Oh what I wish I'd known before getting chickens! Although I'd probably still make the same mistakes again, because learning with chickens is oh so much fun
Anyway, my top 10 pieces of advice for new chicken parents are:
1. Chicken math is real. Everyone will say it and no one heads the warning at first! But, once you get chickens, you'll always want more. My first time I wanted 3, but ended up with 6. My second I wanted 6, but ended up with 9. I'm already planning on what my next brood will be. As well as the next goat...and alpaca. And maybe some quail...
2. Always, always, always build a larger coop/run than you think that you'll need! You'll either end up with more chickens (chicken math!) or your chickens will be happier with more space. Either way, building bigger is a win-win.
3. Start building the coop
before you get chickens. As much as you think that you're going to want fluffy little chicks cheeping at you all day, it gets really old really fast. If nothing else, THE DUST WILL GET YOU. Chickens produce such an incredible amount of dust that will cover your entire house. Believe me, if you have allergies, you do not want that indoors!
4. A caveat to number 3: brood outdoors. Chicks are more resilient than they seem and, as afraid as I was to try to keep chicks outside, they'll thank you for it later! Outdoor brooding eliminates the need to cover up for dust, teaches them about the day/night cycle, oftentimes provides them with more space, eliminates the need for a transition outside, and gets them more quickly acclimated to what's "their territory." Also, it keeps all of the chicken dust away from your carpet and computers and nasal passages.
5. Don't be afraid of hatcheries! I've heard so many horror stories with feed lots, backyard "dealers," chicken swaps, and auction houses. These places
can be a great place to find chickens. However, they're largely unregulated and can be a breeding ground for disease. I've known people who've driven hundreds of miles to pick up their "perfect chickens" only to find out that it was too good to be true!
A lot of feed stores and feed lots also order their birds from hatcheries, so there's virtually no difference between the two. Reputable hatcheries use farmers across the country, are very good at sexing (My Pet Chicken will also sex bantams now, which is exciting!), and offer money back guarantees on fatalities during shipping and improperly sexed chicks. If you're new to chickens and are looking for a specific breed and/or sex, hatcheries are your best bet. They oftentimes have a large breed and color variety, the chickens are vaccinated (or have the option to be vaccinated for Marek's, etc.), come from NPIP verified flocks, and are reasonably priced. They can be a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to adhering to breed standards (I've had problems with comb type and specific feathering). However, if you're new to backyard chickens and aren't planning to show immediately, they're a great place to start!
6. RESEARCH YOUR BREED AHEAD OF TIME. I can't stress this enough. There's nothing worse than falling in love with a breed only to find that they're flighty, broody, and don't get along well with others. Although not every chicken will conform to exact breed standards and every flock is different (although handling them a lot when they're young can help with this), there are general traits that you can expect from certain breeds. After all, if you're looking for production layers, you don't want an ornamental bantam that averages 1-2 very small eggs a week! If you live in a particularly hot or cold climate, you're also going to want to make sure that your birds are heat or frost hardy.
7. Watching chickens run is the most hilarious thing ever. They're really not meant for running and rather waddle quickly...with their feet sticking out and their necks crooning in odd positions. Who wouldn't want to watch them run all day?
8. Chickens can't fly, but they can flap quite a bit! They'll take running head starts and jump in the air. They'll hop up on things to "climb" them. Even the small chickens can get themselves on top of fences! Most flocks tend to stay together, but that doesn't mean that they won't wander sometimes. I had a Belgian d'Uccle bantam hen who used to get on top of the garage, make her way into trees, and sit on top of the 8 foot concrete fence around the yard. I even found her perched on top of the molding above the back door once. At the end of the day, chickens like heights. In the wild, they roost in trees.
9. Chickens eat and poop a lot. This can oftentimes be seen as a nuisance, but I'm always excited about it! They eat your weeds, keep the grass a little bit more kept, and their poop makes great fertilizer. Right now we have a tractor coop/run. Every couple days we move it to a slightly different part of the yard. It keeps our grass looking great.
10. Chickens are heartwarmingly addictive. See number 1. Once you have them, you'll want more.
I knock him off the girls when I'm around. It's a sign of dominance. Show's who's boss!
My view from my kitchen window.
