10 Questions Every New Chicken Keeper Asks

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Backyard chickens are having a moment. More people in suburbs and cities are building coops, ordering chicks, and collecting their own eggs every morning. The reasons vary. Some want fresher, healthier food. Some want a fun hobby. Some just like the idea of stepping outside with a cup of coffee and watching a small flock scratch around the yard.

The learning curve is real, though. New chicken keepers tend to ask the same questions over and over. Chickens are simple animals, but they do have specific needs. If you get those basics right, the whole experience becomes easier and more rewarding.

One common fear that stops people from ever starting is the belief that chickens need a farm. They don’t. If your backyard is big enough for a dog, it’s big enough for chickens. If you don’t have a farm store nearby, feed, coops, and supplies are all available online. And if you have Amazon Prime, you can have your supplies delivered in a matter of a few short days. Even if you don’t have Prime, other suppliers can deliver your items within a week.

There are two books that I recommend that belong on every chicken keeper’s shelf. They are Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens by Gail Damerow and The Chicken Health Handbook by Gail Damerow and Jeanne Smith, DVM. Both are practical, clear, and worth the price.

In my two decades of raising chickens, I hear 10 questions most often from new and some not-so-new chicken keepers.

1. Do hens need a rooster to lay eggs?

No. This is the single biggest misconception about chickens. A rooster is only needed if you want fertilized eggs that hatch into chicks. Your hens will produce eggs just fine without a rooster in the flock.

2. How many eggs will my chickens lay?

It depends on three things: breed, age, and season.

Hens are born with a set number of eggs, and once that set number runs out, there are no more eggs for a hen to lay. Some breeds were developed for high egg production. If the chickens are healthy, a hen from one of those breeds can lay an egg almost every day, but on average, they lay 4 to 5 eggs per week. A simple rule of thumb is that three hens will give you about two eggs a day.

Age matters too. Hens start laying between 4 and 6 months old. Their first year is the most productive, and after that, egg output drops a little each year.

Seasons also play a big role in egg production. Shorter daylight hours in winter slow production way down, and summer is peak laying time.

3. How long do chickens live?

If protected from predators, most standard breeds live 8 to 10 years. Some can reach 15 years, but that’s rare. Chickens are hardy animals with a surprisingly long lifespan for their size.

4. How much daily care do chickens need?

Chickens are low-maintenance animals and require less care than a dog. The daily care routine is relatively short, with collecting eggs, refreshing water, and feeding. I change the bedding every one to two weeks, depending on the weather and how dirty the coop gets. During our rainy season, the girls track in mud, and I find myself cleaning once each week. I deep-clean and disinfect the coop twice a year, once in spring and once in late fall. That’s about it. It is really less time-consuming than you might think.

5. What do chickens cost, and where do I get them?

Baby chicks run $3 to $5 each, with specialized and rare breeds costing over $20 each. Females cost a bit more than males. Grown hens sell for $20 to $50 each and are usually sourced from local breeders or farm groups.

You can buy chicks at a local feed store or order them online. Cackle Hatchery has one of the largest selections of breeds available for shipping. Another great chick shipper is Meyer Hatchery.

6. What do new chicks need?

For the first four weeks, baby chicks need warmth. Set up a brooder with a single infrared heat lamp and keep the temperature at a steady 95°F by monitoring it with a thermometer. An 18-inch corrugated paper chick corral makes a cheap, effective pen, or check out my instructions for building an inexpensive plastic bin brooder. After 4 to 5 weeks, the chicks are ready to move into their outdoor coop and run.

7. When will my hens start laying?

Most hens begin laying between 5 and 6 months of age. A good layer will produce 200 to 300 eggs per year. Rhode Island Reds and Buff Orpingtons are popular for their large brown eggs. White Leghorns lay large white eggs at a fast pace. Either one of these breeds is great for laying and won’t disappoint.

For my pick of the top 5 egg layers, see the post Best Laying Hen Breeds.

8. Are brown eggs healthier than white eggs?

No. Shell color comes from the breed of the hen and has nothing to do with taste or nutrition. What does matter is diet and lifestyle. Or so the experts say. I prefer brown eggs, and call me crazy, but I think they taste better. If you want truly great-tasting eggs, studies show that eggs from free-range hens are higher in Omega-3 fatty acids and lower in cholesterol than eggs from caged birds. And they do taste better. Even if your hens can’t roam completely free, their eggs will still taste better and contain more nutrients than most store-bought options.

9. Will keeping chickens save me money?

No. This catches many new keepers off guard. Once you add up the cost of feed, water, bedding, coop materials, and your time, you’ll break even compared to buying cage-free organic eggs at the store. The payoff isn’t financial. It’s knowing where your eggs come from and that the laying hens are well-treated. Not to mention, the taste difference is hard to beat.

10. Are chickens noisy?

Roosters are loud, crowing all day and not just in the morning. It’s best to consider this before bringing one home. Check your city ordinances because they might not allow roosters in your area. Plus, many cities have a limit on how many chickens you can own.

Hens are a different story. They make soft, low sounds most of the time, and get louder after laying an egg or when they sense a threat. But even then, the noise is short and mild compared to a rooster.

Even if your local ordinances allow roosters, it might be better to stick with hens only. Always check before buying because some cities ban roosters outright, and others might limit the number of hens you can keep.

Final Thoughts

Raising backyard chickens is one of those hobbies that sounds complicated until you try it. The birds are simple, the setup is manageable, and the reward of fresh eggs every morning makes the effort worth it. Start small, do your homework, and enjoy the ride.