Getting Started Raising Chickens

Are you thinking about raising chickens for the first time? Whether you're dreaming of daily fresh eggs, looking to live more sustainably, or simply want a fun and rewarding hobby, chickens are a great place to start. They're often called the “gateway animal” to homesteading and for good reason.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about raising chickens for beginners, from understanding chicken basics to choosing the right breeds and preparing for egg production.

Chickens 101: Understanding the Basics

Before you buy your first chicks, it’s important to learn some basic poultry terms and concepts. Here’s a quick glossary to get you started:

• Pullet: A young female chicken under one year old
• Hen: An adult female chicken (usually lays eggs)
• Cockerel: A young male chicken under one year old
• Rooster (or Cock): An adult male chicken
• Straight run: A batch of unsexed chicks (can be male or female)
• Brooder: A heated enclosure for raising baby chicks
• Coop: The house where chickens sleep and lay eggs
• Run: A fenced outdoor space for chickens to roam during the day

Chickens come in various breeds and sizes, including bantams (miniature chickens) and large fowl. You’ll also find dual-purpose breeds great for both eggs and meat, and specialty egg layers known for producing blue, green, or dark brown eggs.

Chickens are social creatures. It's not advisable to raise only one or two birds. Starting with 3–6 hens is ideal, ensuring companionship, steady egg supply, and manageable care. A flock of 4–5 is perfect for most families.

How to Raise Chickens for Beginners

So, how do you raise chickens as a beginner? It starts with planning. Here's what you need to consider before bringing home your first flock:

Step 1: Decide Why You Want Chickens
Ask yourself:

• Do I want fresh eggs, meat, pets or all three?
• Do I want a low-maintenance backyard flock or a productive homestead setup?

Your goals will influence the breeds you choose, how many chickens you get, and what type of coop you’ll need.

Raising chickens requires commitment. Ask yourself if you're prepared for daily feeding, cleaning, and health checks. Planning for vacations (with a chicken-sitter) is also essential.

Step 2: Check Local Laws and Zoning
Always research your town or city's regulations about keeping chickens:

• Are chickens allowed in your area?
• Is there a minimum lot size?
• Are roosters permitted, or only hens?
• Are there restrictions on coop placement or flock size?

Tip: Contact your local zoning board or search for "urban chicken ordinance [Your City]."

Be thorough with city ordinances and homeowners associations (HOAs). Some allow hens but prohibit roosters. Also, check distance-from-property-line rules.

Step 3: Estimate Your Flock Size
A good starting flock is 3–6 hens. This will yield 12–30 eggs per week, depending on breed and season. If you’re raising meat chickens, you might start with 10–25 depending on your processing schedule.

You can also begin with day-old chicks (often sold sexed or as straight-run), pullets (young hens not yet laying), or even mature layers for faster egg production. Avoid sourcing birds from unreliable places to minimize biosecurity risks. Always quarantine new birds.

Raising Chickens for Eggs for Beginners

Most beginners start raising chickens for the joy of homegrown eggs and who can blame them? Eggs from your backyard flock are fresher, tastier, and often more nutritious than store-bought ones.

What You Need to Know:

• Laying starts at ~18–24 weeks of age, depending on breed.
• Hens lay 4–6 eggs per week on average.
• Chickens need 14–16 hours of light daily to lay consistently.
• Quality feed, calcium (oyster shells), and fresh water are key to egg production.

Top Breeds for Egg-Laying Beginners:

• White Leghorn – Highly productive white egg layer
• Australorp – Hardy, friendly, and excellent brown egg producer
• ISA Brown / Red Sex-Link – Reliable daily layers
• Ameraucana – Lays beautiful blue eggs

Be prepared for a seasonal dip in production during winter. Supplementing light and providing a stress-free environment can help keep laying consistent.

Chickens need access to free-choice calcium, like crushed oyster shells or recycled eggshells (baked and crushed finely). These should be offered separately from the main feed. Without enough calcium, eggshells can become thin and break.

Hens don’t need a rooster to lay eggs—only if you want to hatch chicks. Also, limit scraps to 10% of their diet and avoid items like onions, garlic, citrus, chocolate, and moldy food.

 

Raising Meat Chickens for Beginners

If you're interested in raising chickens for meat, you’ll need to approach it slightly differently than raising layers. Meat birds grow faster, require different feed, and have a shorter life cycle.

What Makes Meat Chickens Different?
Meat breeds, like Cornish Cross and Freedom Rangers, are bred for rapid growth and efficient feed conversion. While layers take months to mature, meat birds are usually processed between 8 to 12 weeks of age.

Meat Chicken Essentials:

• Housing: A roomy grow-out pen or tractor that allows ventilation and mobility
• Feed: High-protein starter/grower feed (20–24%) to support fast growth
• Water: Clean, fresh water is vital, especially in hot climates
• Processing equipment: If processing at home, you'll need a scalder, plucker, and kill cones

Tips for Beginners:

• Start small: 10–15 birds are manageable for your first meat batch
• Choose a breed: Cornish Cross for quick results, Freedom Rangers for slower but more active birds
• Watch for leg issues: Fast-growing breeds need solid footing and appropriate feed to prevent joint problems

Ensure meat birds are kept on non-slip bedding like pine shavings. Avoid overcrowding, and monitor them closely for signs of respiratory issues or leg deformities.

How to Raise Baby Chickens for Beginners

Raising baby chicks is one of the most rewarding experiences for new chicken keepers. But chicks are delicate and need proper care during the first few weeks of life.

Setting Up a Brooder:
A chick brooder is a heated enclosure that mimics the warmth of a mother hen. Essentials include:

• Heat source (heat lamp or brooder plate): Start at 95°F, reduce by 5°F each week
• Bedding: Pine shavings are ideal—avoid cedar
• Chick feeder & waterer: Prevent spills and soiling
• Draft protection: Keep the brooder enclosed and warm

First 6 Weeks Checklist:

• Week 1–2: Focus on warmth, hydration, and starter feed
• Week 3–4: Begin reducing heat, offer small perches
• Week 5–6: Transition to grower feed, introduce grit, and limited treats
• After 6 weeks: Move to a grow-out pen or coop, depending on weather and feather development

Health Tips:

• Use medicated feed to prevent coccidiosis (optional)
• Keep feeders and waterers clean
• Observe chicks for pasty butt, lethargy, or leg splaying

💡 Tip: If you’re starting with chicks, check out our brooders and grow-out pens designed to make chick-raising easy and hygienic.

Always buy chicks from reputable hatcheries or local farm stores. Avoid lethargic or disoriented chicks. Also, day-old chicks should be offered warm water with electrolytes upon arrival.

Have a safe space indoors for 6–8 weeks with proper heat and protection from pets and drafts.

Best Chickens to Raise for Beginners

Choosing the right breeds is one of the most exciting parts of starting your flock. Your selection will determine not just egg or meat output, but also personality, climate adaptability, and visual appeal.

Best All-Around Breeds for Beginners:

Breeds to Avoid (for most beginners):

• Rhode Island Red, Barred Plymouth Rock, Red Sex-Link: While great layers, they can be aggressive in mixed flocks
• High-production hybrids: May have health issues due to over-laying in later years

Choosing a mixed flock gives you a fun variety of egg colors and personalities and helps you learn which breeds you prefer over time.

Also consider your climate—some breeds like Brahmas and Orpingtons are great in cold weather, while Leghorns do better in heat. Avoid high-strung or aggressive breeds if you have children.

Building the Perfect Chicken Coop for Beginners

Once you've chosen your chickens, you'll need to give them a safe and comfortable home. A well-designed chick coop keeps your flock protected from predators, sheltered from the elements, and productive year-round.

Key Features of a Beginner-Friendly Coop:

• Size: Allow at least 2–4 square feet per bird inside the coop and 8–10 square feet per bird in the run
• Ventilation: Prevents moisture buildup and respiratory issues; includes windows or screened vents
• Nesting Boxes: One box for every 3–4 hens, filled with soft bedding
• Perches/Roosts: Install elevated perches for nighttime rest
• Predator-Proofing: Use hardware cloth instead of chicken wire, bury it around the perimeter, and secure all doors/latches

Bonus Tips:

• Place the coop near a water source and electric outlet (for winter water heaters or lighting)
• Position it on high, level ground with natural shade if possible
• Keep it dry: wet bedding leads to ammonia buildup and illness

Need help? Check out our automatic coop accessories and waterers to make daily care easier.

A well-ventilated but draft-free coop helps reduce illness, mold, and ammonia buildup. Elevating coops also keeps them dry and deters rodents.

Provide about 10–12 inches of perch space per chicken and ensure roosts are flat (like a 2x4 laid wide side up) to prevent foot injuries or frostbite.

Use wooden dummy eggs to encourage laying in nest boxes and block them off when chicks are young to discourage sleeping and pooping in them.

How Long Do Chickens Lay Eggs?

One of the most common beginner questions is: How long do chickens lay eggs?

The Egg-Laying Timeline:

• Most hens begin laying between 18–24 weeks of age
• Peak laying occurs during the first 1–2 years
• After age 2, egg production gradually slows, but some hens still lay a few eggs per week until age 4–5 or longer

Factors That Affect Egg Production:

• Breed: Leghorns and sex-links lay more; heritage breeds lay fewer but for longer
• Light: Chickens need 14–16 hours of daylight to maintain regular laying
• Nutrition: Low-quality feed or calcium deficiency leads to a drop in production
• Stress: Changes in environment, bullying, or predators can pause laying

Some hens may stop laying during molting (feather replacement) or winter. This is normal and temporary.

Many keepers allow hens to rest naturally during molting and winter. While supplemental lighting is an option, avoiding it can prolong laying years.

Unwashed eggs with the bloom intact can be stored at room temperature. Washed eggs must be refrigerated immediately. Review our GoodEggStuff collection for Egg Cleaning Wash & Brushes 

Common Mistakes Beginners Should Avoid

Avoiding a few common pitfalls can make your chicken-raising experience much smoother.

Top Mistakes:

• Skipping local research: Always check zoning and rooster laws
• Overcrowding: Leads to stress, pecking, and disease
• Inadequate predator protection: Raccoons, hawks, and foxes can wipe out a flock overnight
• Buying based on looks alone: Some breeds may not suit your climate or flock dynamics
• Feeding scraps without balance: A proper layer or grower feed is essential

Starting small, planning, and observing your chickens daily will help you catch problems early and build confidence.

Avoid giving toxic foods like avocado, chocolate, citrus, garlic, onions, raw beans, and moldy leftovers.

Lack of grit in non-free-ranging chickens can lead to digestion problems. Always offer free-choice grit (small stones or coarse sand).

Final Thoughts: Is Raising Chickens Right for You?

Raising chickens for beginners is a rewarding, hands-on experience that offers a daily connection to your food source. Whether you're collecting fresh eggs each morning or teaching your kids how to care for animals, chickens can bring joy and sustainability to your backyard.

Start with just a few friendly hens, a well-built coop, and the right supplies. As you gain experience, you’ll feel comfortable expanding your flock and exploring deeper aspects like incubation, meat processing, or heritage breeding.

Ready to start? Explore Hatching Time’s beginner-friendly brooders, grow-out pens, and chicken cages to make your setup stress-free and successful.

Be prepared to clean the coop regularly and manage manure responsibly. Composted chicken manure makes excellent fertilizer after proper aging.

Chickens can destroy gardens if allowed to free-range unsupervised—use fencing or rotate their access. And yes, "chicken math" is real; many start with a few birds and quickly want more!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many chickens should I start with?
Start with 3 to 6 hens. It’s manageable, and you’ll get a dozen or more eggs each week.

Do I need a rooster for hens to lay eggs?
No. Hens lay eggs without a rooster. You only need a rooster if you want fertilized eggs for hatching.

Can I raise chickens in the city?
In many urban and suburban areas, yes, but check local ordinances first.

How much space do chickens need?
At least 2–4 square feet per chicken inside the coop and 8–10 square feet in the outdoor run.

What’s the best chicken breed for beginners?
Australorp, Orpington, Leghorn, and Ameraucana are great for new keepers.

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👤 About the Author

Umair Salahuddin is an experienced poultry care enthusiast and a contributor to HatchingTime.com. With years of hands-on experience raising chickens, Umair offers expert advice on chick care, brooding, and raising healthy poultry.