10 Things you Need to Know as a First Time Chicken Keeper
Are you a first time chicken keeper who doesn't know where to start? You're not alone. When I started raising chickens I made every mistake in the book and had no earthly idea what I was signing up for. To make the whole process a little easier for you and your flock, I've compiled a list of 10 things I wish I'd known when I started my chicken raising journey.
1. Chickens are flock animals
Chickens are flock animals, meaning that they naturally form groups that live, travel and forage together. This means that they don't do well on their own. To keep chickens, you need a minimum of three for their health and happiness, but you'll probably end up with more than that. Chicken keeping is an addictive hobby!2. Different breeds are good at different things
Not all chicken breeds are the same. Each breed is good at something different, so you'll want to think about that when choosing which breeds to keep in your flock. For example, Plymouth Barred Rock chickens are great dual purpose hens meaning they are great layers but can also be good meat chickens while Silkies are less productive egg layers but fantastic mothers and pets. Some breeds are friendlier than other which can be an important factor if you have kids who will be involved in the process. Additionally, some breed are more cold/heat hardy, or better at handling the heat or cold than others so keep your local weather in mind!
3. Predators are a thing
I assumed that since I lived in the city, predators wouldn't be an issue. Boy, was I wrong. Even in the middle of the Austin metro area, I've dealt with opossums, raccoons, coyotes, hawks, snakes and even a fox! You want to consider all the predators in your area and ensure that your coop is properly protected against them. Chickens are fairly defenseless and many predators attack at night when they are at their most vulnerable.
4. Chickens aren’t cheap
Many people (including myself) think that keeping chickens will be inexpensive or entirely free if you sell the eggs. Unfortunately, the vast majority of keepers do not have that experience. Chicken coops alone can range in the $1000s and you'll need a variety of supplies to keep your flock healthy and happy. Factor in all the unexpected expenses - think upgrading your coop after a predator gets in, a sick chicken, replacing chickens that didn't make it, etc. - and chicken keeping is an expensive hobby, but a rewarding one!5. Chickens aren’t always allowed
To my surprise, many areas and HOAs already have rules built in around keeping chickens. If you live in a metropolitan area, I recommend checking local ordinances and your HOA if you have one to make sure you can keep chickens in your area. You may find that chickens are allowed, but roosters are prohibited due to noise or that your coop has to be a certain distance from your home or property line. Whatever the regulations (or lack there of) it's important to follow them from the get go.
6. They are time consuming
Chickens are not a set and forget project. The coop requires regular cleaning, your flock needs food and clean water available at all times and, most of all, your flock needs to spend time with you. It's important to build a relationship with your chooks so that they trust you. This will make your life easier when it's necessary to pick your birds up, which is more often that you think! If you need to dust them for parasites, trim wings or butt feathers or apply ointment to a boo boo it can be nearly impossible to do so with a chicken that wants nothing to do you with you. Chickens that trust you are also more fun to keep! They are social animals and will thrive with your love and attention. Our head hen Peanut will literally follow me around screaming until I pick her up and give her the love she's craving. Shameless plug: follow Clean as Cluck on Instagram to see some of Peanut's shenanigans!
Chickens can also live much longer than most people think. The average lifespan is between 8-12 years with reports of chickens living up to 20 years. Keeping chickens is quite the commitment that shouldn't be taken lightly.
7. They make a mess
Chickens create dust like you wouldn't believe. They take dust baths to stay clean, but they also create dust when preening their feathers. If you have respiratory health struggles, they may not be the best fit for you. It's also not a great idea to keep them somewhere where that dust would be an issue (AKA chickens are meant to be indoor pets). Chickens can't control where they defecate which has resulted in more than one "oh sh**" moment in my time keeping chickens. They also produce most of their waste at night, while roosting which means all those feces are concentrated in one area. The coop needs to be cleaned on a regular basis or you risk your flock getting sick. Additionally, they are foraging animals which means that if given the opportunity, they will destroy your garden or flower beds in a matter of minutes. Believe me, I am speaking from experience.
8. They require adequate space
You may run across the phrase "chicken math" in your research. Chicken math is unexplained chicken multiplication. You only wanted three and wake up one day with 20. The mistake most people make (including myself) is that you don't account for future chickens when planning your coop, meaning that you'll have to upgrade space in the future as you add to your flock. Whatever number you are starting with, I would recommend planning for extra space for future flock additions. Your current hens won't mind the extra space one bit.
9. Chickens get sick too
Chickens get sick or injured just like us and you'll want to be prepared to deal with that when it comes up. You will need a space to quarantine sick or injured birds from the rest of your flock. Most issues can easily be treated without involving a vet, but you should research avian vets in your area just in case. The last think you want to do is scramble to find a vet when you have a situation requiring one on your hands.
10. You will get attached
I cannot emphasize this enough. Before I started keeping chickens, I would have laughed at anyone who told me where I'd be today. Chickens are smart, curious animals with individual personalities who will steal even the most stubborn of hearts. I think this is important to know because it means that this hobby will take more time than you initially thought and you will lose some of your feathered friends along the way. It's devastating to lose one of your flock, but it's a reality of being a chicken keeper. The more you set yourself up for success from the beginning, the less often you'll have to say goodbye!
While chicken keeping is no easy task, it is well worth every penny and minute devoted to it. My flock is part of the family and they provide me with endless joy and entertainment. Welcome to a world of laughs, fresh eggs and fluffy butts!