Backyard Chickens: A Comprehensive Guide to Raising Chickens for Beginners, Including Tips on Choosing a Breed and Building the Coop

By Dion Rosser

Learn the best methods for raising happy and healthy chickens in your backyard homestead and start producing organic poultry and fresh eggs daily for yourself and your family!

Have you always wanted a perfect mini-farm of your own where you could raise chickens naturally and sustainably but just don't know where (or how) to start? Have you been looking for a simple and effective guide to raising chickens in your backyard?

If the answer to that is yes, then you are definitely in luck.

It's true, raising and keeping chickens in your backyard isn't really the easiest thing to do, especially with no experience.

There are a lot of things you need to know, including best practices for buying chicks for your stock, preparing your backyard, building and maintaining a coop, feeding your chickens, and dealing with disease!

That's where Backyard Chickens comes in. With tips on identifying and buying the best breeds and healthy birds for your stock to a step-by-step guide for setting up your backyard and building a coop, this book will provide you with everything you need to make your backyard flock a success!

In this extremely simple and beginner-friendly guide, you will learn:
- Things to consider before getting started raising chickens
- Where to buy your chicks
- What breeds are best for different purposes
- How much space you will need in your backyard
- Feeding and taking care of different breeds
- Local ordinances and laws on keeping backyard chickens
- And how much it will cost you to keep and maintain them

A major part of this book is dedicated to guiding you on maintenance and caring for your flock.

You will find handy tools and proven techniques for helping your birds cope with adverse conditions including what to do during winter, and how you can get your egg-layers to be more productive.

All this information is packaged together with convenient and practical DIY tips on hygiene, keeping chicken coops clean, AND an entire section dedicated to health, including spotting signs of ill health in your flock, common poultry diseases that affect backyard chickens, and how to treat these conditions.

This is the only practical handbook you need to get started with your backyard chicken hobby, raising and maintaining a happy flock, and getting the best production from your chickens!

Get this book and begin your backyard adventure today!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dion Rosser
• Release date: Mar 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393511304

Book preview

Introduction

Self-sufficiency, especially when it comes to your food sources, can be extremely liberating. No one wants to spend hours reading labels trying to figure out whether or not something is healthy. While you may not be able to control where all your food comes from, raising backyard chickens is one way to make sure that you are getting healthy and wholesome eggs from your own flock.

Chickens are pretty low maintenance, and this is probably the reason raising backyard chickens has become a popular hobby. After all, who would not want a pet that also provides fresh eggs? However, it is not all about the eggs. Chickens are not just a source of eggs, but they also make interesting family pets that your whole family can enjoy.

While you may have an interest in raising chickens in your backyard, you probably do not know where to start or even how to do it. That is why we have compiled a simple and straightforward guide for beginners who want to raise chickens. Some people may have no experience at all with raising chickens, but that should not deter you from taking up this rewarding hobby.

This book gives you detailed information on how to start your backyard flock. We want you to be able to take care of the chickens once you have them, so this book also gives you in-depth insights into how to raise, care for, and maintain your backyard chickens. From building a coop to equipping it will all the accessories you need to take proper care of your chickens, you will get all the information you need to get started.

A significant part of the book is dedicated to the proper care of chicks and how to raise them from day-old baby chicks to adult hens that lay eggs. We understand that caring for pets is a delicate process, and this book aims to equip you with all the knowledge you need to raise a healthy and happy flock.

We have a section devoted to understanding chicken behavior that is geared to help you bond better with your flock. That part of the book is designed to help you pick up on any distress signals in your flock or any signs of illness. If you have thought about raising backyard chickens for a while, this is the book that will guide you on how to do it. You need not be a farmer in a rural setup to raise healthy chickens. With the right tools and information, you can transform your backyard into a safe haven for chickens.

Naturally, the first place to start on your journey to raising backyard chickens is understanding why you need to do it at all.

Chapter 1: Why Raise Chickens at Home?

Raising chickens is no longer just the preserve of people with rural farms. An increasing number of people are turning to raising chickens in their back yards. You have probably thought about it yourself, but, like any other venture, you may still wonder whether the pros outweigh the cons. If the allure of fresh eggs is not enough to convince you, there are still plenty of reasons to raise chickens in your backyard.

Whether you are looking for a fulfilling hobby or, like many others, just want to have more control over what's on your dining table, chickens are a great place to start. For most people who consider raising pets or livestock of any kind, space is usually one of the main deterrents. The beauty in choosing chickens is that they do not take up a lot of room. If you have a small backyard, you can still comfortably accommodate a small flock of chickens. For a modest flock of about six chickens, you would need approximately 110 square feet of space. This is why more and more people have taken up raising chickens in their backyards. With just a modest amount of space, you can have your own supply of fresh eggs readily available and a rewarding hobby to boot.

Another key concern that you may have when deciding to raise chickens is how much time and maintenance is required. Pets come with their fair share of maintenance, and chickens are no different. However, chickens are pretty low maintenance, and this is not one of those pursuits that will take up hours of your time. Keeping chickens will require some effort on your part, but for the most part, these birds are pretty self-sufficient and do not require round-the-clock care.

As long as you have a secure coop to keep your flock safe from predators, you will find that chickens require little attention. Most people find that the daily care required for chickens takes up less than half an hour a day, so this is not one of those hobbies that will turn out to be time-consuming.

If you have a dog or a cat, you will realize that chickens are easier to care for than either dogs or cats. Chickens do not need as much human attention as other household pets. Provided they are well fed and housed, you will find that you can pretty much go about your business without needing to keep checking on your chickens all the time. Most people who keep chickens will tell you that they are easy to keep because they are pretty independent.

For people with children at home, getting pets that your children can be around safely and also help care for is always a plus. As far as pets go, chickens are mostly non-territorial, and most are not aggressive. This means they make great pets that your children can also enjoy taking care of. Nothing teaches young children about responsibility better than having them help out in caring for a pet.

Chicken-watching can also make for a fun and interesting pastime. Chickens have individual personalities and quirks that make them fun to watch. They can also be beautiful, and depending on the breed, some can be unique in terms of appearance. Some chickens are also friendly and will approach you or your kids whenever you are within their sight. This means this rewarding hobby will be anything but dull.

If your backyard is well enclosed, you can let the chickens roam free during the daytime since chickens tend to be pretty friendly and will not be aggressive. Of course, if you are to let your chickens roam free in the backyard, you need to ensure that they are safe from predators.

While having a pet is great, chickens come with the additional benefit of being a source of fresh food in terms of eggs and meat. While you can buy eggs at the grocery store, you can never be sure about the freshness or quality of store-bought eggs. The increasing popularity of raising backyard chickens, even amongst celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Martha Stewart, and many more, is partly because people are getting more conscious about the kind of food they eat. When you get your eggs from your own chickens, you know what they have been eating, and you are, therefore, in control of what you are eating. This means you can choose to feed your chickens organic food and, as a result, enjoy organic eggs that are nutritious and free of GMO additives.

When you buy products from a grocery store, you have little knowledge of what kind of produce you are getting or how the chickens that produced the eggs were raised. This means that you cannot be 100% sure about the quality or freshness of the eggs you are getting. But with your own flock, you have control over what they eat, and you gather up the eggs daily, so freshness and quality are guaranteed. This also goes for people who want to keep chickens for meat. With your own chickens, you are assured of quality and that what ends up on your dining table is free of any harmful chemicals and additives.

Research studies show that eggs from free-range chickens tend to have higher concentrations of nutrients such as beta-carotene, omega three, and vitamins A and E than eggs sourced from battery hens or chickens that are raised in cages. So, if you have been on the fence about raising your own chickens, consider the additional health benefits for you and your family that come with having control over the kind of eggs you eat.

Eggs and chicken meat can also provide you with an additional income stream. A lot of people prefer organic produce, and you can easily find a market for any extra eggs that your chickens produce. This means that other than feeding you and your family, chickens can also serve as a source of income, and ultimately you may find that the chickens end up paying for their feeds and maintenance cost.

If healthy nutrition sounds good to you, but you are not sure

Reviews for Backyard Chickens

[Gallan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very easy guide on how to raise chicken. Perfect for people who has background knowledge but want to start up a small farm.

[Joey Cabuguas · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A very easy guide for zero knowledge about starting a poultry business. Very well explained and straight to the point.

[John Kenneth Vertido · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This little book covers most of the things you need to know to get started with a small backyard chicken hobby. The information contained in this book is just what I needed without getting to deep into the more detailed nuance's of raising chickens

[Ceb Ali · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I liked this was an easy to read guide that’s clear. This little book is full of practical knowledge for those who are starting their chicken raising venture like I am. It goes straight to the point, simple language, well explained, and easy to read.

[Wonderweiss Roslo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A good book for someone just getting into raising backyard chickens. Whether you are raising 1 or 2 chickens as backyard pets or or raising 1 or 2 dozen chickens to provide eggs for your own use or to sell for income.

[Hestia Selin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Recently my father bought 2 Dutch Bantam breed chicken a female and a male so they can mate and produce some little hen. This book will help me and my father in raising them with a proper technique, tricks, timing when feeding them and so on. This book mostly covers all the field that you must learn for a beginner in raising a chicken. I recommend this book to those people who are interested or just recently receive or brought chicken, this is a great and simple guideline in raising a chicken.

[Enmar David · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I found this book to be accessible and very interesting. It took me only 3 days to read casually. I also see this as being a reference to go back to if I decide to start raising chickens.

[Tolits Mendoza · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This little book covers most of the things you need to know to get started with a small backyard chicken hobby. A few hens for pets and eggs later on, was my goal, and this book supplied the answers to a lot of issues I had questions about.

[Laijho Marapao · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The over all procedures of raising backyard chickens are effectively introduced by this book. From choosing a place, building a coop, buying chickens, managing laying chickens up to harvesting eggs. The way how to feed chickens, and all about health care and maintenance for chickens are also available to learn with this book. This can be an ultimate guide specially for beginning small business owners like you.

Raising backyard chickens is not only good for business but also a good source of food for your own and by your own. You can get assurance that your foods are healthy since you are the one who prepare them and take good care of them.
If ever, I would choose to start this kind of business after knowing that this wont need a lot of maintenance. That is also the reason why raising backyard chickens has become a popular hobby.

[Linda Zapata · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book clearly explained everything there is about raising chickens at home. Everything was covered from building their coop, properly taking care of them, why it is important to have live chickens at home etc. Not only does this book tells you about that, it also have every insider tip used in order to have a smooth management of your chickens. Great read for people who are into poultry. Highly recommended.

[Harvey Woods · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've read over 20 chicken books now, and I still learned a lot from this one. This is a great book with lots of helpful information on tending a backyard flock. I would give it 5 stars. I’m so glad I read this book!

[Shiela Latag · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a very good book on how to start raising chickens and a good reminder on some of the things I had forgotten. I wish I had something like this 3 years ago when I bought my first chicks! It would have helped in the trial and error stage of raising my laying hens.

[Marlon Devera Gumboc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Raising chickens is one of the most successful and efficient business of all time. The resources needed are only limited; perfect space and a capital for purchasing good quality chickens. Like what is always needed, you should learn first how to run your business effectively. It begin on choosing a perfect place to build your coop and the strategies on how to choose the right breed for you. As we all know, this kind of business also experience downfall specially in time of epidemic. In order to overcome those struggles we may face, kindly consider this book as your guide. Everything you need to know are here. This may help you.

[Scotty Voltaire · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely love this book it has all the information I need right at my fingertips I’ve learned so much about chickens and how to care for them I definitely recommend this book for beginners.

[Revi James · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a must-have if you plan on raising chickens. It would have come in handy a decade ago when I helped a friend with his small farm. You'll save yourself a lot of time and trouble!

[Julius Brigades · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This little book covers most of the things you need to know to get started with a small backyard chicken hobby. Wonderfully useful book for anyone starting out with chickens. Great tips and advice. Highly recommended.

[Karl Angelo Gil · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

loved this book, amazing the amazing of information straight to the point it contains. Very good book for any one trying to maintain their chickens and this is something we need a lot specially here in the Philippines. Loving it

[Theodore Hurts · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Poultry products has always been essentials in my family with the products that I will get in my newly build chicken coop with the help of this book I might provide an ample amount of products to my family. This book is indeed a great help.

[Jefferson Baniqued De Guzman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is very fantastic the information contained in this book is awesome. I learn a lot in this book and I will use what a I have learned to my small backyard. Thanks to the author!

[Tony Simon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've read about your book on starting a mini garden and I followed it now I do have mini garden right at the back of my shed with this book I was planning on getting a bunch of livestock to add on my passive income of farming, at the moment I am reading your book on beekeeping might as well be interested on this. Thanks to the author I might change career which is a career I love.

[Vanessa Elnar · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a very good book on how to start raising chickens even in your backyard as long as you have enough space and with good ventilation. There were good reminders on some of the things I had forgotten. Chickens are pretty low maintenance, maybe, it’s now one the popular hobbies in our city. If you are a beginner to raising chickens, this book is for you.

[Antoniette Luarez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was a beginner regarding raising chickens when I ordered this book. Actually, I was looking for a new hobby during the pandemic. When raising chickens, I thought of selling it and earning additional income. A few hens for pets and meat, and eggs later on, was my goal, and this book supplied the answers to a lot of questions and concerns. This requires more effort in researching and preparation. This book is very helpful. Whenever I feel confused or lost, I just open the book and continue what I started.

[Chelly Cruz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It is packed full of information. Appreciate the benefits of keeping and raising chickens. Once you have mastered the basic of raising chickens, you will be able to pick and choose which suit your style of keeping best. Good luck!

[Camille Manalese Gonzal · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

You wanted a proper way to proper care of your chickens? This book is for you!

This book helps you to set up everything! I mean everything from picking your best breeds of chickens, considering all aspects like temperature, weather , etc. to building its coop to its health care and maintenance for you to achieve and gain the best produce you've always wanted.


A really great book I highly recommend.

[Nelna Mae Nalangan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

While reading, I can't help but reminisce those days where my grandfather would ask me to feed his chickens. This book is telling me to be resourceful. This is perfect for those who wanted to try a new hobby or a new business. My favorite part of the book is "What to Look for When Buying Baby Chicks". I think I just found a new way to bond with my siblings! We might start looking for healthy baby chicks using the ideas and advices that I've learned.

[Noime Gecoso · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is indeed a good book for everyone who wants to start raising chickens. I've found out that I need at least 110 square meters for just 6 chickens(for a starter) and so atleast 15 squared feet for each chicken to run so to avoid having diseases and to keep them healthy of course. This will also tell you what kind of breed you should choose depending on your reason of raising them--wether for pets, for eggs or for their meat. Then if you want to raise it for poultry business, it will also teach you how to make a proper coop for them, and even having right ventilation, or the foods that they need and what they should not eat cause it might affect their growth and their egg production. I dont know if I am stupid or not but I just found out that hens can lay their eggs independently without a rooster to copulate them!! And blue eggs exist??. Anyway, I recommend you read it well so you'll know how to properly raise a chicken. They're lovely and pretty low maintenance. I suggest ypu have one as a pet cause they are pretty docile and smart--based on our experience of having a chicken as a pet??.

[Lyra Jhoana Marapao · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

We cant deny the fact that our country has a great number of people doing a livestock for a living, and if youre planning to be one of them, this is the right book for you. This book is very helpful specially in putting up a business since raising chickens is somehow common and easy to learn. You just need a perfect place like your backyard, and tadah! You can already start but ofcourse you have to learn the proper ways to make your business grow.

Raising backyard chickens is very in need nowadays because egg is life hehe. Livestock is one of the food sources of everyone so it will not be that hard for you sell your products.
However, we may encounter obstacles with regards to this kind of business, and for you to know how to surpass them, I highly recommending you this book. It will surely give you the information that you need to know.

Wanna start a popular hobby like raising backyard chickens for a living? Go read this book and you'll know and learn everything.

[Leley Guiwo-guiwo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It's true raising and keeping chickens in your backyard isn't really the easiest thing to do, especially with no experience.

There are a lot of things you need to know, including best practices for buying chicks for your stock, preparing your backyard, building and maintaining a coop, feeding your chickens, and dealing with disease.

[Maria Clarissa Navarro · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's all about how you build a progress of having rasing a chicken. It will teach us we can make it until the chick's or small chicken grown on its surrounding. Maybe it's difficult to learn it but likely other things. We need to make it step by step

[Troiii · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The book is an interesting read for teens and adults, and especially for those who want to know more about raising chickens in their backyard. It gives easy-to-comprehend information about the benefits of raising your own chickens as well as the responsibilities that it will require. It will not bore the reader since it is filled with new knowledge and interesting facts that everyone will surely enjoy. Various options about the breed of chicken, place for building coop, feed, etc. are presented in this book. It invites, reminds, suggests, and instructs. All of these, gathered in one book.