by Matthew Nowakowski

Created on: December 10, 2010   Last Updated: December 12, 2010

So, you want to raise chickens? The first thing you must ask yourself is “What comes first, the chicken or the egg?” Are you going to start by incubating some eggs or are you going get yourself some good laying hens. Also, what is your goal of raising chickens? Do you just want some farm fresh eggs for your own consumption or do you want to hatch eggs for the purpose of selling chicks? Hopefully we can answer all these questions here.

Before you rush out and get yourself some chickens or eggs there some preparations you need to make first.

Housing: You can find blue prints online to build yourself a chicken coup or you can buy one already built for around $100-$300. You may also want to fence in the area around your coup to protect your flock from predators. If your chickens will be roaming free they at least need access to an area where they can get up high when danger is near. Dogs, cats, raccoons and foxes are among some of the animals that can prey on your chickens.

Feed: Match the type of feed you use to the age of your chickens. Hatchlings have different feed requirements than older chickens. Do some research and ask questions at your local feed store.

Fresh water: Make fresh water readily available. There are waterers designed for poultry on the market. They keep the water fresh and free of debris. Look for them where you buy your feed. On a tight budget? A simple, shallow dish of water will work too.

Incubator: If you plan on hatching eggs you will need an incubator. There are several different models and sizes available. They are designed to keep eggs at the perfect temperature for incubation. You may also want to try your hand at building your own incubator; there are many different plans for this available on the internet. You can turn the eggs by hand or buy an automatic turner. An automatic turner tends to deliver better results. If you have children they will show a lot of interest in the incubating process.

Now it’s time to get some chickens and eggs. Check your local paper, ask at the farmer’s co-op and check at the local flea market. There are many different types of chickens, do some research and see what interests you and go from there. Soon you will have plenty of fresh eggs waiting for you.

Raising chickens is a fun hobby that the whole family can enjoy. Get everyone involved, you all will get a lot of enjoyment from these little creatures.

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