That is a question.
It's Spring and you have idyllic thoughts of walking out to your own chicken coop and picking out of the box beautiful eggs of brown, cream, blue, and green. Then the thought continues of making a delicious breakfast for you and your loved ones. So, you are thinking about the fluffy little chicks that you could get. Let's pop that bubble for a second and make sure you're ready to take on chicks, let alone chickens.
Backyard. How big of a yard do you have? If you live within city limits, what are the city regulations? Obviously if you live in the country and have a farm/ranch, you're golden.
Free Rang'n. Are you planning on free ranging? You can let chickens out in a backyard, but remember they poo (a lot) and might eat some of your plants. Chickens don't eat all plants as they have a sense of what they can and cannot eat, but I've had to tell my chickens multiple times to get out of my kale as it is their favorite.
Coop & Run. Chickens need an adequate home that will keep them happy, but also safe.
It is said that coops should have at least 2-3 square feet of space for each chicken. I say the more you can give the better. If you have a small coop and add a run, that's going to be good. If you add some free ranging, that's going to help from boredom which can lead to pecking issues.
You can buy many coops online (Urban Northern), or locally at a farm supply store. You can also make coops with plans, or use a shed. Make sure they will have roosting bars, nest boxes, and ventilation.
Can you secure the coop? It needs to have covering from the weather elements. And the coop has to have strong wire (double layer) to protect the chickens from predators such as cats, dogs, raccoons, opossums, and hawks. We have our 2nd layer of wire go under ground to prevent a predator from digging into the coop.
The run should also be secure. Some use electric netting, some use large dog kennels. You can also get fancy runs from Omlet.
Feed. Are you ready to feed chickens? While I find it worth the money, you still have to invest in the food for chickens and chicks (they eat different feed).
Options for Main Chicken Feed
Buy laying pellets or crumbs for chickens at any farm supply store
You can blend your own feed with bulk grains, corn, and protein. This can be a cost saver, but does require time.
Extra treats. You can feed them treats, but it can't be in supplement of their main feed.
Veggies & Fruits (scraps) - They can't eat moldy food and there are certain foods that are off limits (onion and night shade families). I'm very selective about what I feed my chickens as I think about the fact that I am eating their eggs.
Fermented feed - grains that are fermented with water and time are great for digestion
Wheat grass - sprout your own grass
Meal Worms or Fly Larva (dried) - great source of protein
Calcium - Oyster Shells, Ground Egg Shells (cheap), Greek Yogurt
Grit - Pebbles that help them digest
Scratch - Corn based, carbohydrates, feed lightly.
Other animals. If you plan on having your chickens in the backyard, are there other pets that use the backyard? How will you segregate, or train other beloved pets to accept your fluffy friends? One of our dogs is a lab, so a hunter. I have had chickens get out and he hasn't even chased them, which I'm always thanking the Lord for, but I still wouldn't trust him.
Gross. Chickens poo a lot and you have to clean the coop. You cannot just leave the coop to accumulate, or neglect the nesting boxes. You have to clean it to have healthy chickens. You may have them poop on you too. Recently, I had a hen release a corrugated egg while I was holding her...it was probably in my top 10 most bizarre things. I think she and I were both confused as we stared down at the yolk on the ground.
Responsibility. Just like anything in life, are you ready for the responsibility for caring of chickens? Once you get into a routine, it's not bad. I think anytime you are deciding to bring anything into your life it is a good idea to ask, can you be a good steward of it?
In the end, should you get those chicks at the farm store? It is totally up to you. I never pictured having chickens, but with 2020 hitting that changed. I leaped into the chicken world and I absolutely love them. They provide food, but also joy.
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