Are you interested in backyard chicken keeping? If so, I want to share our family’s experience to encourage you. I hope it inspires you and provides you with valuable information.

“Y’all it’s almost $8.50 for an 18 pack of the brown, Publix brand eggs now! I settled for a 12 pack of Eggland’s Best at $4.09. I like the free-range brown eggs for their nutritional value but goodness.”

Me on 09/01/2022

Raising Egg-Laying Hens: A Journey of Care and Commitment

According to the U.S. Inflation Calculator, “Over a longer period and averaging the BLS’s monthly pricing data, the cost of a dozen eggs surged to $2.86 in 2022 from $1.67 in 2021, representing a 72.3% increase”. I’d love to have seen the price of eggs at $2.86. In September of 2022, I was looking at $4.09 for a dozen eggs at Publix in Southeast Georgia. I think that’s when I seriously started considering raising egg-laying hens.

Our family spent the next 5 months researching chicken breeds, the best way to care for and keep backyard chickens, and how to build chicken houses. We sought the advice of chicken experts in person and performed online research. In February 2023, we picked up our new chicks from a local hatchery, making us first time pet chicken owners. Young chicks have to stay near a heat source their first 9 weeks of life until they have feathers. Therefore, we purchased a radiant heater, which I prefer over heat lamps for its safety features. The heater has also proven to be an easy way to keep their coop warm during winter cold snaps.

We kept the heat at 95% and adjusted down by 10% every two weeks until we hit 75% and maintained. In fact, during the last year, our hens were able to maintain near-normal levels of egg production, while others reported their hens did not lay eggs during the winter. I believe the combination of radiant heat and the high-quality feed we offered ensured a healthy flock.

Further, we cleaned their cage daily, refreshed the pine shavings, refilled their chick feeder and waterer containers with organic chicken feed (20% protein chick starter) and clean drinking water frequently, supplied flock feed and chick grit, and made sure their vents (butt area) were poop free. Their vents (butt area) can get pasty, which is deadly; preventing this is the most important thing according to the farm we purchased from. The chicks had a habit of knocking over their water or pooping in their clean water, daily. I made sure not to feed them anything aside from their flock feed for the first 2 weeks. After we introduced vegetables, one at a time, we began to include chick grit, which is important for digestion. The first 9 weeks were the most hands-on part of getting the chicks ready to move outside. While we do support our local farmer and local feed store, we’ve been satisfied with specialty chicken supplies available on Amazon. Overall, the first 9 weeks are probably the most challenging and critical period for raising chickens, as it requires daily hard work. Not all chicks make it through this period. Thankfully, all of ours made it through and so did we! 

Building a Family Chicken Coop Project

Keeping chickens is a family affair, as demonstrated by our experience. When my middle daughter chose to “build a chicken coop” as her class agriculture project, it became a collaborative effort. With research, hard work, and dedication, we constructed a secure and spacious coop and chicken run, which has since become a template for other students. The coop, attached to an existing shed, provides a safe and comfortable home for our happy chickens, offering ample laying space and proper ventilation. We further fortified it against predators by installing hardware cloth, rather than basic chicken wire. Given the coop’s importance, regular maintenance tasks are undertaken, ensuring a clean and healthy environment for our feathered friends. Moreover, our chickens enjoy the freedom of free range, with access to a large yard.

The Joy of Chicken-Keeping

Did all of those pictures of chickens eating, pique your curiosity about what they can eat? Check out our Chicken Guide: Can Chickens Eat Black Olives & Other Food?

Chicken-keeping requires research, proper accommodations, and daily maintenance. But the reward is far greater than the eggs we enjoy each morning. Not only are the eggs fresh and nutritious but I also feel good about knowing where our own food comes from. It’s part of the same reason I like to garden. I love connecting with God and his creation through this process. Through this experience, we’re making fun family memories and creating educational opportunities. If you’re interested in backyard birds as a hobby, I encourage you to go for it.

If you liked this article, you may also enjoy Chicken Keeping: A Daily Routine. Ever wondered what a day in the life of chicken keeping looks like? From morning chores to collecting fresh eggs, our routine is truly egg-citing! Discover the rewarding benefits of keeping a backyard flock and the egg-cellent products we swear by.

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