There are several benefits to raising chickens in your backyard—not only do you know that your food is safe, but you also get to have fresh, quality eggs regularly. Source your chickens from a reputable farm or local hatchery along with quality ranch supplies from a hardware store. Also, check local ordinances first for restrictions on raising poultry and follow the guide below. 

How to Raise Chickens in the Backyard

1. Choose the Right Breed

Backyard chickens come in many breeds with different qualities—some are better at laying eggs, while others are kept for their meat. If you want to produce both eggs and meat, go with dual-purpose breeds like Buff Orpington, Sussex, or Plymouth Barred Rock. Ask your local hatchery, hardware store, or farm to know the perfect breed and supplies for your needs.  

2. Set Up Their Coop

Before the chickens arrive, make sure they already have a coop. You can build it or buy a ready-made one from the hardware store. You'll need to place a feeder and waterer inside the coop to keep the chickens nourished. 

Be sure to buy a nesting box for them to lay eggs. Don’t forget to create a roosting area where the chickens can perch and sleep comfortably.

3. Know What & When to Feed

Chickens need food daily, but how much you should feed them will depend on their activity, breed, and current climate. For instance, they eat less during warm seasons than in colder months, so you need to adjust their feeding. Apart from chicken feed, they can also consume insects, worms, seeds, and vegetation they find in the ground.

4. Keep Their Coop Clean

Chickens are heavy producers of manure, and skipping regular cleanups leads to a messy, smelly coop. Moreover, a clean coop helps chickens stay healthy. 

Use pine shavings instead of newspapers as bedding materials as they absorb dirt and excrement better. Replace them daily, but if that's not possible, do it every week and add more materials for the time being.

5. Decide Between Ranging & Cooping

For healthier, more robust chickens, they need room to roam. But if local laws do not allow that, make sure their coop has enough space to prevent feather picking.

If you choose to let them range, go with penned ranging. Enclose them in a pen in the morning and move them to the coop at night.

For quality animal feed, turn to Farmers Cooperative Inc., a trusted hardware store in Live Oak, FL. Besides building materials and gardening tools, they also offer agricultural products, farming equipment, pet care, and more. Call (386) 362-1459 to speak to someone from their team, or visit the website for more information on their offerings.