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Your first backyard flock

Everything for 3–6 hens in a suburban backyard: a coop that really fits, a brooder for the chick weeks, a feeder and waterer, layer feed and the safety basics.

Chicks & brooding 29Coops 11Coop automation 17Feeders & waterers 28Feed & supplements 17Health, safety & cleaning 5Eggs, books & gifts 7
Buff, black and speckled hens foraging beside a raised garden bed
Photo: Rachel Tayse, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr

Starting backyard chickens: what you actually need

Starting backyard chickens is simpler than the shopping lists suggest. Before you buy anything, check your town's rules on hen numbers, roosters and coop setbacks (backyard chicken laws). Then plan for three to six hens; chickens are social, so three is a sensible minimum, and you do not need a rooster for eggs.

  1. A brooder for chicks: a tote or kit, a heat plate, a chick feeder and waterer, and pine shavings. See chicks and brooding.
  2. A coop with a run sized by its inside floor. The coop size calculator compares a listing against Penn State and UMN norms.
  3. A feeder and waterer that hold a few days' supply off the ground.
  4. Layer feed, grit and oyster shell once hens reach about 18 weeks.
  5. A door that closes at dusk, manual or automatic, plus hardware cloth on openings.

Chicks & brooding

All 29 in chicks & brooding

Coops

All 11 in coops

Coop automation

All 17 in coop automation

Feeders & waterers

All 28 in feeders & waterers

Feed & supplements

All 17 in feed & supplements

Health, safety & cleaning

All 5 in health, safety & cleaning

Eggs, books & gifts

All 7 in eggs, books & gifts
Coop size calculatorEnter your hens, bantams, ducks or quail: see coop floor, run area, roost length and nest boxes under three…Brooder temperature chart by weekBrooder temperature for chicks week by week, in °F or °C, with floor space per chick, a heat-plate capacity…Flock care checklistDaily, weekly, monthly and seasonal backyard chicken chores in one printable checklist. Ticks reset each…

A starter setup for four hens

These picks come from different makers and cover the main jobs. Swap in what fits your yard and budget; the guides linked below explain the trade-offs.

Read how to start raising backyard chickens, beginner breeds and how to raise baby chicks. Order chicks from a hatchery or buy them at a local feed store; we never link live birds.

Three safety habits from day one

Salmonella and kidsWash hands after touching chicks, hens, eggs, feeders or bedding; keep birds and coop shoes out of the house; don't kiss or snuggle birds; supervise children's handwashing; and children under 5 should not handle chicks or other poultry (CDC).Source: CDC Healthy Pets
Heat lamps start firesUse a heat plate in the brooder, or secure any lamp with a chain or cable, never the cord or a clamp alone, at least 20 inches from bedding (Penn State).
Bird fluKeep wild birds away from feed and water, quarantine new birds and report sick birds or unusual deaths to your state veterinarian or USDA at 1-866-536-7593 (USDA APHIS).Source: USDA APHIS Defend the Flock

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Your first flock: questions

How many chickens should a beginner get?
Three to six hens for most backyards. Three keeps them company; six gives a steady egg supply for a family. See how many chickens to get.
Do I need a rooster to get eggs?
No. Hens lay without a rooster; you only need one for fertile hatching eggs, and many towns ban roosters.
How much space do 4 chickens need?
About 6 sq ft inside by Penn State's minimum, 12–20 by UMN's range, plus 32–40 sq ft of run. Check a coop's inside floor, not its overall size.
At what age do hens start laying?
Usually around 18–24 weeks, depending on breed and season. Switch to layer feed around 18 weeks or at the first egg.
What do I need before the chicks arrive?
A warmed-up brooder with a heat plate, chick starter, a chick waterer, bedding and a thermometer. Set it up a day early.