What Do You Need to Raise Backyard Chickens?

I do a lot for my chickens and I’ve had people tell me they could never raise backyard chickens because of what’s involved. So what’s really needed to raise backyard chickens?

They really don’t need much. I compare it to other household pets. They need more than a cat but less than a dog if that makes sense. 

Just like a newborn baby, baby chicks require more than teenage or adult chickens. They can’t regulate their body temp, so you need a brooder of some sort or a broody hen. Read more in my post: Baby Chicks – A Beginners Guide to Raising Chicks.

Some people will skip the baby chick stage and purchase teenage or adult chickens. 

So what’s really needed to raise backyard chickens?

Of Course the Basics:

• Feed and Water
  
• Coop – you have to decide what type of housing you want. You can purchase at a retail or feed store, build yourself, or possibly find something on Craig’s list or the Marketplace. You may even find something on the side of the road. I’ve seen many people turn children’s playhouses, sheds, pallets, and a trampoline into chicken coops. 

• Bedding – pine shavings are the most affordable but you could also do hay, straw, or shredded paper. You need something in the nest boxes to “catch” the eggs when laid. 
  
• Run – space where they can run around. Even if you free range like we do, you will still want a run when the weather is bad or a predator is in the area. The other day, Trudy our Leghorn, sounded the alarm. Most of the chickens headed to the bushes. I looked around and saw a hawk overhead. I rounded them up and put them back in the run. They weren’t happy but better that than dead chickens. Sugar and Lil Girl were running around the backyard so I felt they were pretty safe but I still didn’t want to take a chance. 
  

That’s all you really need to raise backyard chickens.

Now, there are lots of things you can purchase to make your life easier as a chicken keeper. 

Chickens poop a lot so there are several things I purchased to help manage the poop. 

• Doggie Pooper Scooper  – I use this in the run to pick up any visible poop. If you build a traditional coop, you could use it there also. 
• Kitty Litter Scoop – We have a hen house, which is a small house off the ground. The girls no longer sleep in the hen house but they do lay eggs there. The hen house has a layer of pine shavings on the bottom so I use a kitty litter scoop to manage the poop.
• Ice scraper – I use this to scrape the poop off the roost bars. I’ve found it to be gentle on the wood. Damage or splintered wood could injure your bird and cause bumblefoot. I didn’t purchase the expensive one. I paid $1 at Walmart.  
  

Storage bucket for feed –  In the beginning, we just stored our feed in the original bag in the garage. It wasn’t long before it attracted mice. Now we store it in a galvanized trash can with a lid. I picked one up in a garage sale for $15 and the other at Tractor Supply for around $20.

Rake – when cleaning the run, I use a rake to stir up the shavings. This helps the poop to break down and keeps things smelling fresh.

Water hose – I like to spray down the roost bars and fence every couple weeks to wash away dried poop that I couldn’t scrape off. 

There are additional health items you can purchase

Grit – If your birds free-range, they are picking up small stones and dirt, which aids in digestion. If not, you want to offer grit.

Herbs – the Bearded Rooster has a garden every year. He’s added growing different herbs for the chickens. 

Scratch – this is totally not necessary but a nice treat especially in winter. It increases the bird’s body temperature during digestion. I also use it in the run which encourages the girls to scratch around, turning the bedding.

First aid kit – chickens get sick from time to time. I’m a big believer in a first aid kit. Many of the items in mine, I purchased at Dollar Tree for $1. I started slowly and built it up over time. Many things we have never used, but it’s been nice to have things on hand when needed. 

DE – add to the bust bath. Firewood ash is equally effective (which I also add) and free. Just make sure it doesn’t contain anything harmful like a firestarter.

Fan – In Texas, the summers are brutal. I purchased two. A small one that’s pointed at the roost bars and another we have set up in the bushes where the chicken hang out during the day. 

Kiddie Pool – $5 at the Dollar Store. When it’s really hot, the girls will get in to cool off. 

Sweet PDZ – I sprinkle in the bedding any time there’s a hint of ammonia. I bought a bag last year and still have it. Between raking and the girls scratching around, I don’t have to use it too often. 

Benefits of backyard chickens:  

• One thing I love about backyard chickens, is we feed them any leftovers we have, which cuts down on our waste. 
  
• I’m learning about composting chicken poop which we will use in the garden. 
  
• They eat a ton of bugs when free-ranging. We still have mosquitos but not much else. 
  
• Their eggs are delicious. Research says they have the same nutritional value as store-bought eggs but there is a clear difference in the way they taste.

If you are thinking about backyard chickens, don’t be put off by the expense. The biggest expense will be your coop and run. Depending on your predator load, you may need to do a few additional things.   

Is there anything else you found that you need to raise backyard chickens? Let me know!