So, You Want to Get Chickens? A Beginner’s Guide to Backyard Chickens

At some point, it seems like everyone starts baking sourdough, planting a garden, and wondering if they should get chickens.

Maybe you want fresh eggs. Maybe your kids have been begging for animals. Maybe you've fallen down the backyard homesteading rabbit hole, and suddenly a chicken coop seems like a perfectly reasonable addition to your yard.

Honestly, I get it. Chickens are entertaining, their personalities are bigger than you'd expect, and collecting eggs from your own backyard is pretty special.

But before you bring home a box of fluffy chicks, there are a few things worth thinking through. Because while backyard chickens can be a wonderful addition to your home, they're not exactly a free-egg vending machine.

Here's what I'd consider before starting your own backyard flock.

1. First Things First: Are You Actually Allowed to Have Chickens?

I know, I know. Not the most exciting place to start, but it's important.

Before buying a coop or picking out your favorite chicken breeds, check your local city and county ordinances. Some areas allow backyard hens with restrictions on flock size, coop placement, setbacks from property lines, or permits. Others have different rules depending on your zoning.

If you live in an HOA, check those rules, too. Even if your city allows chickens, your HOA may have additional restrictions.

And what about roosters? Some neighborhoods allow hens but prohibit roosters because of the noise. You don't need a rooster for hens to lay eggs, so most backyard egg-keeping flocks do just fine without one.

Do this before spending money: Confirm the rules for your specific property, including whether there are restrictions on the number of hens, coop location, and roosters.

2. How Much Space Do You Have?

You don't need a farm to raise chickens. A backyard can be plenty of space for a small flock, but you do need to plan for more than a cute little coop.

Your chickens need a secure place to sleep, nesting boxes when they're ready to lay, and room to move around during the day.

A coop is their shelter. A run is the enclosed outdoor area attached to it where they can scratch, dust bathe, explore, and spend time outside while protected from predators.

As a general starting point, many backyard keepers plan for around 3–4 square feet of indoor coop space and 8–10 square feet of run space per standard-sized hen. More space is often better, and the right amount depends on the breed, climate, flock size, and how much time the chickens spend confined.

If you plan to let your chickens free-range, think about your yard, landscaping, gardens, neighbors, and potential predators. Chickens can be surprisingly talented at destroying a freshly planted garden, and free-ranging doesn't eliminate the risk of losing a bird to a predator.

You can absolutely keep chickens in a well-designed, spacious run without letting them roam freely. The important thing is giving them enough room and enrichment while keeping them safe.

3. Are You Buying a Coop or Building One?

This is worth deciding before you bring your chickens home.

You can buy a ready-made coop, build one yourself, or repurpose an existing structure if it can be made safe and suitable for poultry.

Whatever you choose, prioritize function over looks. Your coop needs good ventilation, protection from rain and extreme weather, secure doors and latches, and protection against predators trying to dig, climb, or squeeze inside.

Think about your future self, too. You'll be cleaning this coop regularly, collecting eggs, refilling supplies, and checking on your flock. A setup that's easy to access and maintain will make your life much easier.

And don't forget that the coop is only part of the setup. You'll also need a secure run or another safe outdoor arrangement, feeders, waterers, bedding, and nesting areas.

Get the setup ready before the chickens arrive. Or at least have a plan. Trust me, you don't want to be assembling a coop while a box of chicks waits in your house.

4. How Many Chickens Should You Get?

This depends on your space, local rules, budget, and how many eggs your household actually uses.

For many beginners, starting with three or four hens is a manageable way to learn the ropes. Chickens are social animals, so plan on keeping a small flock rather than just one bird.

But don't choose your flock size based on how many eggs you think you'll get every day. Egg production varies by breed, age, season, daylight, health, and whether your hens are molting.

A productive hen may lay frequently during her prime, but that doesn't mean you'll collect one egg every day forever. Production naturally changes over time.

Think about how many eggs your family eats, whether you'll share extras, and how much room you have to keep the flock comfortably.

You can always learn with a small flock before deciding whether you want more chickens later.

5. Baby Chicks or Pullets?

This is one of the first big decisions you'll make.

Baby chicks are adorable, tiny, fluffy chaos machines. Raising them can be a fun experience, especially if your kids want to watch them grow. But chicks need a properly set-up brooder, a reliable heat source, appropriate chick feed, clean water, and frequent monitoring.

You'll also need to think about sexing. Unless you buy reliably sexed females from a reputable source, you may end up with a rooster when you intended to raise hens.

Pullets are young female chickens that haven't necessarily started laying yet. Buying older, sexed pullets can be a good option if you want to skip the brooder stage and get closer to having eggs.

They generally cost more per bird than baby chicks, and you'll still need to prepare a safe coop, provide appropriate feed, and help them settle into their new home.

If your main goal is collecting eggs without raising tiny chicks, pullets may be the easier starting point. If you love the idea of raising chicks from the beginning, be prepared for the extra work and an additional setup for the first 8 weeks or so. 

6. Let's Talk About the Cost of “Free” Eggs

One of the biggest misconceptions about backyard chickens is that you'll get free eggs.

Technically, the eggs come from your own backyard. But the chickens, their home, and their care certainly aren't free.

There are upfront costs for the coop, run, feeders, waterers, bedding, and the birds themselves. If you're raising chicks, you'll also need a brooder setup and heat source.

Then there are the ongoing costs: feed, bedding, grit when needed, calcium for laying hens, and occasional replacement supplies or veterinary care.

Your costs will depend on your flock size, setup, feed choices, and what you already have on hand. Building your own coop may save money, but materials aren't free, and a bargain coop that isn't predator-proof can become an expensive mistake.

Will your eggs taste amazing? Absolutely, fresh eggs from your own hens can be one of the most rewarding parts of keeping chickens.

Just don't go into it expecting to save money on groceries right away. Think of the eggs as one of the benefits of keeping animals you enjoy caring for—not the only reason to do it.

7. Are Chickens a Good Fit for Your Family?

Chickens can be a wonderful way for kids to learn about animals, responsibility, food, and where some of the things we eat actually come from.

Collecting eggs, watching a hen dust bathe, and getting to know each chicken's personality can become part of your family's everyday routine.

But chickens are still animals, not toys or decorations. They need daily care, clean water, appropriate food, and a safe environment. An adult needs to be responsible for their well-being, even if the kids help with chores.

You'll also need a plan for vacations, extreme weather, illness, and the times when life gets busy. Chickens don't stop needing care because you're tired or out of town.

And yes, there will be poop. There will be feathers. There may be a chicken who decides your garden is her personal buffet.

If you're okay with the less glamorous side of keeping animals, the fun parts can be well worth it.

Ready to Start Your Backyard Flock?

If you've thought through the rules, space, setup, costs, and daily care—and you're still excited about getting chickens—you're off to a great start.

You don't need a huge property or a picture-perfect homestead to raise a few hens. You just need a realistic plan, a safe setup, and a willingness to learn as you go.

Start by researching your local rules, figuring out how much space you can dedicate to a flock, and deciding whether chicks or pullets make more sense for your family.

Then get your coop ready before bringing your new feathered friends home.

Because the best part of backyard chickens isn't just opening the nesting box and finding eggs. It's the little routines, the funny personalities, and the satisfaction of caring for animals right in your own backyard.

And if you're anything like me, don't be surprised if chickens become the beginning of a whole lot of other backyard homesteading adventures.

With Love, Jayme