Questions to Consider Before Getting Chickens
Sure, those chicks are super adorable, but (preferably) before you bring them home, a bit of self-reflection is wise to make sure you aren’t biting off more than you can chew.
This guide to raising laying hens will help you learn everything you need to know for raising healthy and happy chickens and it will help you get the tastiest eggs possible from your laying hens. Learn about what you need to consider before getting your first chickens, get a quick look at some of the best laying hen breeds, how to get different colored eggs, and how to keep your hens healthy all year long.
I have no self control.
If the feed store has chicks, I will buy them.And if they are on sale?
Forget about it.
I know that I’m not the only homesteader who gets tempted by those feed store chicks. There’s a common saying that goes something like “Chickens are the gateway livestock” and it’s most definitely true. So if you’re a newbie homesteader, with a car full of impulsive-bought chicks (which I totally understand!), this post is for you.
(We won’t really be covering raising meat chickens in this post (you can read more about raising meat chickens here), but I will cover plenty of general information that you can use for raising any type of chicken.)
Let’s take a closer look at what you need to consider before getting chickens, the best laying hen breeds for optimal eggs, the different colored eggs you can get, how to help your chickens give you more eggs, and much more.
Questions to Consider Before Getting Chickens
Sure, those chicks are super adorable, but (preferably) before you bring them home, a bit of self-reflection is wise to make sure you aren’t biting off more than you can chew.
1. Are you allowed to have chickens on your property?
Check out the local laws and ordinances before you get your first chickens, as every suburb, urban area, and even countryside home has different laws to with which to contend. For example, some places will allow you to have chickens, but no roosters, or there might be a limit to how many birds you can have.
Unfortunately, some towns or HOAs (homeowner’s associations) have strict ordinances that doesn’t allow chickens at all. So always double check your local rules before you bring those adorable chicks home.