Which came first: the chicken or the egg?  The better question is which came first: the chicken or the research?  I took a certification course on Backyard Chickens which gave me a  whole new appreciation for chickens and chicken owners.  You may want to get chickens because of the price of eggs but please do your research.

Did you know that 10 chickens will need 30-40 square feet of indoor coop space and 100 square feet of outdoor space, the chicken run.   You would have to give up 100 and 60 square feet to make a coop and run (give a little extra room to walk around it).  You could do a lot worse things with that much space in your backyard.  You would have to pick the perfect spot, sun but not too much, near the outside water but not so close the coop gets the run off, close to the house but not too close so you can get to it in all kinds of weather.  

You will also need a place to keep their supplies.  You could set up a shed in the backyard (which would take up more space).  You will most likely want galvanized steel trash cans with a lid to keep the chickens’ food safe.  Again wherever you store the containers will need to be close to the chickens in case of inclement weather.  You don’t want their food getting so it doesn’t get moldy.  

You will need a brooding box for the chickens to lay their eggs and it will need to be attached to the coop.  You will need to learn who to deal with a hen that wants to lay on her unfertilized egg waiting for it to hatch.  You will need to learn how to help a hen that is egg bound. You will also need to remember to check the eggs everyday so they don’t get stepped on and crushed. It will make a mess in the brood box.

You need to understand their diet.  What they can and cannot eat.  We go to pet supply places and they may sell food in pretty packaging but it may not be good for chickens.  They may have an ingredient or two that is good for a chicken but the rest of the ingredients are bad or of no nutritional value.

It may sound like I’m trying to talk you out of getting chickens but I’m not.  I want you to have the best experience possible with chickens and that comes with research.  Chickens have unique personalities and some like to cuddle.  You will have favorites and some not so favorites.  You will enjoy watching them out in the run.  The more you research and are prepared the better it will be for you.  Seriously.  People take months to figure out what breed of dog they want, take the time to learn about chickens.  You will not regret any of the time spent researching.  Also, find a veterinarian in your area that treats chickens, it will ease your mind.

Now all you have to do is pick the breed of chicken!  Oh if you want a rooster you will need to know if your community is a Right to Farm community and if your neighbors are ok with a rooster.  Make nice to the neighbors and make sure to give them some eggs now and then.