Raising chickens has been a staple practice of homesteads large and small for thousands of years. Our beautiful birds give us so much, from scratching and fertilizing the ground as they move across the property, to delivering that perfect unit of food called the egg.In this episode of Pantry Chat, Josh and Carolyn dive deep into the art and science (and love) of egg-laying chickens. This is one of the topics they get the most questions about, so take a break from the garden for a bit and tune in to this mini masterclass on raising chickens for eggs!In this Episode:How they’re feeling as springtime gets into full swingTwo perfect springtime projectsThe particular vegetable Josh is doubling down onQuestion of the week: Can I can using an Instapot?What chicken breeds you should start withThe difference between meat breeds and egg-laying breedsWhy you shouldn’t try for dual purposes in breedsThe “high-production” egg-laying breedsChoosing the best chickens for your environmentWhere to buy quality chicks Should you incubate, buy chicks, or buy adult chickens?What a beginner should buyManaging the cost of raising chickensHow to take care of day-old chicksHow many eggs you can expect each dayChicken coops 101How much room your chickens will need to rangeThe importance of nesting boxes and the roostShould you let your chickens free-range?How to feed your chickens for maximum healthResources: Sponsor: MadeOn Skin Care (Use code “homesteadingfamily” for 15% off!)Video: Canning Safety 1015 Pressure Canning MistakesThe Abundant Pantry: Canning