Chickens – Literature and Farms

How easy is it to raise chickens? (How to raise chickens for free)

Disclaimer: Some of the products listed below I have an affiliate link to. This does not reflect on their quality!

With backyard homesteading on the rise, chickens have become one of the most popular livestock to have! This is due to their versatility, size, and ability to produce a sustainable protein source.

When I was first starting out, I really wondered, how easy is it to raise chickens? Well, the answer came with a shrug from my friends and family.

We struggled to really learn how to raise chickens economically for us as a family. You see the tragic secret that is me is I hate eggs. This made chickens a hard sell when I first asked for them.

Is it worth it to raise chickens?

The worth of raising chickens really depends on your values. If you are solely doing this as a means to save money, there are ways to do this. You will sacrifice some of the better attributes by doing so but it can be done.

Chickens are omnivores. That is the saddest truth of the agriculture industry when you see ‘vegetarian fed’ in the stores. Chickens are not vegetarians.

Chickens can be completely raised on free-ranging and scraps. I mean look at Miami, they have a massive chicken problem and cannot keep them contained. Nobody is feeding these chickens and yet they are thriving.

There are not many chickens that can’t and won’t eat. I even caught ours eating an opossum carcass once!

I have my compost inside the chicken coop now. I just give them the scraps and let them go wild. I add bedding as needed. Once they are finished turning the compost and it is ready to cure, we just start over.

The garden feeds the chickens and the chickens feed us. We all win!

How do you raise chickens at home?

The best thing to do is build your coop first. I do not care if you buy chicks or adults. Buy your coop or build it first. This makes sure that by the time you have those cute chicks, there is somewhere they can go when they are no longer little and cute.

I make sure my coop is very well predator-proofed. I do not use chicken wire but instead a heavier grade.

Chickens need an ample supply of water. This is crucial to their survival. They also prefer to have roosts as well.

If free-ranging, you may want to consider a rooster or goose. These will help protect your flock from predators.

Chickens are mostly limited work if I am honest with you. We feed them, we water them, and we collect the eggs. Truthfully, I just enjoy sitting with them most of the time.

Do chickens need heat in the winter?

I have seen so many fires caused by people heating their chicken coops that it is ridiculous. Your chickens do not need a heater. They are fine.

That being said, they are only fine if you have the right setup. We wrap our coops in greenhouse plastic in the winter and leave one side that does not get wind open for airflow.

I would not risk a heat lamp because they can often catch bedding on fire. If you must have heat for your chickens, a chick brooder plate works well with less risk of fire.

How many chickens do you need for a dozen eggs a week?

The amount you would need for a dozen is very dependent on breeds.

Different breeds of chickens produce different amounts of eggs a day. Breeds like the Rhode Island Red produce better than a breed like a silkie. This is due to selective breeding.

A rule I like to follow is two chickens per every member of my household (I include dogs in this number). This ensures we have eggs for breakfast and for baking.

Though the amount and quality you feed them also play a role in how many eggs you will receive and if you are only free-ranging and feeding scraps, you may need more birds to keep up with your family’s demand.

Purchasing seeds from True Leaf Market may be a great idea to grow your own feed. They sell plenty of varieties where you could grow a cheap garden solely to feed your flock.

What do I need for chickens?

The most important thing you can have is a clean source of water. Will they drink from muddy puddles? Yes. Should you leave them the option for freshwater? Yes.

For the most part, chickens are the easiest livestock to own. You need a coop, you need feeders and waterers, but there is no need for anything fancy.

They are pretty easy to start up and you can even just put them in an outdoor dog run with a roof on it.

Chickens happen to be one of my favorite livestock due to their versatility and easy care needs

7 Easiest Vegetables Anybody Can Grow! (Victory Garden Approved)

Disclaimer: Some products listed below I have an affiliate link for. This in no way sways my views on them!

When I was younger, I always struggled with growing vegetable gardens. Not sure if it was the soil, my knowledge, or if I just was not taking care of it, but my gardens forever sucked.

I remember the dying plants that filled my small corner of the backyard; they obviously died of neglect and teenage me was off showing rabbits, forgetting to water my thirsty plants.

It wasn’t until the pandemic that I truly discovered my love for the garden. I always raised chickens for food, but in the garden, I saw no point in it.

I will say that no matter what, there were always a few vegetables that I could grow no matter what. These were the easiest vegetables that really anybody, including teenage me, could grow!

What vegetables are easy to grow?

This is the question of the hour, I remember really asking myself what would grow in my yard of death. I needed plants that would thrive with no water, occasional dogs trotting through them, and, well, the chickens.

Over the years of growing everything under the sun, I really have it down on what will grow when neglected!

Beans

Beans for me have always been foolproof. This can be true for both pole and bush beans and I always have a great harvest. Every year, I grew beans in our garden and we ate those even as everything else died.

Now, I love to pickle the beans and grow many varieties to change up our colors. Purple beans are one of my favorites to feed to the kids!

There are a few considerations to be had before growing beans. While they are more hardy and resistant than plants like tomatoes, knowing if they are pole or bush is important.

Pole beans grow up and bush beans bush out. If you have a pole bean variety, you will need to trellis them. Bush beans can produce the entire season too, and will only produce more as you harvest!

If you are feeling adventurous, try planting them with corn. Corn will shade bush beans and help keep them from getting burnt by the sun. Indigenous peoples started this practice and now many of us like to plant corn, pole beans, and squash like pumpkin. This is called Three Sisters Garden.

Photo by Samuel Theo Manat Silitonga on Pexels.com

Lettuce

Lettuce is a great cool weather plant that is so easy to plant! It can be harvested and continuously grown throughout the season as well!

I personally have had lettuce come back from the dead on multiple occasions. It is a very forgiving vegetable.

Lettuce can be grown hydroponically as well; this makes them easy to grow indoors for year-round salads!

There are so many varieties of lettuce that can make wonderful plants in an edible landscape. They come in a variety of colors and flavors, so the possibilities are endless for the amount you can try!

Cucumbers

I love making refrigerator pickles! This makes growing cucumbers important for my family!

I also just love snacking on these and so, I learned quickly to grow them. They trellis but I just grow them along a fence.

The biggest problem I have run into is cabbage worms. I spray neem oil on my plants and use Diatomaceous earth to help stop them from boring into my cukes!

Cucumbers just grow like crazy for me so I love growing them!

Squash

I grew like fifteen butternut squash from one plant during the pandemic. We ate so much butternut that my family begged me to never grow them again!

Like cucumbers, squash has some pest issues, but I proactively treat ‌them and thus, always have a decent harvest!

Microgreens

Places like True Leaf make growing microgreens super easy! I love their seeds for more than just microgreens though.

This company is one of my absolute favorite seed resources. Plus with my link you will get free shipping!

What vegetables are harder to grow?

Don’t come for me, but I find tomatoes and bell peppers incredibly hard to grow. It is hard to start from seed and even harder to keep alive!

Every tomato plant I own is mauled by hornworms. The bell peppers are always excessively small. They just aren’t easy for me to grow.

I will say, my favorite part of gardening is the freedom it gives me. I can grow whatever I want and really, it doesn’t matter if it is not perfect!

Products for you!

Victory Garden Guide 21st Century Edition: Original 1940’s Edition Updated and Expanded for the 21st Century Victory Gardener

                        <a href="https://www.pntrs.com/t/1-8541-267085-8541?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.trueleafmarket.com%2Fproducts%2Fsprouting-alfalfa-sprouting-seeds%3Fvariant%3D36398970376" class="name" title="Certified Organic Alfalfa Sprouting / Sprout Seeds - Sprouts -4 Oz" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Certified Organic Alfalfa Sprouting / Spro...</a>

Certified Organic. Alfalfa seeds for sprouting. High germination rate and easy to grow … [More]

Price: $5.24

Buy Now

                        <a href="https://www.pjatr.com/t/1-8541-267085-8541?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.trueleafmarket.com%2Fproducts%2Fpepper-sweet-canary-bell-yellow-seeds%3Fvariant%3D39192940808" class="name" title="Seeds: Canary Bell Sweet Pepper Garden - 1 Oz- Non-GMO Bell Peppers" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Seeds: Canary Bell Sweet Pepper Garden - 1...</a>

100 days. These pepper plants produce large yields of 3.5 inch long by 4 inch wide yell… [More]

Price: $10.61

Buy Now

How Do You Make a Permaculture Farm?

Disclaimer: Some links below I have an affiliate link. This means I make a small commission on purchases bought through my link! It holds no representation of how I feel about these products.

I was sixteen when I discovered permaculture. I was a major agriculture nerd, but I felt a severe disconnect from what class was teaching me. I saw the pig farms with crowded animals and the various other issues in agriculture and I began to wonder, how do we fix this?

It was then that I realized that my longing for a natural farm was intertwined with permaculture.

Permaculture has since called to me in every aspect of my life. When my father passed I swore I would start the homestead we planned together.

What are the 12 principles of permaculture?

I think the main appeal of permaculture for me was the fact that instead of being about making money, it was a philosophy of life. I always felt as though this commercial agriculture that my classes taught us was more about growing food for now rather than sustaining ourselves for the future.

These 12 principles of permaculture speak to my soul and feed me in knowledge rather than just sustain my need for food.

Observe and interact

I find peace within my garden and chicken coop. By watching the way the ecosystem interacts with one another, I find myself also interacting within my garden and farm systems. Rather than working against these forces, I work with them.

Catch and store energy

This is one that I have yet to fully work on. It is a plan for the future when I am on my permanent homestead. Though the idea of being able to use solar to run my home really appeals to me considering our electric bill was over $300 last month!

Obtain a yield

The yield for me has been the happiness and joy the garden brings me, but also, being able to feed my family diverse and healthier food options.

It is the happiness that my garden brings that keeps me going. Because, as my husband often points out, bell peppers are 50 cents in the store.

Apply self-regulation and feedback

I began trying to reduce my family’s waste through cloth diapers when I had my first son! Now we compost and recycle.

Slowly, I am learning to reduce my impulse shopping and other factors that draw me into consumerism!

Use and value of renewables

As I said previously, we really began researching solar energy! I have tried to switch to other renewable energy sources like a rain barrel. However, this is not our permanent homestead so I do not want to continue

Produce no waste

Aside from cloth diapers, we use reusable products like menstrual cups, reusable zip lock bags, and other sustainable products.

Honestly, switching from tampons has saved us at least $200 a year. These cups have been a great investment overall!

Design from patterns of detail

I love the way ‌natural shapes look in the garden! I find that it brings me far more joy than bricked-out beds do.

While I do have square raised beds, I try to position them in more natural ways to help add to the eye!

Integrate don’t segregate

When my father was still alive, my garden drove him insane. He always told me I had no real order and I always told him it was the natural order.

I still live by this. Let the garden thrive in neglect. These plants are in their own ecosystem and are flourishing in whatever way I have them going.

Use small, slow solutions

This was always a struggle. I have always gone massive in life. But lately, I really have stopped to smell the roses, you could say.

As much as I want to start a massive at-home dairy and goat yoga studio, I think a nice garden is a step – for now.

Use and value diversity

Diversity for me looks AMAZING when it comes to gardening. I truly value my ability to grow foods we do not see in the grocery stores.

I mean – purple carrots, blue eggs, and the weirdest of the weird. I think it is all beautiful! I also love the way my plants work together to stay healthy!

Use edges and value marginal

I have been expanding the garden this year. I want to trellis onto the chainlink fence all my cucumbers and other vine vegetables.

Yeah, the deer might get some, but I am using space that otherwise just sits there.

Creatively use and respond to change

This has been the biggest change in my life. When my father passed, it was a devastating blow since he was my partner in gardening.

Now, I plant this year’s garden without him for the first time in 5 years and it saddens me. But I relish in those years we did have and use it as fuel for my future goals!

I use permaculture and you do too in far more aspects of your life than just homesteading! It is an amazing philosophy to view.

How much land do I need for permaculture?

This is a question I hear all the time – rather than a statement telling me why someone can’t grow food using permaculture.

Any amount of space works! Whether you place a hydroponic salad grower in the corner of the kitchen of your studio apartment or have multiple acres, permaculture can be done!

The only thing that is holding us back from growing is ourselves. Keep reading about that until you realize that it is the excuses that hold us back from greatness.

How is permaculture different from organic gardening?

Organic gardening is by the USDA’s standards, but permaculture is a philosophy.

The USDA states, “These methods integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used.” This is mainly a marketing technique.

While a lot of permaculture is organic, it is grown in a way that benefits the ecosystem as a whole and changes the grower’s life.

What are the benefits of permaculture?

At this point, you may be wondering, “Well, what are the benefits?” And well, there’s a good few

Waste reduction
Preservation of resources like soil.
More diversity

The list really just goes on, but the main benefit is to our environment.

What’s wrong with permaculture?

Permaculture sounds like a dream, but there are disadvantages!

A lot of work!
It takes time and money
Can be rather messy.

This being said, most of these issues are with impatience. Learning patience can help remedy situations.

As for money, there are ways to garden with no money!

Homesteading: Where to Start

With the uncertainty of the world, many of us are turning to self-sufficiency to help ensure the security of our families’ food. This can seem like such a daunting task when you first begin to look at doing homesteading.

Like you, I once wondered where to start when it came to ‌homesteading.

Homesteading can be relatively simple with the right planning and resources. Here we will discuss resources to help simplify the process of becoming more self-sufficient.

How do I start a homesteading garden?

There are a few things to think about when you start to decide how you want to go about growing food. The main one is planning out your garden. A well-planned garden can help simplify your growing season and thus help amplify your overall yield.

I am a big fan of Jess from Roots and Refuge. Last year she wrote The First Time Gardener: Growing Vegetables and honestly, it is amazing! She goes over in-depth on starting gardens and is a valuable resource for every beginner.

Deciding what your family eats can go a long way when you are planning your garden. Why would you want to take up valuable space with beets if you do not eat them?

Ensuring the area you begin planning out is ideal is equally as important. Water sources, nothing in the way, and easy access are important to ‌success.

The closer your garden is to your house, the more likely you are to visit your garden. Frequent visits are key to making sure your garden stays healthy!

There are ways to make your garden inexpensive and even free! Look into your resources to help make your garden as cost-effective as possible!

How do you transition to homesteading?

Transitioning to homesteading was probably the hardest part for my family. We love our sleep! But, the fresh food made it worth it.

Set alarms
Start small
Don’t quit your day job!

With these three tips, your transition will be much easier!

Setting alarms before you have a cow to milk and chickens to feed can help you adapt to the lifestyle well before you are in it. This can help the transition into the lifestyle since you will not have the exact responsibilities of homesteading!

Please start small. I see it every day where someone goes all out. You can burn yourself out and overall, set yourself up for failure. Many people will try and expand faster than they are ready. Start out with a few chickens before moving on to a flock of a thousand.

Some may be tempted to quit their job and follow the calling of homesteading. While for some this is a valid thing to do, it may not be feasible for everyone.

Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com

Where is the easiest place to Homestead?

Homesteading can be done anywhere that you want. This question can be slightly overthought when many ask me this.

There are considerations that need to be thought of when deciding where you want to homestead and many of which have to do with legality.

Goals on your homestead
Zoning laws
Cost of living
Climate

These all should play a factor in where you decide to permanently settle down. Some states have laws in regards to living off-grid and some counties do not allow certain animals. If these are important for you considerations should be made when deciding where to live.

Other things like the cost of living should always be considered when settling down. These are factors that affect our everyday lives.

Your goals should be first above all. Deciding where to homestead is somewhat permanent and shouldn’t be taken lightly! Climate is another factor because if you are wanting to grow things like citrus then Alaska is not the place for you!

Does homesteading save money?

Homesteading can save money. This is only if done correctly.

Having a budget in place is important to help you and your family save money when growing your own food. This and careful planning are on the front lines to success.

Having the option to grow your own food and saving seeds can create an environment where you are entirely self-sufficient. Without the upfront cost of seeds when saving, you can save money by not purchasing seeds!

Starting & Saving Seeds: Grow the Perfect Vegetables, Fruits, Herbs, and Flowers for Your Garden is a wonderful resource on learning how to save seeds!

By saving your own seeds, you are also creating a plant that is better suited to your environment. Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to grow heirlooms to save the seeds.

Heirloom seeds just mean the plant has been grown and passed down for years. Hybrids are just plants that have been crossed, and occasionally in our gardens, we accidentally grow hybrids!

What is the Best Animal for the Homestead?

Disclaimer: For some of the products listed I have an affiliate link meaning I earn a small commission for sales. This in no way reflect my views on these products!

When we begin to plan our homestead, we start looking for livestock. I remember when we started buying animals. It started with rabbits and eventually progressed to chickens and a goat.

You may be wondering, what is the best livestock for a homestead?

Well, it really just depends. We all have our own versions of wants, tastes, and needs to pursue in our homesteads. For my family, we value farm-fresh eggs. It is also something we are able to do easily. For your family, it may be alpacas or goats!

Here we will discuss what is best for many different types of homesteads!

Is it worth it to have chickens?

Chickens can be a wonderful addition to any homestead or backyard farm!! They can be used for a variety of purposes and are a cost-effective way of raising your own food.

Not only do they produce eggs and meat, but they can be used to build compost to fertilize your garden beds.

Chickens eat just about everything and can turn the simplest of scraps into eggs and rich compost for your garden beds. There aren’t many things chickens can’t or won’t eat.

Regardless, commercial feed is relatively inexpensive for them if scraps are lacking at your homestead.

How do you raise pigs for Homestead?

Pigs are like chickens where they can be fed a diet mostly of scraps. Many people like to use them to help till up land, to plant their gardens.

Their manure also makes wonderful compost for your garden. A downfall of them; however, is their size. They can get pretty big and as a result, can be dangerous.

Pigs also require more space than something like chickens would require.

Pigs can be a wonderful source of meat for your family. If you cannot butcher at home,

you may need to see if there is a slaughterhouse near you that will butcher your pig. With the right infrastructure in place, pigs are a good option for homesteads!

Is it hard to raise goats?

Goats have the reputation of eating everything or being lawnmowers. That is far from the truth. However, they are escape artists. This makes them slightly difficult to keep.

A benefit of goats is their ability to eat brush. This makes them fantastic to use in denser portions of your homestead.

Goats can give you milk, meat, and fiber if you get the right breeds. Angoras are beloved for their fiber and ability to milk.

Goats can be slightly more at risk for things like parasites and predation. This can be remedied with proper care and maintenance. Dewormers like Safeguard work well but you should consult a veterinarian. Goat manure can also be composted for use inside your garden!

Overall, goats are wonderful to use on the farm for clearing, their products, and overall comedic relief.

Are sheep good for a homestead?

Unlike goats, sheep do eat ‌‌grass, which makes them wonderful lawnmowers. Like goats; however, these animals are at a higher risk of predators. Coyotes love making sheep and lambs their meals, but luckily a livestock guardian will help remedy any predation that may occur.

Sheep can convert grass into meat, milk, and wool, which makes them a very efficient animal for the homestead.

Wool can be a little more tricky to manage. Having a shearer locally makes this a much easier feat to manage than if there were none!

Sheep milk can make wonderful cheeses and be used just like a cow or goat milk.

Is raising meat rabbits worth it?

Rabbit meat has grown in popularity on homesteads everywhere within the last ten years. This is because they can be raised just about anywhere.

Rabbit manure makes great fertilizer due to its ability to be used right away because it does not burn plants. Another benefit of rabbits is their quiet nature.

Rabbits can also be grown for their fiber. Angoras are loved for their wool and can fetch a good cost on markets.

Rabbit pelts can also be sold once tanned to help earn an income on the homestead.

These animals are arguably the most controversial but best animals for homesteads. Many of us view them as pets and that can cause some of those who do not understand to become upset.

Conclusion

Overall, animals on the homestead can provide enough protein for your family for the year. Whether it is eggs or meat, livestock can provide a lot of food. With the right infrastructure, you may want to consider adding a species or two to your home!

Books I recommend!

5 Mistakes Often Made When Building a Chicken Coop

Disclaimer: Some links are affiliated, meaning I get a small commission if you purchase a product. This does not reflect on my opinion on these!

When we build our coops, often there is no set guide to follow. Sometimes we convert older buildings into our coops.

There are mistakes that we often make when building our chicken coops!

Here are some common mistakes that you may be unknowingly making when you plan and build your coop!

How big should a coop be for 6 chickens?

When we decide how big to build our coop, often we wonder how big to make it. A good rule to follow is two square feet per chicken. While chickens will do fine in a smaller area, a larger pen is good for their health!

A bigger coop gives more space for them and thus creates happier and healthier chickens!

Purchasing a coop large enough for your chickens is key if you choose not to build one yourself. We have used Omitree 10′ ft Wood Chicken Coop for our chickens and it was very spacious! It makes a wonderful grow-out pen.

Do nesting boxes need to be elevated?

Most coops have nesting boxes. But did you realize the higher off the ground the box the more likely your chickens may roost in them? Chickens love to roost because it provides them safety but sleeping inside the nest box can lead to dirty nesting material.

Keeping your nest boxes only a couple feet off the ground will help to remedy this situation for your chickens!

I am a big fan of Little Giant Single Plastic Nesting Box! I find these to be much easier to clean than regular wooden boxes and easier to install as well!

Too flimsy of wire

Many people choose to use chicken wire due to its name. However, chicken wire is not predator-proof. Animals like raccoons can easily chew their way into your coop if you do not use proper wire. I suggest a stronger wire for your fencing like 1-inch mesh.

Other predator-proofing measures should be followed to keep your chickens safe.

Part of predator-proofing your chicken coop is making sure your wire is not overly flimsy!

Hard to clean

We all want a cute coop. I get it. You see these Instagram-ready coops with curtains and the whole nine yards. But did you ever ask yourself if you can maintain that?

I know I can’t. I opt for concrete walls, dirt floors, and well to be able to sterilize the entire coop as needed. While curtains in your nest boxes are adorable, what if a chicken gets sick?

I will say, I use nestbox herbs in my coop and I find it helps my birds out and adds many benefits!

Not enough airflow

When you read on any educational site like Mississippi State University, they discuss in full, making sure chickens have proper ventilation.

So why is it that a lot of coops are stuffy and full of ammonia when it comes to our chickens? I get asked all the time about heating chicken coops and closing them up. Do not do this.

Heat lamps are a fire hazard and having no ventilation is a recipe for disease. Instead, opt for breeds better suited to your climate and if you must wrap your coop for winter, make sure there is proper ventilation!

Photo by Kirsten Bu00fchne on Pexels.com

Conclusion

With spring fast approaching, there will be plenty of new chicken owners everywhere! Make sure that you give your chickens the best start with some of the do not above!

Happy Farming!

Is it worth it to raise chickens?

How do you raise chickens at home?

Do chickens need heat in the winter?

How many chickens do you need for a dozen eggs a week?

What do I need for chickens?

What vegetables are easy to grow?

Beans

Lettuce

Cucumbers

Squash

Microgreens

What vegetables are harder to grow?

Products for you!

What are the 12 principles of permaculture?

How much land do I need for permaculture?

How is permaculture different from organic gardening?

What are the benefits of permaculture?

What’s wrong with permaculture?

Books I recommend on the topic of Permaculture!

How do I start a homesteading garden?

How do you transition to homesteading?

Where is the easiest place to Homestead?

Does homesteading save money?

Is it worth it to have chickens?

How do you raise pigs for Homestead?

Is it hard to raise goats?

Are sheep good for a homestead?

Is raising meat rabbits worth it?

Conclusion

How big should a coop be for 6 chickens?

Do nesting boxes need to be elevated?

Too flimsy of wire

Hard to clean

Not enough airflow

Conclusion