​​Chicken Care 101: How to Raise Chickens

Are you thinking about getting chickens? Or, maybe you’re a new chicken owner? There’s a lot to know about how to raise chickens so that they can live a happy, fulfilled life! That’s why we’ve created this chicken care 101 guide.

Continue reading to learn about what you need to know before bringing your flock home. We’ll also give you the rundown on how many chickens to keep, maintaining a clean and comfortable space for your flock, training and feeding your chickens, and more.

How Do You Take Care of a Chicken (for beginners)?

When it comes to chicken care 101, there are a few things all chicken owners (or future ones) need to know about. We’ll cover each of these below!

• How many chickens to keep
• A clean & comfortable home for your flock
• Training chickens
• Feeding your chickens
• Maintaining a healthy flock
• Keeping up with eggs

Things to Know About Chicken Raising

If you’re a new chicken owner, there are a few things to know before getting chickens.

• Check your local ordinance to confirm that backyard chickens are allowed in your town. Most cities permit this, but it’s always good to double-check and see if there’s a limit on how many chickens you can keep.
• There are several investments to consider. This includes items like your chicken coop, waterers, feeders, food, chicken bedding, roosts, and nesting box.
• Refreshing food and water daily and regularly cleaning the chicken coop are a few responsibilities a chicken owner should be mindful of.
• There are many different breeds of chickens. They have different traits and are suitable for various things (aside from being a loving pet!), such as producing eggs. Check out this breed chart for more info.

Chicken Care 101

When it comes to understanding all about raising chickens, there’s a lot that goes into it. From deciding how many chickens to keep to training and feeding them, let’s take a look at the most important factors.

How Many Chickens to Keep

Chickens are social by nature, so it’s a good idea to have at least a few chickens in your flock. With that said, you need to have enough space for them. Space needed per chicken varies from 2-10 square feet but depends on the chicken’s size. 

To determine how many chickens to keep, you’ll need to observe the space in your yard. You need room for the chicken coop, the enclosed area where the chickens sleep and lay their eggs, and the run, a secured outdoor space where your chickens can spend time and spread their wings. 

A Clean & Comfortable Home for Your Flock

Once you’ve determined how much space you have and how many chickens can live comfortably in your backyard, you need to create a clean home for them. Not only should your chickens’ coop be spacious, but it should also be cozy and clean. This will ensure that they stay happy and healthy. Some common chicken illnesses can be prevented if their coop and run are set up properly and kept clean.

There are several ways to keep a clean chicken coop:

• Deep litter method: layered bedding for litter to build up and compost within the bedding; also good for keeping your flock warm in cold temperatures
• Tarp method: tarp lays over clean chicken coop floor and offers easy cleaning
• Hay or straw: bedding lays on coop floor, then raked and replaced when it’s time for a refresh
• Dropping boards: plastic or wooden tray sits under the chicken roost, then removed when it needs to be cleaned

Read more about each of these methods and how to clean a chicken coop here.

Training Chickens

That’s right! Just like you do with any other pet, you want to train your chickens. It’s entertaining for you and your flock, plus it provides mental stimulation for your chickens. The good news is that chickens are very smart and food-motivated. Using a special treat while training chickens can encourage your flock to learn fun and practical tricks.

You can teach your chickens things like coming when called, completing an obstacle course, brain games, wearing a harness, and treat leaping. We go into how to teach each of these in this article.

Feeding Your Chickens

When it comes to chicken care 101, you want to ensure they have a balanced diet. Chickens eat a chicken feed that should contain everything they need to stay healthy. Their diet should consist of proteins, grains, vegetables, fruit, and water.

Read more: What Can Chickens Eat? A Guide to Feeding Your Chickens

Maintaining a Healthy Flock

Several factors play a role in your flock’s health, some of which we already shared! Here’s a rundown of some things to be aware of to ensure your chickens maintain their good health:

• Keep fresh food and water accessible.
• Check bedding regularly to make sure it’s dry and change it out when needed.
• Keep predators away. There should be a secure fence to protect their run, and it’s essential to make sure your chickens are safely back in their coop at night.
• Clean and disinfect the coop regularly. This includes their waterers and feeders. More on that in our cleaning guide.

Keeping Up With Eggs

If you have hens, chicken care 101 will require keeping up with eggs. And, fresh eggs are the best! Hens usually lay about one egg a day when they’re laying. Collecting them frequently, once a day if possible, prevents them from breaking while your chickens wander around. If you collect a cracked egg, it’s best to throw it out in case the egg was exposed to any bacteria. 

When it comes to washing and storing eggs, it’s actually best not to wash fresh eggs. This is because there’s a coating on the eggs that can prevent bacteria from entering the egg. You can store fresh, unwashed eggs at room temperature or in the refrigerator, and feel free to wash them right before use.

You can keep your eggs in a reusable egg carton like this one!

Final Thoughts on Chicken Care 101

While chicken raising is an exciting adventure, it’s essential to be sure you know all about keeping backyard chickens. From providing a spacious, clean coop and run to feeding and training chickens, there’s a lot that goes into taking care of your flock. We hope this guide has helped you feel confident in chicken care 101.

If you have any questions, let us know in the comments below!