Chickens are what most people think about when they start considering urban homesteading. There’s a good reason for that, chickens can be an easy livestock to start raising, and they don’t take a lot of space. Raising chickens is a quick way to start producing all the eggs your family will need. Chickens can also be raised just part time for meat, or even as dual purpose birds!
They do have a little bit of learning curve, and there are things you can do to help your chickens have a happy life. If you are thinking about getting chickens, but aren’t sure if they are right for you, please download my free e-guide Baby Steps To Backyard Chickens.
Baby Steps To Backyard Chickens comes with a free companion, a printable checklist to help you get ready for chickens. It’s also packaged as a free email course! Sign up for your downloadable checklist and email course right here:
You don’t have to live in the country to have chickens
Chickens are one of the most versatile livestock. They can be raised even on small city lots! I had a small flock of birds on our 1/10th of an acre lot in Portland, Oregon. If you choose to raise bantam chickens you could keep them in virtually any yard! Chickens are much quieter than a dog, (as long as you don’t have a rooster). And don’t worry, you don’t need a rooster to get eggs!
Chickens are also very easy to take care of. They need clean water and food, and a safe place to live. Even kids can take care of pet chickens. What other pet out there produces breakfast for you?
On the other hand, if you do have the space, it’s totally possible to raise a self-sufficient flock of chickens. With just one or two roosters you can hatch out chicks in the spring to replace your laying birds or to raise for meat. With a little extra garden space you can start growing some of their own feed in order to save money.
If you have enough grass, or don’t mind setting up a rotating pasture you can even raise grass fed chickens. Eggs from chickens that are allowed to eat their natural diet of grass, plants, and bugs are vibrant and have colorful yolks. They are much more nutritious than eggs that come from factory farms.
Plus they just taste better!
If you are sure you want to start raising chickens, or if you already have chickens, feel free to look through the available resources below!
Backyard chickens are one of the best pets that you can keep. They are easy to keep and require very little attention compared to most pets such as dogs. Plus, they give you eggs in return for a little bit of care and attention!
If you want the best of the Farming My Backyard’s chicken wisdom featured below , but compiled into one easy to read source, check out my book, Backyard Chickens: How To Have A Happy Flock.
You can order kindle or paperback versions on Amazon by clicking here.
And of course you are always welcome to browse the free posts below!
How To Keep Chickens’ Water Clean
Where To Put A Chicken Coop In Your Yard
Chicken Roosts That Rock
Are My Chickens Molting Or Have Mites?
How Long Do Chickens Live?
5 Tips For Chickens Eating Their Own Eggs
What Chickens Lay Blue Eggs?
6 Little Known Facts About Chickens With Fluffy Feet
Do You Need To Worry About Chickens In The Rain?
4 Things You Need To Know About Chickens Attracting Rats
What I Learned From Chickens Not Laying In Nesting Box
Top 5 Tools For When Chickens Go Broody
Why I Don’t Feed My Chickens Bread
The History Of How Chickens Were Domesticated
The Art Of Chickens Roosting In Trees
How To Train Your Chickens
Are Chickens Noisy?
Are Chickens Related To Dinosaurs?
Why Chickens Make Great Pets
The Most Important Things You Should Do For Chickens Hatching Eggs
Here’s a Quick Way To Know Which Chickens Are Autosexing
3 Ways To Keep Chickens From Ruining Your Lawn
The Truth About Chickens’ Pecking Order
How To Have Chickens AND A Garden
Common Foot Problems In Backyard Chickens And How To Handle Them
How To Set Up A Chicken Run For Your Backyard Chickens
Are Backyard Chickens Right For You?
Popular Chicken Breeds For Backyard Homesteaders
Do You Have To Refrigerate Farm Fresh Eggs?
The Best Chicken Coop For Hot Climates
How To Set Up A Brooder Box For A Hen And Chicks
3+ Rare Chicken Breeds You Need To Raise
Are Your Chickens Molting? Here’s What You Need To Know
How To Cool Down Chickens
How To Keep Chickens Cool In Extreme Heat
Can Backyard Chickens Give You Salmonella?
Growing Herbs for Chickens
8 Tips For Keeping Chickens Cool In The Summer
How To Raise Mealworms For Chickens
What Are The Best Chicken Breeds For Eggs?
What To Do About Obnoxious Chickens Eating Eggs
The Most Important Gifts for Chicken Lovers You Should Buy
How To Take A Vacation When You Have Chickens
How Can You Help Avoid Chicken Illnesses?
What Is The Best Chicken Bedding To Use In Your Coop?
Do You Need To Wash Farm Fresh Eggs?
Pros and Cons of Raising Guinea Fowl
How Much Do Chickens Cost?
Chicken Diseases You Need To Know About
Everything You Wanted To Know About Chicken Eggs
Deworming Chickens: Do You Need To Worry About It?
Be Ruthless With Chicken Mites And Obnoxious Bugs
How Do You Know If You Have A Sick Chicken?
Introducing New Chickens Without Causing a Bloodbath
How Many Chickens Do I Need In A Successful Flock?
3 Excellent Places To Buy Chicks For A Healthy Flock
New To Raising Chicks? Give Them The Best Care.
3 Reasons Why You Need Chickens
Can You Raise Meat Chickens In The City To Be More Self-Reliant?
How To Clean Your Chicken Coop The Right Way
55 Best Chicken Coops for Practical People
Pastured Meat Chickens In The City
How To Make An Automatic Chicken Waterer
Chickens Take Dust Baths (But It Looks Like A Frenzy)!
Should You Put Your Compost Bin in the Chicken Run?
Predator Proof Chicken Coops: A Simple Way To Protect Your Flock
Will Raising Meat Chickens Save Money?
15 Chicken Keeping Mistakes to Avoid
Can You Have a Dog AND Chickens?
Trimming Flight Feathers Is A Quick And Easy Skill
8 Tips For Winter Chicken Care That Will Keep Your Birds Happy
How To Make Your Own Animal Feeds
Here’s How To Make Your Own Chick Brooder Box
Is Letting Your Chickens Free Range Right For You?
Fodder Feeding: How To Get Healthy Livestock AND Save Money
Here’s Why You Should Absolutely Think About Coturnix Quail
How To Raise Your Chickens On An Urban Pasture For The Best Eggs
The Secret Trick To The Best Nest Box Ever
Are Heritage Meat Chickens The Best?
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