking order squabbles but just how fast they find their natural chicken behaviors is stunning!
I love my girls so much that they come in the house at night to sleep. With only three its manageable. They wait in line during the day to lay their eggs in our laundry basket, announce to the WORLD that they laid their egg and then go take dirt baths. I can’t imagine life without chickens, I hope I never have to. Even my vet laughs at my love of chickens : )
That’s so cool Loren! I love Rochelle, we’ve been friends for years and years! We’ve resorted to using chicken wire around our potted plants as well. The fence around the garden mostly keeps them out, but some are clever enough to break through! Happy chicken keeping and thanks for stopping by!
I love your post. My girls are amazing birds. Everyone that comes to visit and has never been around chickens, love my girls. Happy girls = wonderful visits with others. Happy Laying and loving the amazing Chicken.
Loved your post, so relateable. I retired in April, 2014, got the bug to have raised beds vegetable garden and chickens in our back yard. Got my chicks (5 of them), bought a chicken coop kit and I’m loving the whole experience so far. My favorite chicken laid her first egg yesterday and I feel like a chicken grandma, so proud! I did loose one of my chicks while we had them in our house in the brooder box. They were starting to fly, 2 got out of the box and our dog played with one to its death. We were out of town and our granddaughter was housesitting for us. Traumatic for her to wake up to and have to call her grammy to tell me the bad news. It was hard but they’re bigger than the dog now and they co-mingle outside just fine. I don’t leave my chickens home alone without a “sitter”, I spend a lot of time outside with them as I’m landscaping and have my garden in “their” backyard. I’m learning to accept the fact that they get into, mess up and/or eat everything. I’m planning on adding a run to their coop and cut back some on their free-range privileges but that will be hard on both of us. It’s so cute the way they come running to me every time I come outside. Love the little noises they make and of course mine are spoiled with treats and home cooked goodies. People do not understand my addiction, but it happened! City law allows me to have 6 chickens and I want to add 2 to my flock. Not sure how my girls will take to them, any suggestions?
Thanks for the lovely comment Karen! I agree, you totally have to just accept that they will destroy your things, but it’s totally worth it for the joy of having them around! As for your question- introducing new flock members can be difficult to watch. The newbies will get picked on a lot as the order is re-established, but it’s totally natural and normal. I generally think it’s a good idea to introduce three or more birds to a flock so at least the pecking is more spread out and less stressful. It’s also easier to introduce adults than chicks to an established flock. We’ve had good luck with keeping the two groups separated by a fence for the first few weeks so they can adjust to each other before mingling. Good luck, I hope it all goes well!
Hens will also attack and eat mice. When they see a mouse its like they have a mob mentality and attack it.
I have wanted to raise chickens for a long time but I may have done a bit too much research. When I read about chicken lice or bumblefoot and egg bound hens, I get really nervous. This will be a completely solo venture so I won’t have anyone else’s opinion to rely on. I have a neighborhood younster who has had plenty of exposure to chickens and has volunteered to help me when I go out of town. What worries me most tho is the possibility of all the above problems!
Nancy, I understand your worry. I researched all of the problems AFTER we brought them home because my daughter and husband HAD to have them and I panicked. Worried about all the things I had read I had to take each day one at a time and honestly…it’s been a year now and I’ve had one bumble foot issue which upon reading suggestions on a FB posting I belong too, I did the surgery myself with success. It was simple and not as terrifying as I had thought. I think it was because they free range during the day and she must have hurt her foot on twigs she was scratching around. Knock on wood, that’s the only issue we’ve had. They are actually pretty tough little girls. We have 7 and I’m wanting more in the spring. They truly do pull at my heart strings and are well worth any worry & work. So I’d say go for it and you won’t regret how much joy they bring.
Nancy, I totally understand. I was worried about EVERYTHING when we first got our chickens, but the nice thing is that problems are pretty rare in a flock that’s well taken care of. It’s definitely great to have a community to lean on when there are problems. I suggest you take a look at the Backyard Chicken Project group on Facebook, or look into the Backyard Chickens forums if you’re not on Facebook. There are lots of experts on there willing to lend an ear and advice for those in need.
Oh, my. When our second batch of chicks arrived, there was one lone brown one in the mix of all the yellow. I instantly fell in love and watch out for this one just like one of my children!
I also became a compulsive counter … free ranged on 10 acres of wooded & open land … with a road near by, neighbors (cats & dogs), some big critters out in those woods & skies … when they are let loose in the morning – I count … I find when I spy the flock running about during the day, automatically, 2 or 3 times – I count … When everyone settles to roost at night, again – I count.
If I hadn’t hatched, raised and trained them myself, I don’t think I would have developed that – but I don’t know … either way it’s there now and I love when I whistle & ‘chook’ they come running so I can count their little heads.
YES! Compulsive counting the max! Hahaha it becomes second nature after a while!
I have “owned” six RIR’s for a year and I have enjoyed almost every moment of it. Here is what I would say: everyone has a theory about raising chickens and I have read them all, but the birds will have their own theory and you will learn from them if you pay attention. Start small: maybe four birds and learn. It probably won’t work out the first time or even the second time and you will feel sad for your mistakes, but you will learn how to do it. Go small and go slow, it’s not a race to eggs. If that is your goal, then you will be disappointed at first.
Great advice, John! Thanks for sharing.
I love this, I’m getting my chickens in the spring (yay urban chicken laws) and I am so excited. This list is great and I am guessing it is spot on! Can’t wait to find out
Hi Meredith,
I came across your post and I just miss my chickens. We are trying to downsize & give up our big house to move to a more simple house and hopefully have chickens again soon or someday. I really enjoyed your post Thanks for sharing.
Do you take donations through paypal?
Happy Homesteading! 🙂
Thanks for the comment Sheila, I’m glad you enjoyed the post. You definitely need to get chickens again soon! I sent you an email about the donation, I hope it went through, if not just let me know. Thanks!
Yeah, and when you don’t worry about them they get massacred by the red tailed hawks, the fox, the coyote, the neighbors dog, and that blasted weasel 2 miles down the road… yeah, all happened. I had such a beautiful flock of Giant Blue Cochins… now I have three and two Auricauna… sucks. We’ve moved though so now I just have to worry about owls and hawks and eagles… well… there was that one fox. Maybe I’ll get a guardian dog.
I don’t get all that attached though. Every now and then there is that special one with more sweetness than the others but most of them are hen raised so they like me less than I like them. Much easier to eat that way, still not easy as it never is to take a life of any sort, but easier.
Awww that’s awful! I’m so sorry to hear that. We’re very lucky to have few predator problems in the city, but when we move to the country I know we’ll be fighting them off left and right.
Who would have thought I would show more pictures of my roos and hens on Facebook than my grandchildren. I suspect they are also telepathic and can implant thoughts into my mind. Somehow they make me want them. They made me build a new coop so they wouldn’t have to associate with those ‘meaties’. They make me just shrug and say, “oh is it an off day again today?” when there are no eggs to be found. They know when I wake up as that is when the crowing starts, with a distinct “feed me” ring to it, and I obey despite the 15 degrees in my thin jammies. Seriously, get yourself a foil hat and defend yourself. No I didn’t say, “don’t get chickens” that’s unreasonable and unavoidable, at least that’s what I think.
Hahahaha totally agree!
Love this post! Can’t believe how each one hits home! (I’m a first time, first year chicken owner) All 10 are me to a T! I believe I’m turning into a crazy chick lady but I’m happy to admit I love it cause I just love my 7 girls…so addicting that I will be adding to those 7 in the spring!!! 🙂 Can’t wait!!
It truly is addicting! We don’t NEED anymore but we’ll be adding to our flock in the spring too. The babies are just too cute to resist!
Absolutely true to the last word! Wonderfully written! Having been not only a chicken slave but a member as well as a moderator on http://www.backyardchickens.com for many years, I know every word to be true. Kudos! ~Cynthia, aka speckledhen on BYC
Cynthia, I have TOTALLY seen you post on BYC! Thanks for stopping in, I’m glad you enjoyed my post! 🙂
Enjoyed what you have shared here very much. We have started with our chickens about a year ago when we bought our farm. The ground has proved great for chickens, garden and fruit trees. We have 33 acres and they rpfree range on a few acres around the house and coop. My first group I bought from a young knowledgeable couple. 7 hens and a rooster. I then decided to raise some day old chicks and that went pretty well. My Cochin hens sat on some eggs and they hatched out. I now have around 45 chickens and getting ready to regime a few roosters as I have a few to many. I love raising the babies. Mine that I have raised are giving me eggs now. The personalities are truly different. I’m always eager to learn new information to make my little ones comfortable. Thanks again for your sharing your experiences.
Thanks for the comment Trish! It sounds like you’re loving life as a chicken keeper!
A great article, and so true! The only thing I’d add is I was shocked at how big their droppings are! I thought they’d be more like the average birds. I’m not even joking when I say the chickens poop is as big as my Min Pin’s!
Hahahaha I can totally agree with that!
Hi Meredith…
Loved your funny and informative article… I live with my daughter and she has
the most funny chickens you can imagine… Escape artists (before we caught
on to them) I sat outside and caught them squeezing between the top wire
enclosure… I feed them birdseed and they follow me like the pied piper.
WE WILL NOT EAT THEM !!! They are so much fun and they give us lots of
eggs… Elizabeth M. Wright
Thank you so much Elizabeth! I can’t believe how good those little buggers are at escaping, at least you’re onto their antics now! 😉
This article is so cute…and so true! I really enjoyed reading this–probably because I can identify so well with each of the ten things you mentioned. I hope you and your chickens have a great day!
omg, #3 ” I was never told that they would dig up every last plant, turn the yard into a mudpit, eat everything in sight, and poop on anything that’s left.”
That almost had me in tears from laughter. XD
Hi Meredith,
I have enjoyed reading all of these posts! I will retire next July 2016 and will be getting hens! All of these comments are really helping me get ready with my new adventure. It is so hard to wait, however, I commute about 3 hours a day and have no time right now. I have to say people do look at me alittle funny when I tell them what I want to do!
I have a hen named Taco too!! 🙂
Hahah that’s awesome!
Hi Meredith,
I’ve been wanting to get 2-3 chickens for some time now. I’m an animal lover, and have always wanted to have farm fresh eggs. I live in Oklahoma City in a historic urban neighborhood. I spent ALOT of time and money landscaping my backyard 4 years ago. I had planned on putting the coop in the back of my yard where I was trying to grow veggies (unsuccessfully). There are just too many huge trees on all sides of my yard, so too much shade for the veggies, but thought it would be perfect for chickens. After reading your post, I’m sad because I don’t think I should get them. I had planned on letting them free range only when I’m home, so they can be supervised. I would hate it if they ate all my flowers and turned my beautiful lawn into dirt. I’m a very loving and responsible pet parent. I’m trying to do as much research as I can before I make this commitment. Is it not at all realistic or possible to have both chickens AND a nice yard? I appreciate your thoughts and guidance.
Hi Julie,
If you only have 2-3 chickens they wouldn’t wreck your yard. We live in the city and have 10 chickens in our small backyard. If they’re allowed to free range all day, they do wreck our landscaping and gardens, but that’s just because there are so many of them and just one small yard, and I also tend to let them out without sitting there watching them. If you only let your birds out to free range for a few hours per day and you’re there to supervise, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. I also highly suggest you get the book Chicken Gardens. It’s all about tactics to use for your hens and garden to live in harmony together. It IS possible to have the best of both worlds, especially if you have only a few hens and you watch them while they’re out and about. I totally suggest you get some chickens, you’re going to love it! Please feel free to email me if you need any help! 🙂
I love it! I just got chickens last year. Before I got them, I always told my kids to stay away from them, that they were germy. I even hated touching egg cartons at the store! Now I carry eggs in my pocket, go in and out of my coop all the time, and I am constantly petting my chickens. I even have 15 chicks in brooders in my living room right now. I also enjoy weeding my garden more because I find bugs for them. Though I have two that are literally on top of my hands as I’m trying to dig. Thanks for the great read!
I am rasing two little chicks and they are from a class pet in 7th grade and they peck out their food onto the floor of their cage and won’t eat it so we are always cleaning their cage and refeeding them and rewatering them. Arround one and a half week ago my cat tour off half of my hens wing and now theres just a stub there and it made me cry because I was suppose to be watching them. Do I really need to be so worried to be by their side every minute if the day?
I had three for seven days and like some people refused to name them. Whether it was intuition or logic behind my fear of losing them was not quite clear. Either ways my aunt sent them off to the country side (where they apparently died, The news reached me quite late, a long 4 months later after the said incident). In the end seven days it seemed was more than enough for attachments. I keep thinking about them, my fondest being ones which they would cuddle in my arms to sleep. The ‘no name means no attachment’ plan will be a spectacular failure for whoever that tries, I must warn.
And again you are accurate in saying that we become paranoid. There wasn’t a time I would not think of them and returning home I would forgo dinner to look after them. Least to say I became a paranoid watchdog for the time they were with me.
Well anyways thank you for the blog. I have assured myself of sanity haha. I plan to buy more chickens when living in my own house.
I came across thispost on my Pinterest and since we are finally ready to get chickens thought I would come have a look. Meredith,you had me laughing a few times as I read and my son …who is in the other room…wondered just what I was laughing so hard at…lol! We’ve always lived in town,never had anything other than a cat or dog.We have two dogs,three(now) cats and since moving have wanted to get chickens. During the spring we went into our Family Farm and Home and would look at the babies….I mean chicks and sooooooo wanted to bring some home but,had no where for them to be yet.
A few months down the road and more things done here and we know where they can go etc….I looked and looked and looked at the types of chickens,the info about them.Small combs…less likely to freeze,no feathers on the legs and feet…they get wet and cause trouble in the snow,heritage,brown or colored eggs…we think it would be fun to have the different colors…lol! and they have to be very cold hardy….we’ve had temps and wind chill down to -30 the past couple winters and I would feel horrible if they froze.
A few weeks ago I bought a bag of non-gmo chick feed in preparation of ordering from the hatchery. The order,for chicks is ready in the cart …only now I have found some chickens locally(Two different farms) that are a few months to a year old. We will have eggs right away from what I am told …a good thing . They have been raised free ranging…another good thing. However,will they know that this is home now? Will they try to fly 50+ foot up into the pines like our two baby guineas did the past two nights? Yep,seriously! That was a shock….we’ve had them a week and a half and had only let them out of the cage for the past two days when they did that. My son went to find and put them to bed for the night,they ran away and suddenly flew over the fence and up near the top of the trees…trees which are likely 70 feet or so tall. We had No idea they could do that! Oh and last night….yep,in the trees…sigh. Any ideas how to break that habit? Will chickens that are free ranging be good about going into the coop at night? Tell me they won’t eat our hard won garden or my flowers…please tell me they won’t.
Hi CJ,
In order to break that habit you’ll have to keep them contained to the coop for a week or two. Don’t let them out to free range. They don’t know yet that the coop is their safe home, so they’re just finding the safest place they can to sleep. After keeping them in the coop for a week or two you can let them out and they should return to the coop at bedtime on their own. You will need to fence the garden to keep them out, because they’re pretty good about destroying plants. Another option is to keep them in a run or a chicken tractor during the day so they’re contained and just let them for a few hours before bedtime to free range, that way you can keep an eye on your garden! Good luck to you, and thanks for the message, I love to hear about others adventures in chicken keeping!
Thanks for the great blog. I write a newsletter for our local feed store and I will definitely recommend this one to our readers. Plus share on our facebook.
Well done. 🙂
Wonderful read, every word so true.
I love Love LOVE this article!!! So many of them apply to myself, especially #7. I always feel bad if I sleep in 1/2hr on the weekends and they are standing at the coop door impatiently waiting to get out! I’m basically their servant, but I love it 🙂
I don’t know how anyone could stop with just a few chickens either… I had over 20 before I knew it, and plan to buy/hatch more next spring. They are just the most entertaining creatures around.
Hahaha yes!
I know the feeling! I have now over 50 chicken consisting of hens and roosters and different types from your larger breeds to your bantams! I have a hen who thinks she’s a rooster and a rooster who thinks he’s a sheriff breaking up all the fights around the yard!! Then there’s the ducks now they are another kettle of fish all living together and all cheeky as hell!! Great blog I enjoyed reading it!!
http://livingconsciouscom.ipage.com
Wow! That sounded so familiar! Even the manicure – my kids totally did the spa and manicure last summer. Those chickens were very patient with them! Great read!
Couldn’t agree more… to every single one! I knew I’d love the little gals – because I love every animal, but I couldn’t have imagined how much sheer joy they bring me and my husband. We appreciate their eggs, but even if they didn’t eggs I’d still adore them just as much. I always laugh at the idea that pets need to somehow earn their keep hahah because our cats do housework?! And oh my! Oh do I dote on them, I just finished their daily organic oatmeal, with organic fruit, raisins, honey and coconut oil as well as some apple peanut butter treats…. right, and right before that I literally ran to the coop because they were making some noise hahah. And 6 more are arriving in May! I once suddenly jumped up at a big family dinner and shouted how I left the chickens out and it was getting dark , I had to leave! My whole family looked at me like I was insane. It so nice to hear the same amount of love and dedication other people have towards their little loves!
We just got 9 baby chicks and 6 ducks within a few days of each other. I just moved the 2 wk old chicks today to the enclosed new coop we bought a month ago. The ducks are out in the garage in the kiddie pool w our new 7 wk old great pyrenees pup. Wecare starting full speed ahead w our lil animals and I love them. One question though, how harmful is dog poop to the chickens out in the yard? I’ve not read yet about that anywhere.
That’s awesome good for you!! Our chickens free range in the same yard that our dog poops and there has never been a problem! 🙂
Meredith, I find it funny, five days ago we purchased our first ever baby chicks, 14 of them to be exact. Two days ago, we added four more into the clan and already, I am in love with them and I am constantly worrying about them! “Is their heat lamp still on?” “Is it too close?” “Did they tip their food over again?” “Did it land on one?” Etc. this blog is perfect and glad I have come up on it to let me know what I’m in for!
Hahaha yes they can give you so much anxiety!
Meredith,
Thank you so much for an evening of laughter. We are introducing our 1 yr old girl to our new baby girls. And we were reading about the best way to do such a thing. We found your post and laught, and laught…… And laughted some more. We were crying by number #10. You are so right on for each and every one. And you made us not look so crazy, just passionate about our girls.
Thank you again for your gift of words…
Gratitude,
The Everhart Family
I started raising chicks about 21/2 years ago. All ten points are true. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. I am called the Crazy Chicken Lady around these parts and people are starting to contact me for help and pointers. I feel like I’ve found my calling. 🙂
Hahahaha!
This is great! I actually don’t have chickens yet… I’m still in the “read as much as you can to prepare” phase. We intend to get chickens this summer. I’m already so excited (and addicted) and I don’t even have my chicks yet! Thank you for such a fantastic look into caring for chickens.
Love your article. So true. I have one that if I leave any door open to the house …. she has found it. And if they are free ranging, before you think you hear Godzilla in the back yard. You have envisioned a 100 nasty deaths. Thank you for making me realize … I am not crazy.
My neighbor owns beautiful chickens but they regularly ask us to watch them while they’re out vacationing [weekends all year round] even during winter. It’s annoying when you are old. No respect.
This article had me giggling throughout. And it’s spot on. Especially about us becoming their servants. We also said we weren’t gonna treat them like pets. HA! They find a way to make you love them even when they are ornery.
I love this website! I think I’ve read about 20 of your posts in the past hour! Lol
Thank you so much Ava! I’m thrilled to hear you’re loving it! 🙂
True…but my neighbours dont mind coz they have chickens too.
i got chickens a year and ahalf ago, just for something to do, when my best friend ,my dog died, I need something to do, wow, did these chickens ever take my heart and mind over, I worry about them too, I buy special treats all the time, I talk to them everytime I step outside, I absolutely adore them, and cant wait for spring to get some new ones,
Just had 3 hens last Feb 10,2019. All what you said is right. From name calling, pecking, food, etc. And when I am at school all I was thinking is about my Hens. totally relate what you said.
My hens are my stress reliever ❤️
Thank you for your post.
We are first time chicken owners so with all of the researching we did, Pinterest decided to send me this. Wow, so accurate. We’ve done domestic and exotic animal rescue for 20+ years so we understand the judging friends and family lol We love that every species and every individual animal (even snakes!) have different personalities.
When we moved to the country, we added some ducklings and females chicks to our family. I’m a baker so we got them for their eggs and as pets. These first few months have given us so much hands on experience that isn’t in most books or articles. #5 and #6 though! We have a female that my husband picked because she basically picked him. We thought that strong “pick me” personality was adorable. She’s got personality alright, but she’s also dominant and has take on a bit of the roll of a male. She’s begun crowing in the mornings (but her’s seems to be mostly for attention) and guarding her flock, but she is also pushy with the other 2. Thankfully she’s not super aggressive, just a bully that chases and pecks at them one minute then snuggles them the next.
Thank you for writing this. It helps us feel a bit less crazy for choosing to raise them lol We love then so much they we plan to add at least 2 more. We just aren’t sure how she’ll take to them.
I know it’s 5 years after this post, but I have to say it is the BEST BLOG POST EVER!
Every single one described our last 8 months of life with chickens. They are amazing creatures, and praise God, we have only lost two babies and 2 older chickens out of 41. (I count that as pretty good odds for newbies.
Thank you for this. I will be sharing this amazing, fun (yet true) post with all of my friends.
Pam, Chickens are so much fun! I am always amazed with their little personalities.
Love it! So true. A good read. I love, love my chickens!