02/18/2025
As baby chick season rolls around and egg prices keep climbing, I know a lot of folks are probably thinking about raising their own chickens. Before you rush to the farm store to grab all the adorable chicks (yes, they are hard to resist!), here are 10 things to think about first:
1. Patience is keyāMost hens wonāt start laying eggs until theyāre about 18-22 weeks old (roughly 5 months).
2. Baby chicks need warmthāFor their first few weeks, chicks need to be kept at about 95°F.
3. Feeding isnāt freeāChickens eatā¦a lot. And like everything else these days, feed prices are up. A 50lb bag of layer feed will set you back over $20.
4. Molting happensāChickens go through a molting phase where they shed feathers, look a little rough, and stop laying eggs for a while.
5. Winter means fewer eggsāEgg production naturally slows down in the colder months.
6. Chickens can live a long timeāTheir lifespan is 5-10 years, so theyāre a long-term commitment.
7. Predators are a real threatāFoxes, raccoons, coyotes, and even neighborhood dogs will see your chickens as dinner.
8. Mess makersāChickens will p**p everywhere. Whether theyāre in a coop or free-ranging, youāll need to clean up after them regularly.
9. Yard damageāChickens love to dig and scratch, which can wreak havoc on flower beds and landscaping.
10. Health concernsāChickens can get sick or injured, just like any other pet or livestock, so be prepared to deal with potential vet visits.
Iām not saying this to discourage anyone from raising chickensāI think itās fantastic to grow your own food! But chickens are living creatures that require time, effort, and care. If the rising cost of eggs has you dreaming of backyard chickens, just take a moment to research what youāre getting into. Itās definitely not as simple as buying a fish.
From one chicken owner to another.
We do sell our chicken eggs.We sell half dozens, dozens and dozens & half. They're organic, NONGMO, free rangeChickens and I might add very spoiled!! Spoiled chickens lay better eggs! š„ š³