What should I check before I buy chicks?
Begin with the rules. Zoning, homeowner rules and local ordinances may limit the number of hens, ban roosters or require permits. These are set locally, so ask your town or county office before you order. Also ask about any rules on selling eggs, which are separate and vary by state and county.
Then think about time. Hens need care every day, including holidays, cold mornings and while you are traveling. Line up a reliable helper before you buy.
Visit a few local keepers if you can. Seeing birds in real coops, in your own climate, teaches more than a catalog, and most keepers are glad to share what they would do differently.
How do I choose breeds?
Breeds differ in temperament, size, cold or heat tolerance, egg color and how well they lay. Some are bred for steady production and some for appearance or dual purpose. Ask local keepers and your extension office what does well in your climate.
Buy from a hatchery or breeder that participates in recognized poultry health programs, and ask what they test for. Avoid birds from unknown sources, since they can bring in disease.
- Temperament, especially with children
- Tolerance for your winters and summers
- Typical laying pattern and egg size
- Source with good health practices
How do I raise chicks to laying age?
Chicks need a warm, dry, draft-free brooder with a heat source, clean bedding, starter feed and fresh water. Heat must be managed carefully to avoid both chilling and fire. Follow current extension guidance on brooder setup rather than improvising, and never leave a heat source unsafe.
As chicks grow they need more room and less heat, and eventually they move to the coop. Handle them gently and often so they grow used to you. Wash your hands after every contact, since chicks can carry germs that make people ill, and ask your doctor or public health office about precautions for young children.
Keep the brooder free of drafts, wet bedding and crowding, and watch chicks' behavior. Chicks huddled under the heat source or panting away from it tell you the temperature needs adjusting.
When do hens start laying?
Most young hens begin laying some months after hatching, but timing depends on breed, season and nutrition. Do not expect a precise date. Make sure the coop and nest boxes are ready before the first eggs come, and show hens the boxes if they are slow to find them.
Egg production usually changes with the amount of daylight, and many hens slow or stop in the darkest part of the year. They also pause during molt. Ask your extension office what to expect in your region.
Many keepers keep a simple log of eggs per day. It shows seasonal changes and flags a problem if numbers fall suddenly.
What do laying hens need every day?
A layer feed, free access to a calcium source, clean water, grit when needed, dry bedding and a secure coop. Give them space to scratch outdoors in a safe run. Gather eggs at least once a day, and more often in extreme weather, to keep them clean and encourage regular laying.
Watch for hens that stop laying suddenly, look unwell or sit hunched, since these can signal problems. Call your vet or your state veterinarian's office if several birds are sick at once, since reporting rules vary.
Wash your hands after collecting eggs and handling birds, and ask your extension office or the USDA for current guidance on cleaning and storing eggs.
What happens as hens age?
Production slowly declines each year, and hens may live many years beyond their best laying. Decide early what you will do with older hens, whether you keep them as pets, replace the flock or use them for meat where local rules allow. This is an honest question worth settling before you get attached.
If you plan to replace birds, bring new ones in carefully, with quarantine and gradual introduction, to avoid disease and fighting.
What does it cost, in general terms?
Think in categories: chicks or pullets, brooder supplies, coop and run, feed, bedding, equipment, vet care and replacement birds. Many first-time keepers find that eggs from a small flock cost more than store eggs once everything is counted, so keep birds for the experience as well as the eggs.
Track your costs and egg counts for a season. It gives you a clear picture and helps with decisions about flock size.
Key takeaways
- Check zoning and egg-selling rules with local offices first.
- Pick breeds that suit your climate and household.
- Brood chicks safely and follow current extension guidance.
- Provide layer feed, calcium, water and daily egg collection.
- Plan for older hens and track your real costs.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Homestead & Small Farm Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.