A small flock of hens gives you fresh eggs, garden fertilizer and help with kitchen scraps. It is also a daily commitment for several years. This guide covers what to check and prepare before you bring home your first birds.
Check your local rules
Many cities allow hens but limit the number, ban roosters, or set a minimum distance between the coop and neighboring homes. Homeowner associations may have their own restrictions. Confirm the rules before you spend any money.
How many hens do you need?
Chickens are social animals, so keep at least three. A good laying hen produces around four to six eggs a week in her first couple of years, with fewer in winter when days are short.
Three to four hens are usually enough to supply a family of four. You do not need a rooster for hens to lay eggs.
The coop and run
| Feature | Guideline |
|---|---|
| Indoor coop space | 3 to 4 square feet per hen |
| Outdoor run space | About 10 square feet per hen |
| Roosting bar | 8 to 12 inches per hen |
| Nesting boxes | 1 box for every 3 to 4 hens |
| Ventilation | Openings near the roof, without drafts at roost level |
Predators are the biggest threat to a backyard flock. Use sturdy hardware cloth rather than thin chicken wire, cover or bury the edges of the run, and lock the coop every night.
Daily and weekly care
- Every day: provide fresh water and feed, collect eggs, and open and close the coop.
- Every week: remove soiled bedding and check for signs of illness or pests.
- A few times a year: clean out the coop completely and add the old bedding to your compost.
Someone needs to look after the birds when you travel.
Feeding
Laying hens need a complete layer feed with about 16% protein, and each bird eats roughly a quarter pound a day. Offer crushed oyster shell in a separate dish for strong eggshells.
Kitchen scraps and garden trimmings are a good supplement, not a replacement. Avoid giving raw dried beans, avocado skins and pits, chocolate, and anything moldy.
Beginner-friendly breeds
- Rhode Island Red
- Plymouth Rock (Barred Rock)
- Australorp
- Buff Orpington
- Sussex
These breeds are hardy, calm and reliable layers. Buying young hens that are close to laying age, at around 16 to 20 weeks, is easier than raising chicks.
What it really costs
The coop is the largest expense, followed by feed and bedding. In most cases, backyard eggs cost about the same as store-bought eggs, or more. People keep hens for freshness, for knowing how the birds are raised, and for the manure, which is valuable in the garden once composted.
Health and hygiene
Wash your hands after handling birds, eggs or bedding, because poultry can carry salmonella. Collect eggs daily and refrigerate them. Compost chicken manure for several months before using it on food crops.
Is it right for you?
Hens suit households that are home most days and enjoy a routine. If that describes you, start with three or four birds and a secure coop.
For how to turn used bedding into fertilizer, see composting for beginners.