Updated February 2025

This article is a follow-up to Chicken Keeping, a Family Affair. You Can Do it Too! I hope these articles encourage you if you are also interested in keeping a backyard flock. The goal of this article is to give you a snapshot look into a day in the life of chicken keeping. It is truly a daily routine!

The Allure of Keeping Chickens in Your Backyard

The supply of eggs in supermarkets has declined, causing prices to rise steadily. In 2022, an 18-pack of Publix GreenWise Brown Eggs cost $8.50—by 2025, the price has climbed to $9.41. Eggland’s Best, once $4.09 for a dozen, now sells for $6.75. The primary culprit behind this increase is the avian flu outbreak, which has led to the mass culling of poultry flocks.

Beyond the challenge of securing eggs, keeping backyard chickens offers many benefits. It provides educational opportunities for children and families, fosters a shared hobby, increases self-sufficiency, and deepens our understanding of where our food comes from. While raising chickens requires effort, the rewards are well worth it.

My Daily Routine and Essential Products

A typical day starts with waking up early to oversee our family’s morning routine, which includes getting the kids ready for school, engaging in Bible Study, and preparing breakfast. My husband typically enjoys three eggs for breakfast each morning. After that, I head to the coop to let the chickens roam free and assess their needs.

While the hens free-range, I typically bring out treats – this is usually comprised of whatever kitchen scraps I have, GrubTerra Dried Black Soldier Fly Larvae and 5 Manna Pro 7-Grain Ultimate Chicken Scratch. These snacks are served on their cute little picnic table. I then check their food level for their feed and refill if necessary. Then do the same with their water. We use a 1.5 gallon waterer and 10 lb. feeder which are suspended on chains from the rafters. We like to keep the food and water off of the ground for cleanliness. When their water needs to be refilled, I use Hydro-Hen during the summer months to keep them adequately hydrated with electrolytes. I’ll then check their nesting boxes, make sure that their nesting pads are clean, and collect eggs. We usually get 2 eggs in the morning and then another 4 eggs in the afternoon/evening, on average. The winter months yield a bit less. All of the products we use are hyperlinked in this paragraph, pictures are provided below for reference.

Efficient Coop Cleaning Routine for Healthy Chickens

If the chicken coop needs cleaning, the following steps are taken:

• Raking up any debris in the area.
• Refilling any unlevel areas with fresh pine to create an even surface in the chicken run.
• Cleaning out the dust bath and refilling it with lime.
• Removing any chicken poop from the stairs and porch area inside the chicken run.
• Implementing the deep-litter method inside the coop by adding a new layer of bedding material on top of the old one to decompose the manure and create a healthy environment for the chickens.

This routine typically takes about 30 minutes to complete. You can also view the video below to see the typical process.

In Conclusion: The Fulfilling World of Chicken-Keeping

I hope this snapshot provides a clearer insight into the daily requirements of chicken-keeping. As illustrated, it involves some effort, but the rewards are truly worth it. The products I’ve mentioned are our trusted essentials. Our chickens are thriving, yielding high-quality eggs with vibrant yellow-orange yolks. The discernible difference in taste compared to store-bought eggs is remarkable. We have not encountered any issues with non-layers, and even during winter, our 6 hens lay a commendable 3-4 eggs daily, perfectly suiting our family’s needs. In summer, we collect approximately 6-8 eggs per day.

Now enjoy this fun little video below of Stuff My Chickens Eat!

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