Raising Backyard Chickens

Raising your own chickens may be easier than you think. We have compiled a list of helpful tips to get you started.

• Check local laws to make sure you are allowed to raise chickens in your area.
• Provide fresh clean water and chicken feed or pellets.
• Provide shelter. Keep your chickens from becoming too hot or cold, and keep them out of the rain or direct sun.
• Keep the henhouse clean and change the litter often. Pine shavings work great on the floor.
• Keep them away from predators including foxes, coyotes, hawks, owls and even your own dogs.
• Provide plenty of room. Each chicken needs approximately 2 or 3 square feet indoors, and between 4 to 8 square feet outdoors.
• Provide a small, dark area so your hen will lay eggs. They also like a nesting box for comfort.
• Consider providing nesting boxes at a variety of heights for your hens.
• Keep rodents at bay by placing wire mesh under the coop, and add poultry netting around windows and vents.

The right henhouse or chicken coop will provide many of these benefits without a lot of extra work. To find the best chicken coop for your needs, decide how many chickens you plan to have, then calculate the space that you will need.

Visit some of our best-selling henhouses: