Tag: Backyard Chickens

Starting a Backyard Flock: Pros, Cons, and Practical Tips

Backyard chickens bring fresh nutritious eggs and fun, but also work. Explore the pros, cons, and tips for starting your own flock.

Thinking about starting a backyard flock? Chickens aren’t just about eggs, they bring personality, entertainment, and yeah… a little work too, but it’s rewarding work. Within the flock, a pecking order governs who gets first dibs on everything, the food, best perch, even the nest boxes. Watching them sort it out can be entertaining, or maybe better described as… a soap opera. Their verbal chatter is constant, clucks, cackles, and gossip-like conversations that only they understand. Some hens announce their egg-laying achievement with a noisy “cackle song” that lets you know they’ve laid. I have one hen ( Nugget, a 4 y/o Mille Fleur) who never lays an egg but has made it her job to inform me with her repetitive cackle that another hen has.
Depending on the breeds you keep, your nest boxes could be filled with white, chocolate-brown, brown, pale blue, mossy green, and even speckled eggs. Whatever the color of the egg, when you crack one open, you’ll see the difference instantly, bright golden yolks and firm whites, a freshness that store-bought eggs can’t match.

FYI: By the time you buy store eggs, they’re usually 2–3 (or more) weeks old. Farm-fresh eggs are not only more nutritious, but feel like both a gift and a reward for the time and commitment of chicken keeping.

Each chicken comes with a unique personality. Some may follow you around curiously, some are aloof, and the bold leaders just seem interested in being just that. Sometimes there’s that special one who might jump in your lap for extra attention. One thing is for sure, spend some time with your chickens and you’ll see plenty of antics accompanied by endless drama. Over time, your chickens will come to know you, greeting you at the gate, especially if you have treats or kitchen scraps.
Chickens live by a sense of rhythm. As the sun goes down, they all march into the coop and put themselves to bed. In the winter, their egg-laying slows, reminding us to respect the natural cycles of rest and renewal. 
Is keeping chickens cost-effective? Well… no, not really. Fresh eggs come at a price. A spacious, predator-safe coop and run can be expensive to set up, and feeding a small flock of 6–8 birds usually runs about $30+ a month, substantially more if you choose organic feed. That’s enough to buy a lot of store-bought eggs. So what’s the bottom line? It all comes down to whether the expense and commitment are worth it to you.

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Keep Rodents Out of the Chicken Feed With This Natural, Chicken-Safe Solution

If you’ve ever spotted a rat, mouse, or squirrel hanging around your chicken feeder, you know how frustrating it can be. Once they discover an easy food source, they’ll keep coming back for more. There’s a simple, natural trick that can help: cayenne pepper. Yep, the same spicy stuff you might use in the kitchen can actually help keep rodents out of your coop without harming your chickens.
Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, the compound that gives it that fiery heat. Rodents, with their super-sensitive sense of smell and taste, find capsaicin intensely irritating. Just a small amount can make the area around your chicken feed too unpleasant for them to bother with. While it won’t harm rats, mice, or squirrels, it definitely makes them think twice about approaching the chicken feeder.
Even better—your chickens won’t mind it one bit. Birds don’t have the receptors to feel the heat from spicy foods, so cayenne pepper doesn’t bother them at all. In fact, some chicken keepers say it may even have mild health benefits, like helping with parasites or reducing inflammation.
To use cayenne pepper in your coop, just mix 1–2 tablespoons into every 10 pounds of feed. Make sure it’s mixed well so the flavor is distributed evenly. You’ll want to repeat this each time you refill your feeder. For extra protection, you can also sprinkle a light dusting of cayenne around the base of feeders, coop entry points, or any place you suspect rodents are getting in.
Keep in mind, you’ll need to reapply the pepper after rain or cleaning, and while it’s great as a preventative, it won’t solve a full-blown rodent infestation on its own. Make sure you’re also storing your feed in sealed, rodent-proof containers—metal bins with tight-fitting lids work the best.
Tip: One of the most affordable ways to buy cayenne pepper is in bulk—check natural grocery stores like Sprouts, where it’s often sold by the pound.

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Urban Chicken Keeping, Yes or No?

Keeping a small backyard flock in the city comes with a mix of rewarding benefits and practical challenges. On the positive side, hens provide fresh, nutritious eggs, natural fertilizer for gardens, and effective pest control. However, suburban chicken keeping isn’t without its drawbacks. There are zoning laws and noise ordinances to consider, coop maintenance and biosecurity needs to manage, and potential conflicts with neighbors over smell or noise. Additionally, predators—even in the suburbs—can pose a risk. Weighing these pros and cons helps ensure a happy and responsible flock-keeping experience.
To find out if you can keep chickens in your area, start by checking your city or county’s official government website. Look for sections labeled “Municipal Code,” “Zoning,” or “Animal Ordinances,” and use the search bar to find terms like “chickens,” “poultry,” or “urban farming.”

How Many Chickens?

For a family of four, keeping 4 to 6 hens is usually enough to provide a steady supply of fresh eggs. Most healthy hens lay between 4 to 6 eggs per week, so with five hens, a family can expect around 20 to 30 eggs weekly—typically more than enough for everyday use. When starting a backyard flock, you can choose between buying pullets or chicks. Pullets are young hens close to laying age, making them a convenient option for those who want eggs sooner and prefer less early-stage care. Chicks, while more affordable and available in a wider variety, require more attention, including special feeding, heat, and several months before they begin laying. Chickens can be purchased at local feed stores, particularly during the spring, or through online retailers that ship chicks directly. Local breeders or small farms are also a good source and may offer helpful advice tailored to your region.

Want Lots of Eggs? These Two Breeds Won’t Disappoint

White Leghorn: 280-320 eggs per year
Rhode Island Red: 250-300 per year

Start-up Cost?

Considering you’ll need a coop and run, a brooder if you start with baby chicks, supplies, feed, and of course, unexpected expenses, plan to initially spend at least $1,000 to $1,500.
Note: You will NOT save money by keeping backyard chickens. Farm-fresh eggs are significantly more expensive to produce than buying eggs at the store.

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