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Spring is here and that means it’s chick season! If you live in a rural area you might see the signs at your local farm store announcing the arrival of the adorable balls of fluff. Typically chicks are available from March to May and September through November here in Washington.
I realized this year that I’ve been raising chickens for 6 years now. I'm not going to lie; the first two years of ownership were rough. All but one of my original flock died slowly over those two years and it took all of them passing away for me to realize how important some aspects of raising chickens can be (like keeping their water and coop clean).
But first, you may be asking: “Tara, your blog is centered around health and fitness. Why are on earth are we talking about raising chickens?”
Well, I’ll tell you two reasons why:
1. You get to know where your food comes from and you have some semblance of control and participation.
I believe raising your own food is one way to know exactly where it comes from and what goes into it. Our food system is so far from what it once was. When I learned that chickens were caged all day and never saw sun, that industrialized chicken farms harmed the environment, and that the feed in industrialized chicken production was poor and chemical laden, I wanted to change how I was participating in that system. Raising chickens was important to me because I wanted my eggs to come from healthy, happy chickens that saw the light of day, ate bugs and grass, and did what chickens in nature should do.
I believe that working for your food also makes it more meaningful and therefore more valued. Today, we’ve been told that food should be cheap, fast and easy - that’s just not how life was intended. Before the industrialization of the food industry, families had farms and food came from their own livestock and property. If it didn’t, neighbors raised animals and sold their products directly to their immediate community. In my small area, I see a resurgence in this system and I’m so grateful.
2. Stress relief - and, no, I’m not joking!
Having pets and getting outside can be great stress relievers. If you don’t think chickens can bring joy or be good pets, just search "chickens" on Instagram. There are indoor pet chickens that get baths…need I say more? We all know that there have been studies that show that stress decreases when petting a dog or a cat. Likewise, if you’re an animal lover, watching your chickens pecking around and even training them to be handled and hop on your lap, I would imagine bring similar benefits.
So what all goes into raising chickens?
Does raising chickens for eggs or meat save you money? Absolutely not. Does it help me rest satisfied knowing my food hasn’t been adulterated by chemicals and filthy environments? Yes! Raising your own food isn’t for everyone, but I’ll tell you, if you think you can’t or that it’s too hard and you want to, it is completely possible! I’ll tell you if I can do it, you can do it. I even started when I had a three year old and even had another baby whilst owning a flock of 15 or more chickens! You also don’t need a bunch of fancy equipment to do so. (Side note: if you live in a neighborhood or town or city, you may want to check with local guidelines on chicken ownership before you go and pick them up as some housing authorities don’t allow chickens or roosters.)
I’ve been blessed to share property with my Dad, who is an excellent infrastructure guy. He is great at reusing and recycling so many things which we have used to house our chickens. You can make cheap coops, chicken tractors, and brooders out of many different things.
So...all that to say, if you want chickens to provide healthy food for your family, do some research, get the infrastructure in place and make sure you have some time in your week to care for them. It's that simple!
Read on to see how I start chicks at my homestead.
The Brooder
Step 1: Get your brooder setup before you bring chicks home.
A brooder is a small area completely secured that allows for chicks to stay warm, dry and have access to food and water. I use a large plastic storage tub like this:
You’ll want to cover the bottom with pine shavings to soak up the doody and keep the babies warm.
Next, you need something to keep the chicks warm. A lot of people use heating lamps, but I love these heating plates that simulate sitting under a mama hen. Here’s what I like: https://amzn.to/4cRyJJU.
I like the heating plates because they are safe and you don’t have to worry about a glass light breaking.
Next you’ll need food containers. I like these mason jar feeder and waterers because you can use any mason jar and they don’t take up a lot of space in the brooder.
Feeder: https://amzn.to/3xkcAUd
Waterer: https://amzn.to/3U1lJK7
I’ve had these for many years. In the water tray, I put in some bigger rocks to prevent chicks from drowning in the tray. I don’t know if that really happens, but it’s just something I’ve done, just in case.
Lastly, you need a quality chick starter feed. I feed all my chickens organic feed, but you have to decide what is best for you and your home. I have used local feed from Scratch and Peck to Modesto Mills. I do not feed my chickens medicated feed. You can do your research on that and decide if its something you feel you want to do. I don’t feel it’s necessary for us.
I also add one more thing to my chicken’s water: Chick boost. https://amzn.to/43KTZws
This is a supplement you add to the water to give the chicks probiotics and minerals to help keep them healthy.
Step 2: Move in your chicks.
After your plate has warmed up for at least an hour, and all your other materials and brooder are set up, you are ready to move in the chicks. I dip each chicks beak in the water (careful not to put it in their nostrils!) to let them know where their water is and sprinkle feed around in the box to ensure they realize they can eat it. And that’s it!
When your chicks grow feathers, they may try to escape the brooder. I put a screen on top to prevent escape and once they are fully feathered, I move them to the barn in a separate area from our adult chickens. This area is in view of the adults so it makes transition to the coop even smoother. Once they are about the size of the other chickens, I open their door at night and allow them to integrate in with the others. Typically there’s a little pecking and fighting as they get used to each other, but it’s never anything too bad. If you provide plenty of space for your chickens to roam during the day, it usually negates any relational issues.
I'd like to add that if you can’t or don’t want to have chickens (and that’s totally fine), but still want the benefits of fresh eggs, you can reach out to friends and family that raise chickens and purchase from them. I have so many chickens now, I have been selling eggs to friends. I find such immeasurable joy in providing healthy food to them, it makes all the work worth it. You can also check out local farm stands and Farm Share’s to support your local farmers.
~ Tara